I believe that my 1959 would of had a positive earth identification plate fitted when new. If this is the case, can someone please supply a photo of where it was fitted.

I may be wrong, but I don't think they had plates for positive earth back then, as there was only positive earth and no negative earth land rovers yet. so no real need to tell you what it was

though you can buy them aftermarket now and the negative earth ones went on the front of the panel, near the bonnet latch, so you could put a positive earth one there if you wanted to be 100% you never make a mistake.

I have never seen a positive plate but when LR converted to -ve they started fitting -ve plates but I dont know for how long

Peter

Is there a correct position for the plate?

The negative earth plate went on the top of the radiator panel. That meant that the first thing you see when you open the bonnet is that plate. As most vehicles in those days were positive earth, there would be no need for a plate and I haven't seen one either. I think that the first standardised negative earth vehicles were military vehicles and I've seen lots of negative earth plates on them.
At a guess, I would suggest that the negative earth plate was fitted from when negative earth was introduced up to the end of 2A production. I don't seem to recall seeing any Series 3's with that plate, but I dare say I will be proven wrong!

None of my Series Ones or Series 2 / 2As have ever had a positive earth plate I'm sure of that.

I have also never seen a positive earth plate , just the negative earth ones on the change over or military.

I wanted some authentic 'Positive Earth' identification plates for my Series 2 amongst other one off plates and got in touch with 'Salcombe Etchings and Artwork' (PM me if you need to get in touch) who made some beautiful plates. They were expensive but considering they were bespoke ie the artwork had to be done, I specified the 2 pack paint colour and in lacqeured brass etc etc I understood. They might have some. I have attached some images of what they did for me. It seems as though they can do anything bespoke if required.

I had the 'Positive Earth' nameplate made without the rivet holes as I did not want to drill the radiator panel. It is positioned in the same place as was the 'Negative Earth' nameplate as nowadays most, if not all cars are negative earth (apart from the vintage and classics) and it gives a bit of notice to the mechanic if they are about to work on your car.


But for me........they just look nice! 

The negative earth change was in April 1967. They fitted a black and silver plate to the side of the bonnet catch to highlight the changeover. Before that it was normal to be positive earth so no plate was fitted.

The negative earth plate looks like the one in this image.

Craig.

Loads for sale on ebay

No plate on my 1959

Most cars (not just Land Rovers) were positive earth up to this period, including pre war. No need for any label.

Hence why the 'negative earth' label was introduced in the 'change over' period. Once negative earth became industry standard, no need for such a label. I haven't looked in my Eurobox recently, but I don't expect to find a 'negative earth' label in it.

If you go back far enough car electrical systems were negative earth/chassis. It was I believe Motorola in the USA in the late 1930's who discovered a theoretical gain for spark ignition systems by having positive chassis connection, which gained enough popularity for it to be adopted world wide as a standard. The UK stuck to this the longest but by the late 1960's had reverted back to negative chassis.

Quote from: Talullah on Jan 10, 2024, 09:36 AMI wanted some authentic 'Positive Earth' identification plates for my Series 2 amongst other one off plates and got in touch with 'Salcombe Etchings and Artwork' (PM me if you need to get in touch) who made some beautiful plates. They were expensive but considering they were bespoke ie the artwork had to be done, I specified the 2 pack paint colour and in lacqeured brass etc etc I understood. They might have some. I have attached some images of what they did for me. It seems as though they can do anything bespoke if required.

PM sent

Hi Larry S, I have replied.