What are these brass plates

Little Jo · #1 26-04-12, 07:24

Hi All

I have just aquired a couple of Brass Plates and I have no idea what they are for, I suspect for a Jeep but I don't know where they go or where fixed on a vehicle. I am hoping someone out there has seen them before and can enlighten me.

Cheers

Tony

Keith Webb · #2 26-04-12, 12:38

The top one looks like a poor replica of the Australian Nomenclature plate.

Ian Fawbert · #3 26-04-12, 13:58

Hi mate,

I agree with Keith about the top one. The bottom one looks like a poor reproduction of the shipping plate fitted to later MB's/GPW's- i think late 43 was when they started being added, but definitely by some time in early/mid 44.

Anyway, hope that helps.
Ian.

Little Jo · #4 26-04-12, 15:12

Keith - Ian

Thank you for the update on the brass plates. I was not sure what they were for as I have not seen them on any Jeeps and from the dates you advised definately not for my 1942 MB Jeep.

Cheers

Tony

Mike Cecil · #5 26-04-12, 22:42

I agree with Keith and Ian: poor quality reproductions.

However, the genuine Australian nomenclature plate was retrofitted to many (most?) Australian MVs in service, as well as to newly acquired ones as they were assembled by the contractors. So a genuine or good quaility repro of the plate is a worthy addition to your Australian jeep dashpanel. I have seen them filled out as both a hand stamped, rough as bags job, or as deeply etched, perfect lettering (I have examples of both finishes). Does your jeep dash panel have four small holes that you can't account for, somewhere about the middle? The distances are about 3 inches apart horizontally, and 2 inches vertically (I'm guessing on the measurements until I can find the plates!)

There is also the aspect that a sizeable proportion of the jeeps that arrived in Australia, particularly those in the last 18 months of the war, were US rebuilds, and not new production vehicles. Hence, you may have a 1942 jeep, but that does not indicate necessarily when it arrived in Oz. It may have had a history somewhere else prior to being used to fulfil an Australian supply contract.

Regards

Mike C

Little Jo · #6 27-04-12, 02:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Cecil

I agree with Keith and Ian: poor quality reproductions.

However, the genuine Australian nomenclature plate was retrofitted to many (most?) Australian MVs in service, as well as to newly acquired ones as they were assembled by the contractors. So a genuine or good quaility repro of the plate is a worthy addition to your Australian jeep dashpanel. I have seen them filled out as both a hand stamped, rough as bags job, or as deeply etched, perfect lettering (I have examples of both finishes). Does your jeep dash panel have four small holes that you can't account for, somewhere about the middle? The distances are about 3 inches apart horizontally, and 2 inches vertically (I'm guessing on the measurements until I can find the plates!)

There is also the aspect that a sizeable proportion of the jeeps that arrived in Australia, particularly those in the last 18 months of the war, were US rebuilds, and not new production vehicles. Hence, you may have a 1942 jeep, but that does not indicate necessarily when it arrived in Oz. It may have had a history somewhere else prior to being used to fulfil an Australian supply contract.

Regards

Mike C

Hi Mike

Iam learning more about Jeeps everyday..I cannot find any small holes in the middle of the dash to indicate that there was ever any small plates attached there. The sizes of the two brass plates are as follows:

NOMENCLATURE: 8 cm X 5.5 cm
VEHICLE TRUCK 1/4 TON 4X4: 8cm X 4.5cm

Maybe I won't put them on the Jeep.

I also have another Plate. 14cm X 4 cm fixed in the middle of the dash which was on the Jeep when I purchased it. This indicates the vehicle was reconditioned on 2/8/45 by a USA company, Stewart and Stevenson. I have no idea how or when the Jeep turned up in Australia.

Cheers

Tony

Mike Cecil · #7 27-04-12, 03:28

I agree that the plates you have, being poor repros, would not be going on my jeep, but a genuine plate would be appropriate if you can find one.

The rebuild date is, in US parlance, 8th of February 1945, so not too late to be sent to Australia. What is the chassis number? The US dates are in the order Month-Day-Year (yea, odd, eh?)

The original/genuine Aust nomenclature plate is 75mm x 55mm ( I found mine!)

Mike C

Mike Kelly · #8 27-04-12, 11:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Cecil

There is also the aspect that a sizeable proportion of the jeeps that arrived in Australia, particularly those in the last 18 months of the war, were US rebuilds, and not new production vehicles. Hence, you may have a 1942 jeep, but that does not indicate necessarily when it arrived in Oz. It may have had a history somewhere else prior to being used to fulfil an Australian supply contract.

Regards

Mike C

Thats interesting .

When I was 16 , I worked pumping petrol in a petrol station. One day, a WW2 Jeep turned up on a trailer . I was stunned to see a real one , not on TV or the movies . I was all over it like a rash . It had a U.S. rebuild plate on the dash , somewhere in Arizona from memory , crazy the things you remember .

Little Jo · #9 27-04-12, 15:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Cecil

I agree that the plates you have, being poor repros, would not be going on my jeep, but a genuine plate would be appropriate if you can find one.

The rebuild date is, in US parlance, 8th of February 1945, so not too late to be sent to Australia. What is the chassis number? The US dates are in the order Month-Day-Year (yea, odd, eh?)

The original/genuine Aust nomenclature plate is 75mm x 55mm ( I found mine!)

Mike C

Hi Mike

Yes mate the plates won't be going on my Jeep. My Chasis number is: MB163331.

Cheers

Tony

Tony Smith · #10 29-04-12, 00:44

Here is the "Original Style" plate that was fitted to my Jeep. I use the inverted commas, as due to the style of rivets used, it is apparent that the plate was re-fitted or added at a much later point in the vehicle's life and may have not been period original.

Keith Webb · #11 29-04-12, 02:28

But for interest, here's one for a CMP. Interesting point is the overstamping where the vehicle was apparently modified from a GS No2 to Fire Tender.

Little Jo · #12 29-04-12, 02:43

Hi Tony - Kieth

Thanks for the update, that is the first time I have seen an original plate and I can now see the differences. I can see how as a newcomer to restoration how easy you could be led astray with non original items.

Cheers

Tony

Little Jo · #13 29-04-12, 02:43

Hi Tony - Kieth

Thanks for the update, that is the first time I have seen an original plate and I can now see the differences. I can see how as a newcomer to restoration how easy you could be led astray with non original items.

Cheers

Tony

Tony Smith · #14 30-04-12, 03:30

As pointed out by others, these were fitted to a variety of Aust Army vehicles. As Keith has started the ball rolling by showing a Blitz one, here's a couple of others; Blitz Ambulance, and Studebaker.