Zenith carb question

[Pinstripe]

I just got an A with a rebuilt Zenith but the name Zenith has been ground off the base, with the grind marks showing, not finished. Why would this be done? and by what rebuilder?

[Coupster]

Check this link

Unmarked Zenith-style Carb

[Pinstripe]

thank you

[Tom Endy]

The story I have heard over the years is that when Model A production began Zenith was the only supplier. The carburetors had only the word Zenith on the side. Zenith could not keep up with production, so Ford asked them to license Holly to build them as well. Zenith held the patents so Holly was licensed to produce the same product. Holly began producing them with the word Zenith on the side. Zenith objected to this and made Holly or Ford grind the word Zenith off the side.

There are Zenith carburetors around with no name, or Zenith ground off. These I believe were made by Holly for a very short period of time.

Ford did not like the idea of the carburetor not having a name on it, and Zenith did not want Holly to put their name on it. An agreement was reached such that the carburetors Zenith produced would have the word Zenith-1 on the side, Holly would have the word Zenith-2 on the side.

There are very minor differences in the two carburetors, but enough to recognize who made what. Over the years as they came into a rebuilder's facilities the tops and bottoms got separated and today many are hybrids with tops and bottoms that don't match. They work just the same.

Tom Endy

[Pinstripe]

very good info thanks

[Purdy Swoft]

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It sounds like sombody was trying to make a Zenith resemble a Holley and got tard before finishing the job.