"Rollabelt" retractor history part #s etc HELP

[Rick B.]

After reviewing the archives and posts about seatbelt retractors Im looking for some help. Plenty of conversations about when retractors in general first appeared and their transitions to internal reels BUT very little on the separate retractors themselves, i.e. "Roll-a-Belt logo, configuration details and part number sequencing. Any help in understanding the Name "Rollabelt" AND when this name disappeared and was this change associated with a part number change would be immensely helpful.

For context:

The 65 JM states on pg 37; "Roll-a-Belt" was manufactured by Borg-Warner of Chicago IL (both names appear on the cylinder) and is chrome plated etc etc" (Note; Pic is shown in 11-4 ONLY showing the familiar "PAT. PEND. MOD. 100 B-W")

66 JM states on pg 47; "Manufactured by Borg-Warner of Chicago Ill etc etc. It goes on to say "with the words "PAT. PEND." on the top and "MOD. 100 B-W" below it." (No mention of Roll-a-Belt")

Based on this input it implies there were two different retractor configurations? Supported by a post in 09 stating early retractors had the "Roll-a-Belt" logo until there was trademark litigation with a Men's apparel company. Early's had the logo.
The question is; Were there indeed two configurations of the retractors, One with the logo one without? Importantly what was the approximate timeframe of this transition? Early = 3 month, 6 months? etc. and....One would think there would be a part number change?

BUT In the AIMS ;

65 AIM on UPC 1 F17 at #5 Retractor part is # 9776227 with no revision.

66 AIM on UPC 1 F17 at #3 Retractor part is #9776227 BUT WITH REVISION RECORDED STATING "Removed". Obviously this removal was to make way for the internal reel.

One last point;

In the parts catalogs such as the Oct 1 65 P&A there is no mention of 9776227. ONLY #986068 on pg 1404 which based on the what I have seen is corresponding retractor without the "Roll-a-Belt logo. Stated for PASS car with NO retractor I see listed for Corvette.

Production versions with 227 part number ever available in service?

Any help here would be much appreciated as always!

BTW and in NOV 1990 9776227 was discontinued.

[Jack M.]

Re: "Rollabelt" retractor history part #s etc HELP

Rick- This info may be of little help, but I'd be remiss if I didn't share the observation.
I've been trying to study the ORANGE Seat Belt Tag, and see the following:

Looking at the 1965 AIM, notice that the Seat Belt Tag (9776439) was added on 3-19-65:
Seat Belts - 1965 CORVETTE ASSEMBLY MANUAL-01.jpg
Seat Belts - 1965 CORVETTE ASSEMBLY MANUAL-02.jpg


Looking at these instructions, the part number (9776364) predated the Seat Belt Tag... and is a 2nd Revision.
Seat-Belt-Retractor-Instructions-01.jpg
Seat-Belt-Retractor-Instructions-02.jpg


The actual retractor itself, has an AIM part number of 9776227.
With the addition of the TAG, and update of the instructions, something seems to have transpired.
Perhaps the dates help with your questions. Then again... I've been known to be totally clueless, many times.

[Joe L.]

Re: "Rollabelt" retractor history part #s etc HELP

After reviewing the archives and posts about seatbelt retractors Im looking for some help. Plenty of conversations about when retractors in general first appeared and their transitions to internal reels BUT very little on the separate retractors themselves, i.e. "Roll-a-Belt logo, configuration details and part number sequencing. Any help in understanding the Name "Rollabelt" AND when this name disappeared and was this change associated with a part number change would be immensely helpful.

For context:

The 65 JM states on pg 37; "Roll-a-Belt" was manufactured by Borg-Warner of Chicago IL (both names appear on the cylinder) and is chrome plated etc etc" (Note; Pic is shown in 11-4 ONLY showing the familiar "PAT. PEND. MOD. 100 B-W")

66 JM states on pg 47; "Manufactured by Borg-Warner of Chicago Ill etc etc. It goes on to say "with the words "PAT. PEND." on the top and "MOD. 100 B-W" below it." (No mention of Roll-a-Belt")

Based on this input it implies there were two different retractor configurations? Supported by a post in 09 stating early retractors had the "Roll-a-Belt" logo until there was trademark litigation with a Men's apparel company. Early's had the logo.
The question is; Were there indeed two configurations of the retractors, One with the logo one without? Importantly what was the approximate timeframe of this transition? Early = 3 month, 6 months? etc. and....One would think there would be a part number change?

