Body stamp

[freak]

I just found the body stamp on my 1930 fordor. It says CHI 36. I know the CHI means Chicago but what does the 36 mean? 36th car?

[Herb Concord Ca]

Most folks believe that the number is, the number of that body style built to date at that assembly plant.
herb

[freak]

That's what I meant. Guess no one knows for sure?

[Steve Plucker]

You must have a very early 1930 there?

As Herb indicated, it is thought that the number after the letters are the number of that body style coming down the assembly line.

Not so with some plants in 28-29.

Pluck

[freak]

Originally Posted by Steve Plucker

You must have a very early 1930 there?
Pluck

No kidding. That was probably made on the first day the plant opened?

[Tinbasher]

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That's my guess.

[darrylkmc]

I would venture to guess, that the body numbers were stamped by the guys who assembled it, at the time of assembly. Before it went for paint.

I doubt that the body numbers would have been stamped on the assembly line for several reasons. One being, that the body assembly area would be set up for backing the area to be stamped, these stamped numbers are usually clearly stamped, not just stamped on the fly.

Darryl in Fairbanks

[Steve Plucker]

Originally Posted by darrylkmc

I would venture to guess, that the body numbers were stamped by the guys who assembled it, at the time of assembly. Before it went for paint.

I doubt that the body numbers would have been stamped on the assembly line for several reasons. One being, that the body assembly area would be set up for backing the area to be stamped, these stamped numbers are usually clearly stamped, not just stamped on the fly.

Darryl in Fairbanks

That is a first...What body style is the body Darryl?

Pluck

[Tudortomnz]

This is an intriguing body number.
First, it is on a Fordor which we have been told were assembled at the Briggs/Murray factories, then shipped to Ford Plants for mounting. Why does it have a Chicago Plant #?
Outside the US, Fordors were assembled at Ontario, Manchester UK & Geelong Australia. Looks like they were in US as well, even though some were also shipped complete..
Re Darryls Phaeton body #, that looks like an Ontario body # to me as we have the same here in NZ.
6 F [ Phaeton built at Ontario], with low production # compered with US production.
My 2c worth

[darrylkmc]

Steve,

As Tudortomnz mentioned, this is an early 1930 Standard Phaeton Canadian.
There is the sister car here in Fairbanks, body 6F1426, stamped in the same location, both came to Fairbanks the same day, in the 50's, from Canada.

I would not have even known that the numbers existed until the owner showed me the body number on his other Canadian Phaeton.

The subject of Canadian manufactured bodies should be a separate thread, as I have many questions. but.....

I still believe that the body numbers where stamped by the ones who assembled the body, although it is possible that each body was stamped at the assembly line, it just doesn't seem practical to me.

Darryl in Fairbanks up to -8 F was -41 overnight

[Marco Tahtaras]

Originally Posted by freak

I just found the body stamp on my 1930 fordor. It says CHI 36. I know the CHI means Chicago but what does the 36 mean? 36th car?

Did your car by chance begin life as a Standard Fordor?

[freak]

I'm guessing yes because it has a center dome lamp and no rear arm rests. Why do you ask?

[Marco Tahtaras]

Originally Posted by freak

I'm guessing yes because it has a center dome lamp and no rear arm rests. Why do you ask?

I'm not sure it makes a difference, but I'm leaning toward the idea that Town Sedans were shipped from Murray and Briggs already painted and trimmed. The paint would just be the base color. At the Ford branch it would then get another coat of the base color on the exterior only, followed by an application of the secondary color. This appears to be how the 1929 Town cars were done as well as Cabriolets, as installing the interior trim and tops were too complex to be easily done on Ford's assembly lines.

By contrast the Standard Fordors were more basic and simpler to trim. These definitely appear to have been shipped from Murray and Briggs at least partially 'knocked down' and in primer only. I was thinking this would make it more likely it would be given a Ford body number stamping as the Chicago branch would have done final assembly instead of a semi-finished body that just passed through Chicago.

Although I have no data to back it up, I suspect the standard Fordors for the new year were released a month or two later like they did in '31 with the new slant windshield models. There was clearly a focus on getting the deluxe models out first to spotlight the new models. That means that instead of Late November and December of 1929 like the new Town Sedans, it's possible the Standard versions didn't begin until at least January. That would make yours 'early' for the model type but not necessarily real early for the model year.

[BlueSunoco]

Those are some of the 'crisp-est' body stamp and assy. plant numbers I have seen.

You are fortunate.

[DGNY]

Off topic, in a sense... I continue to be amazed by the level of knowledge, and accompanying articulation of answers, by distinguished posters, such as in the foregoing exchange. This forum is greatly enriched by virtue of such contributions.

Thanks and Regards,

Dyson

[freak]

Yeah that was some great info Marco!!! Thanks!

[Dennis Haag]

Interesting posts. I have a 31 town sedan with body stamp CHI 9358 motor and frame numbers match indicating Sept 29,1930. Car was most likely assembled Nov or Dec 1930 in Chicago. My thought is the numbers were stamped on the assembly line and the car was the 9358 car for the day. I understand assembly plants had to send to Ford, daily production reports. Still looking for more information.

[freak]

6 cars a minute?

[Dennis Haag]

Would anyone know a daily production number to be. I would think Chicago would have 8 plus lines running.