chassis font size and name?

[bloodysalmon]

I've always been intrigued to know what the font 'name' is that is stamped on the n/s chassis; does anyone know? If there wasn't a name then do we know what replicates it fairly similarly?
Measuring 10mm high ...

[Graeme Louk]

Hi Chris,
I don’t know what font the chassis numbers are stamped in so I’m no help. The size of stamp used is 3/8”.
I can tell you that not all number stamps are the same font/ style so if you intend to stamp a replacement chassis rail and want it to look right it’d be best to seek out the right stamp set.
I recently went to have a look at a TA chassis that was for sale. I found that the first two numbers had been ground out and the last number re-stamped over the existing number with a 2 over a 3.
I could only think of one reason why a chassis number would have the first numbers ground out and the last number altered.
Anyway, It sold to someone who by chance I later spoke to. The buyer claimed that they were able to make the missing numbers appear before their very own eyes using a die penetrant kit.
Magic indeed.
I didn’t really want to get into a bullshitting match so kept my mouth shut.
Funny thing is that the number two (2) stamp that MG used to stamp their TA and TB chassis appears to be the same stamp used on all of the TA and TB stamped chassis/ numbers that I’ve seen. It has a curve that curves right down to the bottom straight _ part on the 2.
That is except for the over-stamped number 2 on the chassis with the ground out first numbers. The 2 on that chassis has a vertical portion above the _ horizontal bottom. Someone stamped it with a different font/ stamp not the one MG used.
If anyones car has a number 2 in the chassis number they will see the curve mentioned.
Maybe die penetrant will correct the stamp font.
Magic abounds.

[bloodysalmon]

umm!, interesting thoughts Graeme, I really was only interested in what the font name was that they used, it must have been something as the numbers do have their own distinct look. I suppose it's like the brass plates that have the chassis and the engine numbers/letters ... what font /size where they too. Perhaps it ought to be documented for all and the future?

[Steve Simmons]

I'm not sure we will ever know the answer. I suspect the stamps were just ordered from a random supplier, and no one cared what the exact font was. So perhaps the only way to truly know would be to compare to popular known fonts of the time. As a starting point, license plates used the font "Charles Wright". But it seems even that font changed over time.

[Tom Lange, MGT Repair]

In the 70's I looked into identifying a font for a set of number stamps from the 1930's, - the very elderly and long-retired engineering maker wrote me that number stamps were usually unique for their application, unlike letter-font stamps which were based on a more common sans-serif design. The maker told me that they were reluctant to pay royalties for designer type, so they generally created their own designs in-house.

Tom Lange
MGT Repair