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MG TD TF 1500 - Data Plate Inside Tool Box

What side of the tool box is the data plate supposed to be on and which way is it supposed to be facing? Also, should I clean it up and polish it or leave the patina on it? I have the rivets and ready to install it when I get some feedback. Looks like it was sprayed with clear lacquer at one time. Thank you. PJ
Paul S Jennings

PJ,

On the left side.



Frank Cronin

Yes, left side.

Matthew.

M Magilton

The data/body plate is on the left hand side. However,
I have seen original,untouched plates on various TFs with the lettering facing either way!

Also,some TFs had the plate lightly(nickle?)plated and some cars had just plain brass with no plating?

Rob Grantham
TF3719("Aramis"),TF9177("Athos").
R GRANTHAM

Usually brass plates have simply had the damaged plating polished off.

Matthew.
M Magilton

Thanks fellas, my plate doesn't appear to have ever been plated, but I wouldn't swear to that. It's not very nice looking, so I think I'll give it a go and polish it up. Thanks for the pictures and input. PJ
Paul S Jennings

You can use normal pop rivets. Simply knock out the 'nail' and throw away, push the rivet through the hole and start the swaging with a centre punch. Finish the a small ball pen hammer. You can get a perfect finish.


Jan T
J Targosz

Jan, I have the correct rivets, the same type used at the factory. Thanks anyway. PJ
Paul S Jennings

Hey Paul. Why not take one for the team and use some thinner on one of your black letters to take the paint off.

Then if it was never plated you will only see brass where the letter is. If it was plated the letter will now be a dull nickle color. You can then put a little black paint into all of your letters and spice it up a bit. You might need a little Brasso to tell the difference but don't rub too hard or you will remove the plating.

See the bottom of this page for some tips on how to do that.

http://www.mg-cars.org.uk/mgtd/mgtd_etchings.htm
Christopher Couper

My plate has lacquer was not plated. My car was produced in Nov of '53, I wonder if plated or not plated relates to early or later models?
JKB
J K Barter

Here's my original data plate,



Paul S Jennings

Here it is redone,



Paul S Jennings

Paul: Yours like all plates was nickel plated. Its very light and as Matthew states comes off easily.
Christopher Couper

My plate does not really look like plating to me, but I am no expert- it is very shiny and has a bit of a yellow cast to it- I wonder if it could be plated with nickel or some metal that tarnishes a bit over time, I always thought it looked like it was just lacquer, but I will defer to the majority opinion. It certainly does look like plating in a photograph.
JKB


J K Barter

JK from the picture I don't see any plating but up close maybe it would look different. Around the lower right rivet looks suspicious.
Christopher Couper

I think that is dust.
J K Barter

I like the patina and will be leaving it this way.
J K Barter

JK. You would have to do what I suggest to Paul to be sure. Take off the paint on the T in The with some lacquer thinner and see if there is nickel there. Then you could repaint it with a satin black by brushing it in and wiping it off.
Christopher Couper

Chris, Since most of the original surface is intact, why would there be something different under the lettering? If it were in worse condition and I was going to refinish it I would do that, but I don't want to mess with it.
JB
J K Barter

Mine done. PJ


Paul S Jennings

Top rivets. Car needs a good bath, but later.

Paul S Jennings

Paul, did you have your bonnet latches replated?
Rich (TD 3983) Taylor

Rich, No I didn't. I took them apart, cleaned them and sprayed them with a galvanizing compound. I tested a piece of steel with it and the color was amazingly close, so I did it to the latches, heated them for about an hour cooking them and you see the result. PJ
Paul S Jennings

This thread was discussed between 31/01/2015 and 03/02/2015

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