Front frames .. A question

[Heuer]

These are the punches used to stamp the chassis numbers on the picture frame of the S1 3.8 cars. The number 6 punch was used for the number 9 and a line on some of the punches (0, 8, 1) is used to indicate the correct orientation. These punches were made in house by Jaguar and there is a suggestion the same font and size was used for the SS100 cars onwards but I have not researched that. As to heritage these punches were acquired from David Warrow who was one of the first people to try and understand the history of E-Type development. He had access to the Factory and all the records in the late 1980's and used the information and parts to restore his very early car chassis #38 registered ENO 38. Much of his research was used by Phillip Porter to write his seminal work on the subject and David's car appears in Phillip's 'Originality Guide' book. David has lost interest in E-Types and all his factory records and many unseen photographs have been passed on. The punches were his last link with the E-Type and he told me how he discovered them on a shelf in an old shed at Brown's Lane with a pile of other prototype E-Type material.



The picture frame needs to be supported from underneath, preferably with a metal wedge, before punching.

[ralphr1780]

Thanks David!
I am not too worried about the font, do not intend to make an original copy.
On my S2 have changed the picture frame and kept the original one safely stored, but have not stamped it yet, hence the concern.