Data Plate. How much?

In my book, a combination of Tangmere1940 & OldSpitty’s posts #21 & #22 have it spot on.

Hi Moggy.
I feel that again it depends on the aeroplanes history. A BoB with a good story behind it will have a + effect.
Now if Mr Saunders had found DBs Spit plate in France it would be worth far more than a Sergeant pilot one.
what about Hurricane/ Defiant? also lets say a Dam Buster Lancaster plate ? Not anything like the Spit or Hurri as a very prohibitive rebuild on a Lancaster.

My guess on value would be 10 to 50k depending on Make/model/history.

TA

Ps. sorry about any smelling mystakes. as no glasses on and using a phone.

……and are ‘worth’ what anyone is prepared to pay for them!

Data plates are just a bit of metal.It is the history attached to it that adds the dollar signs to it…

For clarification, I had no particular expectations. I was asked the question myself by a friend who somewhere about his house (temporarily uncertain of its position) has a dataplate from a Hurricane dig a good few years ago.Moggy

Any chance your friend might divulge information contained on the data plate ?
See PM

Finally, Someone who knows the truth.

Also, using your formula, it is quite possible (and perhaps likely) that C would end up as a negative number and quite a large one at that!

Agree totally.

Also, using your formula, it is quite possible (and perhaps likely) that C would end up as a negative number and quite a large one at that!

RPSmith, I do not agree.

It’s a very passionate pastime and there are way too many variables to use such a simple formula. Passion and desire would drive the highest price for a BoB aircraft data plate far more than common sense.

I had assumed from the OP post (…”the original dataplate”) that the question was about the main ‘identity’ plate rather than one for a sub-assembly?

If the latter, then usually would only have a collectors value. If the former, then a different ball-game!

It also depends on which dataplate it is – most aircraft have dozens of them, related to each particular sub assembly.

Personally, I dont see much value in a dataplate on its own – but I an neither buyer or seller!

Bruce

Nobody has mentioned what to me seems the obvious answer

A – B = C

Where:

A is the current value of an existing ‘dataplate rebuild’
B is the commercial cost of such a rebuild
C is the value of the dataplate

signed Albert Einstein :D:D

For clarification, I had no particular expectations. I was asked the question myself by a friend who somewhere about his house (temporarily uncertain of its position) has a dataplate from a Hurricane dig a good few years ago.

All information garnered here and by message has been passed on to him.

Regrettably I have no such item myself.

Moggy

Moggy C, did you really expect a clean cut, straight forward, believable answer???

If a collector of Spitfire Memorabilia buys it, probably the low 4 figures(pounds sterling), if someone with the funds to re/build a flying spitfire buys it for the identity/provenance, possibly low five figures(pounds sterling).

If you are seriously interested and not just creating a throw away thread out of idle curiosity, post it for auction on Ebay, put a massive reserve on it and see what level of bidding is reached. If the wealthy re/builder is out there, they will probably contact you privately anyway.

It’s all about supply and demand, and specifically letting as many people who might be interested, know that it is available.

Prices of vintage/warbird parts/projects/items is not discussed often enough in the public domain and because of this, unrealistic values are attributed to items of low value, which harms genuine restoration/rebuild projects, museums and private collectors alike. How often do you see prices mentioned in your favourite warbird magazine?

Has the Isle of Wight sunk? :dev2:;)

But seriously, Ian, if you really do have an idea where the Channel Isles ones are, we’d be delighted to hear more.

At least one was located back in the 1970’s and part of a prop brought to the surface. I spoke to the diver 15 years ago and by then the prop was no more than dust. He reckoned the aircraft he had found was McPhail’s.

However a couple of weeks ago I was stopped by a chap who knew I was interested in the aircraft, he claimed the one that had been found was Woodward’s as it was relatively intact, which stands to reason, as Woodward was seen to make a controlled landing where as McPhail was seen to go in at speed after a direct hit.

Unfortunately neither of these two individuals could/would provide me with a clue as to where the wreck lies. Though after 70 years in the Channel/Atlantic with the currents around these islands, I wouldn’t hold much hope of there being much left.

I feel a data plate thread might just develop from this.
Moggy you didn’t buy it from Ebay Burma by any chance?:D

Moggy, two to three years ago i was advised by someone that a Spitfire dataplate plus a few ‘bits and pieces’ could be worth upto £15k, as it constituted enough to be a recognised rebuild project. I’m sure others have their own ideas on value.

But as for a plate on its own i couldn’t say.

Rob

Price depends on if its still attached to an aircraft I suppose.

I think what you mean is “….it depends upon whether an aircraft can be attached to it, or not” 😀

Price depends on if its still attached to an aircraft I suppose.

I’ll give you £50 for it:D

Got an idea where there maybe one or two, I’ll dig out my mask, snorkel and flippers.

Has the Isle of Wight sunk? :dev2:;)

But seriously, Ian, if you really do have an idea where the Channel Isles ones are, we’d be delighted to hear more.