Re: Good steamers?

Can't answer too many of those except to speculate that they used what ever was around or whatever the shop forces could cobble up. "Put a round one on 223" came the order and if they didn't have a suitable plate then a piece of sheet metal got cut in a circle! My opinion.
The Baldwin engines came with the round plates with the corporate logo around the edge. They were taken off and replaced with the 'standard' rectangular type by the Grande. If an engine was a candidate for a round one and the proper plate could be found then it went back on. If not, whatever was handy was used. Again IMHO, based on the 'standard' operation of most shops. Use what you have, make what you don't.