Andrew Barclay Works Plate- Value?

Hi Guys,

I was wondering whether anybody could help me value this locomotive works plate? I picked it up in a carboot sale in Cardiff for £10 which seemed like a good deal, its obviously a replica due to its condition, but was it a wise purchase?

"Andrew Barclay Sons & Co, No. 1609, 1918"



Thanks in advance,
Al :biggrin1:

 

Out of interest why do you think it is a replica? Seems a strange plate for someone to be making replicas of.

My view on these things is if you like it and it looks good on your wall it is worth what you are prepared for it. £10 doesn't seem bad to me!

 

I thought it was quite a bizarre plate to be replicated, however its made out of cast iron, I believe Barclay Works Plates were brass?
I've decided to throw it up on ebay to see how it does, if not it can be added to the railwayana museum currently living on my walls!

Thanks for your reply....I believe I met you at the Foxfield gala last year, I was crewing RSH 71515.

 

AB 1609/1918 (ex works, 30/9/1918) was supplied to the Seaton Carew Iron Co Ltd (later South Durham Steel & Iron Co Ltd) at Seaton Carew Ironworks, West Hartlepool, Co.Durham, where named "1918"
It was transfered to their Irchester Ironstone Quarries, near Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, in 2/1959, where No.8 "1918".
Sold to Geoge Cohen, Sons & Co Ltd, Cransley, near Kettering, for scrap, 12/1966.

While most AB's have brass worksplates, use of cast iron should not be ruled out, there was a "war on" when this locomotive was built. Is the plate an exact number of inches in height and width? Are the bolt holes an exact number of inches apart?
Is so it is either the original or a very good replica. If not the odd size may be due to the shinkage caused by use of the original plate as a pattern.

 

Thanks for the informative replies so far guys.

I've just measured the plate and it is indeed in "exact" inches: 7" high, 10" wide and 7" between the two bolt holes. I'd love it to be the original, but the fact that I bought it so cheaply and its condition really do make me think that it is indeed a very good replica.

Thanks again,
Aled

 

A well known replica I'm afraid and probably worth about 10 quid!

 

As I assumed, thanks for the verification.

 

They have flooded on to the market and always seem to be painted blue with white letters.

This style of AB plate were much bigger and could be brass or CI.

The small AB plates were different style. For some reason the replicator (I shall be polite and not say forgor!) has taken the large style and shrunk it down!!

They are quite nice castings though

 

hello skeletor

im glad i found your post as this has helped me alot. your not gonna believe it but i have the same one as you colour by colour word by word! (and for a minute the same rust areas!)

yeh shame its not real, and i bought mine for 12 quid at a auto jumble, however i saw a real one on a auction site for over 100 quid!

 

i to have this plate with smae colour scheme, so im wondering if its real of not.

 

How about this one? It measures 7" x 10" but the bolt holes on center measure 6 5/8".

 

Fake I'm afraid, there was one in Hatton Craft Centre near Warwick last October.

 

What does a real one measure? Is there a specific page on the nrm.org.uk site that shows one like mine? I assume that it was faked after a real one. I would just like to compare them. Thanks for the info.

 

Another one: http://www.ukrailwayana.com/20090110/images/wp_andrew_barclay_1609_v.jpg. Brass and bolt holes seem to be different. This looks a bit more convincing.

 

I was told that before WW2 Andrew Barclay works plates were brass although cannot say for certain what they were made of during WW1 and cast iron sounds about right due to being a cheaper material as brass was in high demand for shell casings as well as other things.
After WW2 the plates were made from Aluminium instead of Brass. This was, again, due to cost and also material supply. This is not definite by any means but the gentleman who told me has several Barclays.
I wonder if anyone else can add to this and give a more definitive guide to material used for the works plates.

 

Just picked one up this morning from a car boot sale for £11 realising it was not genuine but nice for the wall.

However a bit of googling and:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/26cm-Cast...Sign-Plaque-/261366014104?hash=item3cdaa0e098

They seem do do other railway'ish plates - see under 'collectables'

 

That plaque appears in the listing twice so far. I am going through the railwayana now

 

old thread but that link still works....2 available, 127 sold may be a clue to it's authenticity