Seat belt label location

[Ron Hambrecht]

I have Hamill -GM labels for my 67 seat belts. I need some help on where on attaching the labels:

1. where on the belt does the label go ?
2. facing what direction ?
3. color of thread ?

[Stephen L.]

Re: Seat belt label location

I recently did this on 67 black belts. The thread turned out to be quite heavy, heavier than that used in shoemaking. I went to various shoemakers and finally found one that would sew them if I provided the thread. The thread in my case is black. I purchased a spool...... probably enough to do thousands of belts. I have photos of the finished product if you are interested. E-mail me for them. My old labels were still on the belts so I know the placement is correct.

[Gerard F.]

Re: Seat belt label location

Ron,

Here's my original belts with tattered labels.
Buckle side:
Retractor side:

The labels are on the inside of the belts on the end closest to the floor when they are on the car.

On the buckle ends, if you are looking at the inside of the belt and the underside of the buckle is on your left, the GM on the top of the label should be upright. On my buckle ends, the first stitch in the label is 1/2" from the last stitch in the belt overlap at the lower end.

On the tougue end, looking at the inside of the belt with the tongue to the left and the retractor to the right, the GM on the label near the retractor should again be upright. On my belts, the first stitch in the label is 7/8" from the last stitch in the belt overlap at the retractor end.

Both sets of belts are the same, there is no drivers side or passenger side.
The above orientation and distances may or may not be correct, and only how I found my original belts. I have seen some replacement belts with an opposite orientation and the labels further up on the belts. Maybe it depends upon when they were stitched and who stitched them.

I did stitch labels on another set of 67 black belts with new belt material and used the orientation and dimensions as indicated above.
I used black nylon upholstery thread, with a 50's vintage singer machine, and a 110/18 needle. 8 stitches per inch on a line on each side of the label. I think any sewing machine will do as long as it can handle a 110/18 needle, even on original belt material. I did the buckle end tri-fold on my originals going through three layers with that needle. Learned to sew on that project.

In regard to thread color, I'm sure it was all black on black belts. However if you have color belts, it's probably the belt color and maybe white on one side.
There have been some posts in the archives on this topic.

Hope this explanation isn't too confusing, and may not be the most "correct" information. Hopefully someone else will chime in and straighten me out.

Jerry Fuccillo
#42179

[larry linkous]

Great Photo's!!!!!!! *NM*