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FAQ
I
started making dataplates primarily to get a good looking set of plates for my
own jeep, and for a friend's jeep. I have a Willys MB January 1945 and my
friend has a Willys MB 1942.. He was lucky enough to still have the chassis
number plate, but unfortunately my jeep didn't have any direct indication as to
the exact d.o.d. (date of delivery). The only number I had was the bodynumber. At
that time, about 1993, I could not find anybody who could give me any
information about the value of such a body number. For learning more about the
this body number I contacted many Willys MB owners
with a composite body. During that time I met John Farley from England (author
of the book; The Standardised War-Time Jeep). He had also collected many bodynumber.
By putting together all this information I was able to date my jeep as a
January 1945 jeep. Using all this information I had collected, I created a
formula for calculating a possible frame number using the known bodynumber
What is different about your dataplates comparing them with other makessuppliers
What
material do you use for your dataplates?
What about your stamping service?
What was the original appearance of dataplates in WW2?
What happens with my new dataplates when exposed outsite
What is different about your dataplates?
The most
important difference is maybe the dataplates are made with passion. In
all the work I do I always try to make the best as possible. Therefor
you will get with the products I make (dataplates, stamping, USA
stencils etc) the best possible.
What material do you use for your dataplates?
For a dataplate close to original it is important to use the exact metals and finish as used in WWII.
That would be brass for the early Willys plates and zinc for the late.
Ford did use brass, steel and aluminum. The only difference for the
steel Ford plates is that to prefent rusting on the zinc coated steel
plates, I use rust free steel.
What about your stamping service?
After you have bought the dataplates, you would like to have a correct
stamping. I will make this easy for you. Not only I can stamp your
plates, but for that authemlic look, I can stamp your plates using
especially made stamps. As only one in the market I have 5 full range of fonts to be as accurate
as possible for the model, serial number and d.o.d. of your jeep. I use
pictures of original data plates to stamp the plates as close to original as
possible! After stamping them you will get a picture of the original plate, so you can compare it with your newly stamped plate.
What was the original apperience of dataplates in WW2?
The metals
used during the production of the WWII jeep differs from production
data and make. All original plates had a nice black dull appearance with raised lettering.
My reproduction plates also have raised lettering, because they are etched like original plates.
What happens with my new dataplates when exposed outsite
Like
original plates, the plates I make will elder during time. Most
reproduction manufacturers use the wrong metal for their repro
plates and use a blanc lacquer finish on their plates. Because a
blanc lacquer was not used in WWII, I also do not use a blanc lacquer.
The
characterize of the different metals will decide how your plate will
look like after some time.
The zinc plates
will become dull, like the
appearance of original dataplates. Most other reproduction manufactures
use aluminium, instead of the correct metal zinc. Because I use zinc,
my reproduction plates will get the same dull appearience like the
original dataplates!
The brass plates will oxidice to a
darker
apperience. The steel plates will stay as they are. Aluminum plates
could get a light oxidation. Looking at some examples
pictures you see how they will look.
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