Here are a few pictures of what I think is a very old Chevrolet running board step plate. I was curious if anyone had any information about its history.
http://s844.photobucket.com/user/ma...a67c_zpsqbgnox2c.jpg.html?sort=3&o=0The back is stamped GOLDEN GATE BRASS MFG CO SAN FRANCISCO, CAL. J25 is stamped on both sides. It seems too heavy to be made out of aluminum, but it has the appearance of cast aluminum. It is non-magnetic. If it was aluminum, I would think that it would show more wear. It has very few deep scratches and virtually no wear marks on the treads. The black paint is in very good condition. It is not nickel plated brass like some of the old Model T step plates that I found on the internet.
It has the toe bumper on the front that has a curved back that probably matched up to the vehicle-side edge of the running board. It has rounded lip to fit over the curved front of the running board. Above the curved front is a raised cleat to scrape mud off the sole of one's shoes. The way this piece is cast makes me think that it was made to fit a specific running board.
The oval around the Chevy bowtie is something that I have not seen before. I tried to date the piece based on an internet search of the Chevy logo, but no luck.
The only search results that I found on Golden Gate Brass Mfg Co had newspaper articles dating from 1913 to 1920.
Thoughts?
Matt
