Cambridge County Council Plate 404
 

Looking for the Cambridge County Council registration plate number 404 as fitted to our engine c.1920

http://www.steamscenes.org.uk/tti/14/141_0207.jpg

Thanks to Michael Pumfrey for this picture of his County Plate 304 fitted to "Success"

http://www.steamscenes.org.uk/tti/14/141_0208.jpg

Also thanks to Michael for finding this the earliest known picture of Ruston 113043 at work c.1920, plate number 404 can be seen on the tender man hole door.

Would be nice to find the original plate, but another Cambridge plate would be better than none.

Any help gratefully recieved. Thanks

Jonathan Wheeler

http://www.classicenamels.co.uk/category/name-plates

may do a special order?

I always thought, (but stand to be corrected of course), the registration plate system we see today was introduced in March 1920 for agricultural machines.

It is interesting that the photo, taken at the earliest June 1920 when the engine was delivered to Cambridgeshire fresh from the Bath and West Show, shows both the County 404 plate and registration plate CE7977. The latest the picture could be is 1924 when the first owner had a fire and the engine was '...badly scorched' and was sold to the Pumfrey's. The engine is seen driving a Marshall drum, the Pumfreys's were staunch Ruston men, using only Ruston drums at that time, so the picture is presumed with the original owners, Samuel Coxhall of Hinxton Grange.

Johnathan.

It strikes me that the chances of both Coxhall and Pumfreys fitting the licence plate in the same place is slim.

Perhaps this suggests it was with Pumfreys by the time the photo was taken.

Interesting line of thought, but... Coxhall and Pumfrey's were neighbours, only about 3 miles between villages/yards... , In fact W Godfrey who was the dealer selling the engine on arrival from the Bath and West Show, was sited roughly between the two so maybe even closer... I'll wager engine number 304 had driven by or even worked for both before 404's arrival.

Lacking any offers for plate 404, a new stove enamelled Cambridge Licence plate has been ordered.

JW

Cambridge plate
 

Jonathan - could you let me know who you are getting your plate from. I need a Cambridge plate (335) for one of my BB1's that are ex Pumfrey. I did get one for the other engine but as that was in 1968 the supplier is no longer in business (MAC builders merchants, Bristol. £8. 3s. 6d. 6 weeks delivery).
Many thanks.