bigmalcy Posted August 27, 2013 Report Share Posted August 27, 2013 Hello again Yet another query I hope you can help with... My old man’s 3A is recorded as being TS72230. The original engine was TS72389E. The replacement engine is TSA 419 FR The Gearbox is TS72441. All logical so far... In the engine bay, however, above the battery, there are two brass plates with the following numbers: EB 69068 1075289 Can anyone shed any light on what these numbers relate to? One of them is similar in format to the chassis / VIN number but I have little idea of what the EB could stand for (only thought is ‘Exchange Body’). Photo of plates attached Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rodbr Posted August 27, 2013 Report Share Posted August 27, 2013 Hi Malcolm, The following seems to be the excepted explanation: EB relates to "engineering build" and the other number is the shell/body number from the body factory. The eb number is usually painted body colour for accuracy and the screws are dome head slots on the eb number plate and flat slot head on the body number plate. These will not be particularly close to the commission number on later cars but very early cars had almost consecutive numbers. Note you will have another number on the chassis cross member, Z?? rgds Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ianc Posted August 27, 2013 Report Share Posted August 27, 2013 Bill Piggott explains in detail the meaning of the 2 numbers found on the two plates on page 111 (1st Edition) of his "Original Triumph TR2/3/3A". Basically: EB was body number allocated by Standard Triumph, but no records survive - usually higher than Commission Number. The other is believed to have been allocated by Mulliners to the bare shell - this is the number to be found on the factory build records held by BMIHT, and is higher than the Commission Number. Ian Cornish Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Fireman049 Posted August 27, 2013 Report Share Posted August 27, 2013 Hi Malcolm ~ Ian is correct with his information. Tom. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bigmalcy Posted August 28, 2013 Author Report Share Posted August 28, 2013 Brilliant - thanks Fellas. I do remember seeing a number on the chassis, but I didn't make a note of it. Where exactly is it on the crossmember? Is it still visible once the car is assembled? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rodbr Posted August 28, 2013 Report Share Posted August 28, 2013 Hi Malcolm, The plate should be on the top of the welded to the front cross member, but is not visible with engine in place. These seem to be chassis evolution numbers with the updates applied. yours should be Z 18, to Z23 or something similar from the age of your car. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bigmalcy Posted August 28, 2013 Author Report Share Posted August 28, 2013 Ok - thanks Rod... it'll just have to remain a mystery until the next time it's rebuilt I'll e-mail a sneak preview of the car... not quite finished yet, but getting close! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Don Elliott Posted August 28, 2013 Report Share Posted August 28, 2013 (edited) Back in 1958 when I bought my TR3A brand new, the uppermost "EB" brass tag was painted body colour. This would have been logical since the bodies were built, sprayed and then shipped to Triumph mostly assembled. The other plate was left bare brass during final assembly. Why paint this one when it would add cost and no value to the finished TR ? Edited August 28, 2013 by Don Elliott Quote Link to post Share on other sites
TR 2100 Posted August 28, 2013 Report Share Posted August 28, 2013 Don, This is what confuses me. Whether the plates were painted or left as plain brass surely depends only on whether they were fitted before or after painting. One would certainly expect the Mulliners (body shell) number to be painted. The EB plate - fitted by the factory - could be painted or not, depending on when they fitted it. This does not seem to be consistent with your experience. AlanR Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Don Elliott Posted August 28, 2013 Report Share Posted August 28, 2013 Alan - Check out this : - http://www.tr-register.co.uk/forums/index.php?/topic/20685-mulliners-eb-tags-and-other-useless-trivia/ See your input (2nd item down). Something is not clear. My age is getting on - but my memory is still sharp. Cheers Don Quote Link to post Share on other sites
TR 2100 Posted August 28, 2013 Report Share Posted August 28, 2013 Don, Yes, that was what I have believed for many years, but it seems I was mistaken. More information and (respected) opinion since then. As you say, something is (still) not clear. AlanR Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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