Farm Equipment - ID plate numbers restore or leave.

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ID plate numbers restore or leave.

Printed From: Unofficial Allis
Category: Allis Chalmers
Forum Name: Farm Equipment
Forum Description: everything about Allis-Chalmers farm equipment
URL: https://www.allischalmers.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=44315
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Topic: ID plate numbers restore or leave.

Posted By: Redwood
Subject: ID plate numbers restore or leave.
Date Posted: 23 Jan 2012 at 9:51am

I'm not sure if this question has been asked on here.

Though it's not a big issue, and I will just pick one way.

I have seen replacement serial number tags for generators and I have a washer style Id plate on the zenith carb that could easly be duplicated. the pitting and rust in these labels is too deep to sand/polish out without erasing the numbers. I'm torn between the authintic ID of the original parts left intact and the blemish these ids will leave in the restoration.

I'm wondering what is the general consensus of those that are doing full restorations of their tractors is.

Replies:

Posted By: Redwood
Date Posted: 23 Jan 2012 at 7:00pm

Hmmm, maybe I posed the question wrong or there is no intrest in that level of detail. Maybe pics of the work done to restore id plates?? I would be interested in seeing.

Posted By: John (C-IL)
Date Posted: 23 Jan 2012 at 8:10pm

You watched the Barrett-Jackson auctions last week didn't you. I doubt that anyone would care about that detail. Cost effective wise, if that detail is important to you, buy new and put them on.

Posted By: Redwood
Date Posted: 24 Jan 2012 at 7:18am

Thanks for the reply.

Nope never heard of that show, but you peeked my intrestest, I might see if I can find it on the net.

This is my grandfathers tractor my dad and I are restoring, My dad helped farm with it for many years. We are breaking it down part for part if at all possible.

Two things come to mind. I don't like the look of the tractors that look like they were pulled into a barn and spray painted whole. This is great for a working tractor or preservation but not what I what. I want something that will bring the memories back for my dad. With keeping a couple of modification my grandfather made, I would like it to look straight for the factory.

What I am worried about if the "stone chip effect". Ever wash and wax a new car with a stone chip in the hood? Even with a little dust on the hood you can't see it, but wax it and it draws the eye right to it. In this case I was unsure. At this point I will probably use bondo and level the pits in the plate and paint it orange. If I want to fix this later I can allway pop off the carb and drill the rivet then. reproduction of this plate is simple enough.

Posted By: FloydKS
Date Posted: 24 Jan 2012 at 7:23am

And some of us will say...it is up to you. Since it is a family 'heirloom', you are the one who really matters when it comes to opinion. I know you were looking for the '''right''' way to do it, but in some cases your way is the right way.

Posted By: Redwood
Date Posted: 24 Jan 2012 at 7:49am

Thanks, that is the opinion I have as well

I will make a decision on it. There is no right and wrong in my opinion. I will be satisfied with how ever it turns out for that matter. I only have the interest in doing the project.

The question really is what have others done. Are What I was hoping for is to draw on the knowledge and experiance on this site. What are others doing, and how did it turn out for them.

Restoration, that is new. That's the knowledge I hope to gain.

As for this item, as it was probably painted over anyways, that is what I'll do as it can always be changed if I decide to change it.

Posted By: Steve in NJ
Date Posted: 24 Jan 2012 at 9:18am

Being that I restored Antique and Classic cars for my customer's for quite a few years, "attention to detail" has always been my "thing" which most folks enjoy. It might not be for others, but I still use that technic in all of my own resto's whether a Tractor, Streetrod, my Railroad Lanterns or whatever. That is something that is totally up to the individual doing the restoration. The term "restoration" has come up on this forum many times in the past because of the different uses of the term resto. That's a whole other story and I'm not even gonna go there wit' that, but again, its totally up to the individual how he or she wants their finished piece to look. Will some people go ga,ga over your finished piece. Yeah, probably quite a few. And quite a few won't. And you know what? That's okay. There's a lot of folks out there that could care less about the "little things" or "detail" that add or accent to a real resto. If you're happy with it, and your Dad is happy with the finished product to, then that's what counts! Especially, when it was your Grandfathers. I'm sorry, but personal stuff, and family heirloom stuff take preferance for that little extra touch of class when doing that kinda work. It just means more. That's the way I look at it. If you want to renew those small little pieces to add to the "detail" then by all means do it! I always said in the car hobby, if everybody did the exact same thing as everybody else did, it would be a very booooring hobby. Variety is the spice of life they say, and that pretty much applies to anything.......

mailto:Steve@B&B" rel="nofollow - Steve@B&B

Posted By: Butch(OH)
Date Posted: 24 Jan 2012 at 9:42am

I dont know that there is a consensus. Some people that make claims to be restorers don't give the tags a second thought and paint right over them. Others put all new tags on 50 cent repaints. As the others said probably most important to please oneself. To my eyes a tractor that has been otherwise very highly detailed looks odd with buggered up tags. Once you get the sandpaper and paint gun out total originality goes out the window anyway so should no big deal about the repro tags IMO. We install new tags where possible but the old ones can be found in a zip lock bag in the tool box in case it would be a big deal to somebody on down the road.

Posted By: Redwood
Date Posted: 24 Jan 2012 at 10:54am

Thanks for the replys from everyone.

My approach to every task I take on is, I'll bugger up enough things without brushing over details. As this is a first and I'm sure you're aware of the skill that is required in the finish work, this wil be far from perfect but I don't intend to let any more happen by skipping steps.

And by "restore"... I'm mean making all the existing parts look as close to new as (my skill) allows me to.....but keep my grandfathers "Mods??" Like the carb casing will be painted torn down so as not to have it look like it was dunked in a paint tank. Not that I think that is wrong I just like the detail of having the parts that would not be paint not painted contrasting against the orange. We have the original bill of sale, and owners manual. I even have the kit info on the WD cylinders and pistons it now has. The other mod that tells the tractors story is the welded on drawbar. Due to extreme working conditions the bolts loosen and the drawbar was yanked loose distroying the threads in the hitch. I know I could fix this...but I won't. Though I'll clean up the welds.

As for original...not sure there is much "value" in this thing as original. someone took it out of the hermetically sealed wrapper...lol damn.

This tractor is a hunk of metal and though I love tractors and love seeing restored tractors, It's what it stands for to the owner or the work/labor gone into it that I appreciate.

In this case I will fix or repair as much that is on it now that I can possibly do, as most of it is factory original though I agree once you sand its not orignial, father time has removed most of the original quaility.

I like the idea of replacing the tags but keeping them, I would loose the original tag if I replaced the whole carb... this way I (personally) know its the orignal carb from the factory with a rebuild kit. As it is I probably could not prove it is original to anyone else nor do I care to. We know, and as it has eloquently stated that is all that matters.

Looking forward to learning.

Posted By: RichinWis
Date Posted: 24 Jan 2012 at 4:17pm

I for one like the replacement tags, because they add that finished touch of class, also except for looking brand new I don't think anyone could tell the difference in the tags. You can get them with the same exact numbers on them, I think that is awesome.