Vanderbilt Cup Races

  Chrysler vintage metal security identification tag.

    ( possible predates the VIN plate//tag )

This was a badge used by Chrysler from 1926-1930 and similar badges were used by other manufacturers.  It was welded to the dashboard and was established as an identification to deter auto theft.  The letters converted to numbers, specific to that auto.

W-P-C-H-R-Y-S-L-E-D
0-1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9

The clue would be “FEDCO” on the bottom of the badge.

I was going to sit this one out initially. But it kept me occupied on this rainy day.

*Auto Manufacturer that used this Badge:  Chrysler stands out quite clearly ( Walter P Chrysler ).

*Exact copy on the Badge:  W D 0 4 4 R   This is seen beneath CHRYSLER and his signature. I don’t know why the letters are in sets of 3 above and below.

*Badge purpose:  To identify the vehicle with a serial # ( W D 0 4 4 R ). According to what I read, Chrysler used a FEDCO SYSTEM from 1926 thru 1958 to serial code/identify every vehicle manufactured. It was difficult for thieves to alter or remove this badges. Chrysler began using the current VIN SYSTEM in 1959.

*Date of the badge when it was produced:  Chrysler Corporation came to be in 1923. Their FEDCO SYSTEM commenced in 1926. So I’ll say the badge was created in 1926. The badge copy doesn’t refer to a time period. Perhaps the 44th vehicle manufactured?

Chrysler
http://www.ddd.zero.four.four.rrr
Purpose: provide model, year and vehicle serial number
Hint: Fedco numbering system.
Believe it is from a 1930 Dodge 6 . Rational: according to page 32 of Fedco numbering system book, serial numbers D-001-WP thru D-257-PH were assigned to ‘30-‘31 Dodge 6

Sorry I’m not sure I can answer all your questions or decipher the badge numbers correctly .
:
http://www.imperialclub.com/Articles/Fedco/27L.jpg

I enjoy your weekly Mystery Photo challenges, and the other news. With most Mysteries I draw a complete blank, but I did some quick Google research on Fedco System. On the heels of the expanding auto industry was expanded auto theft. Chrysler used these “Builder’s Plates” (located in various places on different models) for ID purposes starting in 1926 and ending in 1930. Interestingly the plates were ahead of their time in that they used “holographics” engraved in the layered plates for the serial numbers which were letters to be decoded. They also used W.P. Chrysler’s name with a D at the end rather than an R, for added security no doubt. The plates were designed to self destruct if tampered with (Mission Impossible, anyone?)

Sources: http://forums.aaca.org/topic/84652-chrysler-fedco-system/
http://www.automotivetimelines.com/blog/2017/11/08/fedco/ {your second photo source}

More than this I’ll again leave to the resident auto experts.

Mystery Foto #20… The badge shown here is an example of the FEDCO Number Plate System. In this case on a Chrysler. These FEDCO number plates were created to combat the rampant car theft that had reached alarming rates in the 1920’s. These plates were welded to the dash and they would self-destruct if tampered with. FEDCO stands for Federated Engineers Development Corporation. As for the copy on the plate. At left we see a circular Chrysler logo; Just to the right is the Walter P. Chrysler signature in script. Above and below the logo and signature we see WWW-DDD-ZERO-FOUR-FOUR-RRR. And in a layer behind the logo and script we see W-D-0-4-4-R. This all translated into an encoded serial number for the car attached. These badges were in use on Chryslers and other Chrysler products from 1926 to 1930.
To read more about theses FEDCO plates go to
www/automotivetimelines.com/blog/2017/11/08/fedco/ 
On the other hand it could just be a long lost candy bar from Hershey.

This badge was used by which automobile manufacturer?  Chrysler (others also used similar badges)

What is the exact copy on the badge? WWW DDD Zero Four Four RRR which translates to WD044R (see following answer).  Also Chrysler and Walter P. Chrysler.  Copy at bottom (the hint) reads FEDCO SYSTEM.

What was the purpose of the badge? Hint: There is copy on the badge that provides a clue.
Used as an anti-theft number plate installed in Chrysler vehicles as a joint effort between Chrysler, the Federated Engineers Development Corporate (FEDCO) and the Williams J. Burns International Detective Agency starting around 1925/1926.  The plate was designed to disintegrate upon attempted tampering/removal and was made of nickel and copper and attached to the instrument panel.
 
Used by other manufactures as well.  Developed to stem the rise in stolen automobiles (12,000 cars were stolen in NY in 1925, in Chicago stolen cars increased between 1924 and 1925 52% to 8,141).

What is the estimated date when the badge was produced? Provide a rationale.
This badge was used in the 1925/1926 Chrysler Model 70-6, Model G as evidenced by the number that the text and copy equals (based on the FEDCO attaching a number to the letters in the name WPChrysled - the last “d” was used instead of “r” since “r” was already used.)  Based on documentation being sent to Howard showing this numerical code and the numbers assigned to Chrysler autos the code of WD044R equates to #090444.  This code # falls between FEDCO codes WY580W and WD999D which equals #055800 and #09999.  Documentation shows this range was assigned to the prior mentioned Chrysler model and years.

It’s obvious that it was used by Chrysler - Chrysler logo on the left, and Walter P. Chrysler’s signature. To figure out the rest, I had to enlarge it. The bottom reads “FEDCO SYSTEM”. Now I had enough information to Google it, and this is what I found:

The serial number WD-044-R using Chrysler’s translation table (0123456789/WPCHRYSLED) maps to 090444. This format was used in the ‘20’s and it was a vehicle identification number. The plate would self-destruct if tampered with, and so was an anti-theft device.

Obviously it was used by Chrysler Corp. I believe these badges were attached to the dashboard of Chrysler and Plymouth models from about 1926 to July, 1931 when they switched to another system. They utilized the FEDCO system of assigning serial numbers to each individual car that was built; an ancestor of today’s VIN numbers. They were used to identify when the car was built. This badge reads WWW DDD ZERO FOUR FOUR RRR. Using the code WPCHRYSLED for the numbers 0123456789, the serial number in today’s photo would be 090444. By cross referencing that number in FEDCO charts, you could determine the month and year the car was built.

Have to give Dee credit for this one. I had given up, but she noticed the FEDCO copy (before the additional hint) which lead me to the answer.

-This badge was used by which automobile manufacturer?
Chrysler

-What is the exact copy on the badge?
WD044R/FEDCO SYSTEM

-What was the purpose of the badge? Hint: There is copy on the badge that provides a clue.
VIN number of the vehicle. After letter conversion, this particular VIN is; 090444

-What is the estimated date when the badge was produced? Provide a rationale.
From 1926 to 1930, Chrysler used the FEDCO system, which had numbers and letters. The letters were actually numbers

Before Chrysler became involved in the automotive business, he was a railroad man. My guess is that this badge is more railroad than automobile, pre 1920.

Ken Curtis Jr.
Relative to your post concerning identifying the Chrysler serial number badge find above copy of 1934 and prior models serial and production information along with the Fedco code system explained. This style badge and the Fedco system was employed on Chrysler cars at least from 1924-29.

hi, how do you date the chassis of a car with the fedco plate? my fedco plate read
YYY EEE ZERO THRE ONE WWW, so the number should be 580310. my fedco plate is fixed to the chassis above a spring shackle boss, since my car was imported from the US to Australia without the body, just the rolling chassis, engine, brakes and steering components, they couldn’t fix the plate anywhere else! i was told the chassis was manufactured in 1925, how can i verifies that? regards. Daniel