Data plate mystery

[Keith Webb]

This is one of a number of sequential serial data plates owned by a collector, who has mounted this one on his truck.
The speculation is they were supplied with the CKD vehicle, but as the doors on Fords were locally manufactured and weren't drilled for plates, they weren't always affixed.
Many trucks have them on the top of the dash, but I suspect this is one of a batch they just didn't bother to fit.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Keith,

Interestingly, according to David H., SM 2208 was for Marmon-Herringtons....

H.

[Keith Webb]

Originally posted by Hanno Spoelstra
Interestingly, according to David H., SM 2208 was for Marmon-Herringtons....

So there is a possibility these plates were for Marmon-Herringtons, not CMPs... I suppose the data plates were the same type - although I don't recall seeing one on anything other than a CMP.

[David_Hayward (RIP)]

This looks like a Ford standard blank plate to me...note no ENGINE NUMBER! Fortified by best Australian red wine I can say that S/M 2202, 2203, 2204, 2205, 2206 and 2208 were all for Australian delivery as 1942 delivery contracts. S/M 2208 was for 'Marmon-Herrington'[s] but it does not state what sort of M-Hs!! Any idea anyone please?

David H in personem

Gad! That Aussie red is just brilliant!...........................zzzzzzzzzzzzz zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally posted by Keith Webb
So there is a possibility these plates were for Marmon-Herringtons, not CMPs... I suppose the data plates were the same type - although I don't recall seeing one on anything other than a CMP.

Keith, I can't believe Marmon-Herrrington used the same date plates - they took every opportunity to display their brand name.
Another possiblity is that S/M 2208 was placed originally for Marmon-Herrington trucks, but during the course of delivery of the contract for some reason CMP trucks were delivered instead.

Originally posted by David_Hayward
This looks like a Ford standard blank plate to me...note no ENGINE NUMBER!

A blank would not have the chassis serial and contract number. This picture (posted by Tony Smith) to me shows a typical Australian delivery CMP data plate: the Canadian factory used proper raised letters for chassis serial and contract number, the Australian assembly plant added the rest of the information by hand stamping, depending on which engine serial and body type they fitted and in what colour it was finished. This one is unusually complete though, quite the opposite of Keith's plate.

Originally posted by David_Hayward
S/M 2008 was for 'Marmon-Herrington'[s] but it does not state what sort of M-Hs!! Any idea anyone please?

SM 2208, I presume? (Blame it on the Aussie red!)

What sort? I can only think of 4x4 or 6x6 chassis cabs.

H.