BUT In the AIMS ;

65 AIM on UPC 1 F17 at #5 Retractor part is # 9776227 with no revision.

66 AIM on UPC 1 F17 at #3 Retractor part is #9776227 BUT WITH REVISION RECORDED STATING "Removed". Obviously this removal was to make way for the internal reel.

One last point;

In the parts catalogs such as the Oct 1 65 P&A there is no mention of 9776227. ONLY #986068 on pg 1404 which based on the what I have seen is corresponding retractor without the "Roll-a-Belt logo. Stated for PASS car with NO retractor I see listed for Corvette.

Production versions with 227 part number ever available in service?

Any help here would be much appreciated as always!

BTW and in NOV 1990 9776227 was discontinued.

Rick------

I guess I don't understand what you're asking about. You ask if the 9775227 was ever available in SERVICE and, then, in the last sentence you say it was discontinued in 1990. For a part to have been discontinued from SERVICE it has to have once been available in SERVICE. So, yes, the 9776227 was once available in SERVICE. However, it was not discontinued in 1990; it was discontinued in 1985.

[Rick B.]

Re: "Rollabelt" retractor history part #s etc HELP

Joe Interesting. I guess in my over communication I also created confusion, sorry about that.

I can't locate that 9776227 in My 65 and My 66 parts P&A catalog. So one of the questions- Do we have an idea of when that retractor entered service? As for the discontinuation, I guess I was looking at the Parts history Catalog 87B Nov 90 and interpreted it was at that time not realizing it showed up in an earlier parts history. That said, I see it in the Parts History 87A December 81 not the 85. Am I missing something?

The other questions more directly were

When was the Roll-a-belt logo taken off retractor 9776227?
Wouldn't this have required a new part #?
Would this be part #986068?

[Rick B.]

Re: "Rollabelt" retractor history part #s etc HELP

Pic attached for context
IMG_1511.jpg

[Joe L.]

Re: "Rollabelt" retractor history part #s etc HELP

Joe Interesting. I guess in my over communication I also created confusion, sorry about that.

I can't locate that 9776227 in My 65 and My 66 parts P&A catalog. So one of the questions- Do we have an idea of when that retractor entered service? As for the discontinuation, I guess I was looking at the Parts history Catalog 87B Nov 90 and interpreted it was at that time not realizing it showed up in an earlier parts history. That said, I see it in the Parts History 87A December 81 not the 85. Am I missing something?

The other questions more directly were

When was the Roll-a-belt logo taken off retractor 9776227?
Wouldn't this have required a new part #?
Would this be part #986068?

Rick-----


Yes, the GM #9276227 is shown as being discontinued in the 12/81 edition of the GM Parts History catalog. This would mean that it was discontinued sometime between 1/76 and 12/81. It would not be shown in a 1985 edition of that catalog since the date range of that catalog is likely 1982 to 1985. However, the information I have is much more current than either of these catalogs and it indicates it was discontinued in 1985. This is, for all practical purposes, of zero importance at this point in time.

Regarding your other questions:

1) I have no knowledge of when the 9776227 was released for SERVICE. However, that date could be much different than when it was released to PRODUCTION. Some PRODUCTION parts are never released to SERVICE. I can tell you that the GM #9776227 was never cataloged (i.e SERVICE) for any Corvette or, for that matter, any Chevrolet passenger car application. The only application I can find for it is some truck application. That does not mean it was not used in PRODUCTION for some Corvette application and/or other Chevrolet or GM passenger car application. Why would this occur? The only people that know are probably long-dead.

2) The part number embossment could easily have been deleted without a change of part number. However, I have no information that occurred in this case. The fact is that the GM #968068 was a dealer or customer installed ACCESSORY item. It would not have been used in PRODUCTION nor would it have officially replaced a PRODUCTION part for SERVICE. ACCESSORY parts are not PRODUCTION-validated. In general, ACCESSORY items are one-size-fits-all, aftermarket quality items. At that time in history, they may be carried in regular P&A catalogs, though, as the 968068 once was. Later, ACCESSORY items were usually carried only on a separate section of the P&A catalogs.