The Ford Barn

DD931 · 01-24-2017, 11:33 AM

I'm trying to date an ignition switch I want to sell. I think it belongs to 51/52 F-1/2/3. It is marked on the back with FoMoCo. Does anyone know when Ford started using that logo?

Thanks!!

Bob C · 01-24-2017, 12:03 PM

Did a search and found this.
On 11/20/1948, a U.S. federal trademark registration was filed for FOMOCO. This trademark is owned by Ford Motor Company,
One American Road
Dearborn, MI 48126. The USPTO has given the FOMOCO trademark serial number of 71569147.

Bob

1942deluxe · 01-24-2017, 12:08 PM

Be aware a service part from the 50's may have that logo and not be correct if you are having your vehicle judged. I had vent glass I used on my 47 business coupe with an 11A part number that had the FoMoCo "bugs". They fit fine but would not be correct as the bugs should say "Ford".

blucar · 01-24-2017, 12:27 PM

I worked part time in a Ford dealership in eastern Idaho in 1948. Emblems on the Ford trucks changed from Ford script to Ford block letters, Parts started to be boxed/identified as FOMCO.. Automobiles stayed with the Ford script on the emblems.

rotorwrench · 01-24-2017, 01:27 PM

Henry died in 1947. A lot of changes were made after that event that would not have happened otherwise.

Barry-ct · 01-24-2017, 01:46 PM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

The "FOMOCO" label is back in use. I was at the Ct. camping show Sunday and peeked under the hood of a 2017 Transit van. The engine ( South African made ) and the vehicle spec label both had Fomoco in large and small block letters.

DD931 · 01-24-2017, 05:19 PM

Thanks to all for your replies!! I'm narrowing down my search for the year(s) of my ignition switch!!

1942deluxe · 01-24-2017, 05:28 PM

Does it have an engineering # on it?

Don Rogers · 01-24-2017, 07:06 PM

While researching Ford radiator hose markings a while back, I discovered that Ford started to use the FoMoCo script marking on radiator hoses in October 1949.

DD931 · 01-25-2017, 10:50 AM

Other than the terminal IDs on the back, the only letters/numbers on it are "B1" on the side of the casting.

DD931 · 01-25-2017, 10:52 AM

I'll post some pics when I get a minute to work on it.

DavidG · 01-25-2017, 12:15 PM

Don,

That's consistent with the beginning of the block letter era where Ford stopped using the script on North American vehicles (and elsewhere to varying degrees).

Years later Ford hired a firm specializing in designing logos for corporations and it turned out that the firm they picked was a conscientious one as their report to the Company stated that their research concluded that Ford in the scripted oval was the second-most recognized trademark/logo in the world (after Coca-Cola) and that they could not hope to improve on that. The result was a return to the oval and script, albeit slightly modified with shorter tails on the letters and a shorter, taller oval, on Ford vehicles, dealer signage, etc.

01-24-2017, 11:33 AM	#1
DD931 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: PA Poconos Posts: 723	FoMoCo logo - When used? I'm trying to date an ignition switch I want to sell. I think it belongs to 51/52 F-1/2/3. It is marked on the back with FoMoCo. Does anyone know when Ford started using that logo? Thanks!!

01-24-2017, 12:03 PM	#2
Bob C Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: So Cal Posts: 9,598	Re: FoMoCo logo - When used? Did a search and found this. On 11/20/1948, a U.S. federal trademark registration was filed for FOMOCO. This trademark is owned by Ford Motor Company, One American Road Dearborn, MI 48126. The USPTO has given the FOMOCO trademark serial number of 71569147. Bob

01-24-2017, 12:08 PM	#3
1942deluxe Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Albion, PA Posts: 1,100	Re: FoMoCo logo - When used? Be aware a service part from the 50's may have that logo and not be correct if you are having your vehicle judged. I had vent glass I used on my 47 business coupe with an 11A part number that had the FoMoCo "bugs". They fit fine but would not be correct as the bugs should say "Ford".

01-24-2017, 12:27 PM	#4
blucar Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Ventura, CA Posts: 2,466	Re: FoMoCo logo - When used? I worked part time in a Ford dealership in eastern Idaho in 1948. Emblems on the Ford trucks changed from Ford script to Ford block letters, Parts started to be boxed/identified as FOMCO.. Automobiles stayed with the Ford script on the emblems. __________________ Bill.... 36 5 win cpe

01-24-2017, 01:27 PM	#5
rotorwrench Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 18,006	Re: FoMoCo logo - When used? Henry died in 1947. A lot of changes were made after that event that would not have happened otherwise.

01-24-2017, 01:46 PM	#6
Barry-ct Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Newington, Connecticut Posts: 1,374	Re: FoMoCo logo - When used? Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) The "FOMOCO" label is back in use. I was at the Ct. camping show Sunday and peeked under the hood of a 2017 Transit van. The engine ( South African made ) and the vehicle spec label both had Fomoco in large and small block letters. __________________ Barry 50 F-1

01-24-2017, 05:19 PM	#7
DD931 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: PA Poconos Posts: 723	Re: FoMoCo logo - When used? Thanks to all for your replies!! I'm narrowing down my search for the year(s) of my ignition switch!!

01-24-2017, 05:28 PM	#8
1942deluxe Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Albion, PA Posts: 1,100	Re: FoMoCo logo - When used? Does it have an engineering # on it?

01-24-2017, 07:06 PM	#9
Don Rogers Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Wildwood, MO. (near St. Louis) Posts: 1,850	Re: FoMoCo logo - When used? While researching Ford radiator hose markings a while back, I discovered that Ford started to use the FoMoCo script marking on radiator hoses in October 1949.

01-25-2017, 10:50 AM	#10
DD931 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: PA Poconos Posts: 723	Re: FoMoCo logo - When used? Other than the terminal IDs on the back, the only letters/numbers on it are "B1" on the side of the casting.

01-25-2017, 10:52 AM	#11
DD931 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: PA Poconos Posts: 723	Re: FoMoCo logo - When used? I'll post some pics when I get a minute to work on it.

01-25-2017, 12:15 PM	#12
DavidG Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: southeastern Michigan Posts: 10,670	Re: FoMoCo logo - When used? Don, That's consistent with the beginning of the block letter era where Ford stopped using the script on North American vehicles (and elsewhere to varying degrees). Years later Ford hired a firm specializing in designing logos for corporations and it turned out that the firm they picked was a conscientious one as their report to the Company stated that their research concluded that Ford in the scripted oval was the second-most recognized trademark/logo in the world (after Coca-Cola) and that they could not hope to improve on that. The result was a return to the oval and script, albeit slightly modified with shorter tails on the letters and a shorter, taller oval, on Ford vehicles, dealer signage, etc.