Baldwin builders number 60339

santafeboy · **Joined:** Tue May 26, 2009 12:42 am **Posts:** 113

Does anyone know what this serial number corresponds to, the plate itself looks like a fake

BILL · **Posted:** Sat Nov 14, 2009 2:36 pm

Reading and Northern #425.

santafeboy · **Joined:** Tue May 26, 2009 12:42 am **Posts:** 113

Thanks Bill My guess that the one on Ebay is a fake is probably accurate

Alexander D. Mitchell IV · **Posted:** Sat Nov 14, 2009 5:48 pm

It's likely at least a reproduction, but just for giggles, could you send us to the eBay auction in question? For all we know, one of the originals was "liberated" en route from Louisiana to the Northeast decades ago......

Ooops, never mind, found it myself:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-Brass-Baldw ... 19b7c7037e

Man, is that one sloppy reproduction.

santafeboy · **Joined:** Tue May 26, 2009 12:42 am **Posts:** 113

I saw it the other day on craigslist with a lousy photo. Im glad I didnt fall for it no bolt holes the back shows no signs of ever being attached to a locomotive no number&letter code stamped on the back heavy front planing and or poor casting

Ron Muldowney · **Posted:** Sat Nov 14, 2009 9:17 pm

The advent of ebay has brought to the surface many fake builder's and number plates. I never knew that some of these had been reproduced. Stay away from any seller who does not have a return policy. I have been called in numerous times to look at some of these plates. I hate to see disappointed collectors. There have been plenty of legitimate plates as well that have come to the surface. Just be careful if it looks too good!

Ron Muldowney

Randy Gustafson · **Posted:** Sun Nov 15, 2009 9:42 am

Well, the seller never said it was real, and the 'watchers' have sure put everybody on alert that it isn't. Betcha that one dies a quiet death.

Builders plates scare me. We had one taken off a locomotive just prior to shipment to a museum - its taken a year but it has 'surfaced'. It's been widely circulated as missing (aka stolen) but the holder is now in the interesting position of doing the right thing and returning it to the museum (probably thought the loco was going to scrap) trying to pawn it off on unsuspecting buyers, or just sitting on it and letting his grandchildren get the surprise that Grandpa lifted a builders plate. We'd carefully documented the plate prior to the donation, and there's identifying marks other than the serial number on it, there's no mistake on this one.

I can't think of anything better to unwittingly either end up with a forgery/reproduction or a proven stolen item, or have the acquisition methodology simply called into question. I'd probably feel better if it was bought from a gift shop and had the 'Made in China' clearly on the back!