J #604 builders plate

[NW Mailing List]

Interestingly enough, a 604 builders plate is on ebay right now as  
well. I am somewhat suspicious of that one, I cannot see any kind of  
marks on the back from the boiler straps. But that may just be a lack  
of quality photos.

Builders plates are a complex subject, and there are generally a lot  
more fakes than real ones out there. The J plates are one of the  
hardest and most expensive to get, I suspect most if not all were  
saved. I also have reason to believe that the plates of the 600 in  
October 1941 had multiple copies made at the time and given to folks  
close to the project, in addition to the reproductions made in the  
last 20 or so years.

Good luck

Ken Miller

On Sep 19, 2009, at 7:32 PM, NW Mailing List wrote:


> Greetings from Dry Branch,

>        Would anyone have any ideas on how I can authenticate a "J"  

> builders plate I came across a couple weeks ago?  I would have  

> thought all 14 numbers had been accounted for by now but this does  

> seem to be the real deal. It's from the 604 and the only history I  

> have is that it came from Bluefield. I've noticed that pictures  

> dating from after the wreck on 6/12/46 show no builders plates and  

> wonder if they could have been left off after the repair. I know  

> it's going to be difficult to piece together the history but I'd  

> like to try. Any suggestions or info will be greatly appreciated.

>

> Chuck Speicher

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