Rear number plates

The fittings etc. are illustrated under the relevant mudguards. The 1926 rear number plate was part of the rear carrier and the 1927 version was little more than a piece of flat steel; however from 1928 onwards a more sophisticated piece was fitted with provision for a tail light. How one number plate becomes four! On the 6th of October 1930 the law relating to the size of number plate letters was altered, which meant that the size of the rear number plates had to be increased. These new number plates were given suffix numbers to correspond with the year of the number plate that they replaced rather than the year that they were introduced.  Ariel supplied these number plates as replacements for the originals. In 1935 the position of the mounting holes was altered and as our number plates do not have the holes drilled, 1 plate, therefore suffices for all versions made between 1928 and 1945. The 1946 version of the same plate only differs from the earlier one by the lack of a central reinforcing rib and was never given a separate number at the factory. The tall, thin 1949-52 version was made in 2 forms and the boxed in 1953-58 type was made in 2 versions although these did receive different numbers, the first used ordinary bolts to attach it to the mudguard, which were later changed to ‘spire’ nuts in 1955. Even the 1939-40, with its’ odd tail light was also available with a different cut out for an optional ‘STOP’ light.