I'm not good at cataloging this stuff, but if you wait a few hours the people who really know this stuff will come out of the woodwork, with more than you ever wanted to know... :-)

hhp

Here are some squared license platers:

Core's Sauerkrauto
http://www.core.nu/v6/fonts_full.html

Mueller's FE Engschrift
http://www.lineto.com/cont_cat.html?ID=159&dir_id=60

But the type in your sample is a fairly simple.
You might do well using a DIN, chopping off the
'G' and then rounding the corners:

FF DIN
http://www.fontfont.de/packages/din9467/dinbol8320/dinbol8320_xx.html

Adobe DIN Mittelschrift
http://www.adobe.com:80/type/browser/F/DINS/F_DINS-10005000.html

URW Fette Mittelschrift
http://www.urwpp.de/cgi-bin1/dalcgi/english/Fliste0.htd?auswahl=4&firstchar=*din*&fontnummer=f005000d

Stephen

Stephen, I hope you didn't take offense at "hours"...

hhp

Not at all. You were right. I'm over 6
hours late. See what happens when I sleep?

Thanks.

It's part of a 1909 heavy industrial machine Do you have a link to the font you were thinking of, or a hint where I can get it?

The DIN fonts are perfect! Not exactly the same thingy, but it has the right atmosphere, my example must be some DIN letters then.

Wow, thanks!

Here's one better:

Typophile Forums: Critique: Sans Serif: Unicratica (by Ole Sorensen)

PS- DIN is great. But buy the FontShop (FontFont) cut. The
weights are much more intelligently put together
than the other leading brand.

Looks like one of those license plate designs.

hhp