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TCTom
USA
310 Posts |
Posted - 12/02/2025 : 02:17:17
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Interesting photo I came across today

Tom Wilson Zionsville, IN USA |
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Westbury
United Kingdom
2201 Posts |
Posted - 12/02/2025 : 05:34:56
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Long wheelbase K Type chassis on the floor to the right. And could well be K Type chassis stacked on the left. Others J Type? Thanks, Tom Chris |
Edited by - Westbury on 12/02/2025 05:40:01 |
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John Libbert
USA
217 Posts |
Posted - 12/02/2025 : 11:43:39
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Tom,
Are you sure you didn't take this picture in your basement studio? It sure looks like what I saw the last time I was visiting you.
Best regards,
John |
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coracle
United Kingdom
2184 Posts |
Posted - 12/02/2025 : 13:52:13
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A bad case of camera shake is the result of my tyre-less quest to frame an explanation for the photo.
The wheels came off this explanation as I realised it not to be roadworthy and lacked body.
P.S. When stacking chassis I find it best to alternate nose to tail as the stack rises evenly that way. I guess however that would not "stack up" as a solution on a production line? |
Edited by - coracle on 12/02/2025 13:57:13 |
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Westbury
United Kingdom
2201 Posts |
Posted - 12/02/2025 : 16:28:14
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I wonder if the photograph was taken at Abingdon or the Rubery Owen factory where I understand they were manufactured? Chris |
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TCTom
USA
310 Posts |
Posted - 17/02/2025 : 14:51:17
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Digging more into this, appears the photo was taken in 1936 at MG factory in Abingdon along with a group of other photos the same day. When I get the chance I'll see if I can find the other photos.
Tom Wilson Zionsville, IN USA |
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Simon Johnston
United Kingdom
6499 Posts |
Posted - 17/02/2025 : 15:28:13
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quote: Originally posted by Westbury
I wonder if the photograph was taken at Abingdon or the Rubery Owen factory where I understand they were manufactured? Chris
At 5 mins 52 secs in this factory film - https://youtu.be/_gq7rbKbfh8?si=lMUuueaTJ4dOXTTx - we get this.

Followed by a minute of video showing exactly that in the M.G. factory.
Simon J J3437 |
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mgtommm
USA
524 Posts |
Posted - 17/02/2025 : 19:04:20
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Unless those are spare store frames after production (doubtful), it seems it would be 1933. tommm |
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TCTom
USA
310 Posts |
Posted - 17/02/2025 : 20:02:35
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1933 is what I thought as well Tom, but the archive info shows 1936 so I posted it without thinking. Those are J2 chassis' aren't they? So that dates it to 1933 era.
Tom Wilson Zionsville, IN USA |
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mgtommm
USA
524 Posts |
Posted - 17/02/2025 : 20:19:03
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[quote]Originally posted by TCTom
1933 is what I thought as well Tom, but the archive info shows 1936 so I posted it without thinking. Those are J2 chassis' aren't they? So that dates it to 1933 era.
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Tall stack seems to be F or L (difficult to make out back of frame), shorter stack looks like J, with K on the right.
Hard to say what's in the back, but looks as though those have unpainted rear engine mounts riveted on so more J frames. The longer F/L frames have no mounts.
Fun to speculate.
tommm
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KevinA
New Zealand
705 Posts |
Posted - 18/02/2025 : 10:22:58
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Can you see if there are any chassis numbers stamped? I'm not expecting you to be able to read the numbers, but it might be interesting or informative to know if there are any numbers there |
Edited by - KevinA on 18/02/2025 10:23:30 |
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TCTom
USA
310 Posts |
Posted - 18/02/2025 : 19:08:55
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Resolution isn't high enough to see chassis numbers
Tom Wilson Zionsville, IN USA |
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DK6780
United Kingdom
405 Posts |
Posted - 19/02/2025 : 06:56:02
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Would chassis numbers have even been stamped by this point? Or did workers take a "unstamped" chassis and stamp it as an early part of the build process? |
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Simon Johnston
United Kingdom
6499 Posts |
Posted - 19/02/2025 : 08:25:45
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My recollection is that Mike Allison explained in a post on this Forum that the chassis were stacked, perhaps as in this picture, and had the model type stamped on them, e.g. J, K, L, etc. but the actual number was then stamped when the chassis was added to the production line. Exactly at what point that was, he didn’t say. In discussions with Mike a few years ago he explained that the engines, however, came to the line already numbered - hence the lack of consistent numerical sequencing when installed in the chassis which were in numerical sequence. It was at this point that the guarantee plate was issued. He also said that there was an inspector at the end of the line who checked to make sure the numbers were correct.
Simon J J3437 |
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Westbury
United Kingdom
2201 Posts |
Posted - 19/02/2025 : 14:29:42
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On further study of the photograph, I would agree that the taller stack on the left are F or L type chassis frames and not K Type as I first thought. Chris |
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KevinA
New Zealand
705 Posts |
Posted - 19/02/2025 : 16:07:52
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quote: Originally posted by DK6780
Would chassis numbers have even been stamped by this point? Or did workers take a "unstamped" chassis and stamp it as an early part of the build process?
That's what this photo might have shown, hence my question |
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