help with dataplate info please

[David_Hayward (RIP)]

This is the up-to-date listing of allknown C8AX serials:

ALL S/M 2394:
[ASSEMBLED BY G.M. NEW ZEALAND, CODE XH]
XH8448-275 MFGD. MAY 4 1943
XH8448-377 ENGINE # FR3,863,573 MFGD. MAY 5 1943
XH8448-382 ENGINE # FR3,863,937 MFGD. MAY 5 1943
XH8449-394 ENGINE # FR3.863,668 MFGD. MAY 5 1943
XH8448-428 MFGD. MAY 5 1943
XH8448-496 ENGINE # FR3,863,872 MFGD. MAY 5 1943
XH8448-502 ENGINE # FR3,863,593 MFGD. MAY 5 1943
XH8448-564 MFGD. MAY 5 1943
XH8448-606 ENGINE # FR3,864,085 MFGD. MAY 5 1943
XH8448-657 ENGINE # FR3,864,068 MFGD. MAY 5 1943
XH8448-718 ENGINE # FR3,864,330 MFGD. JUNE 5 1943
XH8448-834 MFGD. JUNE 5 1943
XH8448-870 ENGINE # FR3,863,514 MFGD. JUNE 5 1943
XH8448-890 MFGD. JUNE 5 1943



So,how come we have #896 on May 5, and then we have variance between 'MAY' etc. and:

GENERAL MOTORS OF CANADA C8AX
CHASSIS MODEL C.15441
CAB MODEL 13
CHASSIS SERIAL XH8448-377
ENGINE SERIAL FR3863668
ORDER 2394
DATE OF MFG 5 MAY 43

GENERAL MOTORS OF CANADA C8AX
CHASSIS MODEL C.15441
CAB MODEL 13
CHASSIS SERIAL XH8448-394
ENGINE SERIAL FR3863668
ORDER 2394
DATE OF MFG 5 MAY 43

GENERAL MOTORS OF CANADA C8AX
CHASSIS MODEL C.15441
CAB MODEL 13
CHASSIS SERIAL XH8448-502
ENGINE SERIAL FR3863593
ORDER 2394
DATE OF MFG 5 5- 43

GENERAL MOTORS OF CANADA C8AX
CHASSIS MODEL C.15441
CAB MODEL 13
CHASSIS SERIAL XH8448-718
ENGINE SERIAL FR3864330
ORDER 2394
DATE OF MFG 5 JUNE 43


where the '5' for the month of May is to the left of the plate and '5-43' to the right! I can only suspect that someone was using the letter stamp at the time and the guy or gal who had tos stamp just used a number stamp instead. I am inclined to believe that this was a 'release' date from the plant. Was # 896 chassis held back for rectification after assembly for some reason, and then had its engine installed so qualified for a late serial #?

I have been trying to work out roughly when the engines used in the C8AX chassis were built by Windsor.The best I can come up with is late 1941, as 1942 Model engine #s as quoted started at # 3946838. I would suggest August/September 1941?? CKD production at Oshawa stopped in September 1941 and then restarted in October starting with 1,884 units rising to over 4,000 units per month by mid-1942.