When did battery date codes change?

[Troy P.]

Back to 1953 or earlier the battery date code convention was "year-month-plant". The 63-64 model year NCRS TIMJG says that convention was still used up through 64. I assume that was well researched and correct.

I have owned or seen NOS Delco batteries built in the 1960's as over the counter replacements for car model years 1953 up to 67 or whenever the DC-12 wet battery with yellow caps was last used. Those have the following date codes:

That does not follow the "year-month-plant" format and I have no idea how to interpret them. So a change was made by Delco. When was it and how is this new code interpreted? Hopefully someone can solve this mystery.

Some of you with NCRS TIMJGs later than the 63-64 model year edition may find this in your books or in later Delco catalogs.

On the surface it appears that the new convention of the three examples I've seen is "month-year-plant". Note two of the date codes shown above have an "X" in the third position and that could be the New Brunswick, NJ plant. But one has "C" in the plant position and there is no plant I know of with a "C" code. The number in the middle position could be a year indicator (9,2,or 7). A big problem comes in trying to assume the first letter indicates the month because there is no "N" month. December is the last month and it is "M". ("I" was not used)

[Troy P.]

Re: When did battery date codes change?

Just found a NOS Energizers on Ebay with a "B6N" and "L9X" date codes. Add those to the other 3 I listed.

What do they mean??

[Michael J.]

Re: When did battery date codes change?

I have all the C2s, and TIM&JGs, they all state the format stamp on the battery is Year(numeric) Month(alpha) Source(alpha). Usually, for Corvette factory production line batteries the source is "V", for Olathe, Kansas, the nearest Delco plant. In 1967, it is also possible to have a numeric day stamped on the positive side of an Energizer style one, but the other stamp, YMS, on the negative side is still there in the same C2 format.

[Troy P.]

Re: When did battery date codes change?

OK then through 67 it should not have changed. So that leaves open the question when it did change and how to interpret it? Anyone with C3 info to share on this?

[Michael J.]

Re: When did battery date codes change?

In looking through my '68 and up TIM&JGs, there is no mention of any date or source code stampings at all on batteries. As you know, starting in '68 the batteries were put behind the driver's seat, and late into the '69 MY they switched from top post to side bolt batteries from multiple manufacturers.

[Troy P.]

Re: When did battery date codes change?

So the mystery continues. There are clearly Delco batteries out there with date/source codes that don't fit "year-month-plant" format. I don't suppose its possible that the format changed in early-mid 60's and the TIMJGs for 63-67 are incorrect?

For historical interest Delco Energizer, the first "hard top" battery, was released in mid 65. May have first appeared in a Corvette in 66?

[Michael J.]

Re: When did battery date codes change?

The first hard-top Energizer R59 appeared in the '67 Corvette. The '66 was a tar top DC-12. Considering that thousands of C2 Corvettes have been judged by these standards over many decades, and the fact that an entire industry to reproduce Corvette batteries with these configurations and date codes existed, I find it hard to believe all this is just a mistake.

[Troy P.]

Re: When did battery date codes change?

I doubted a mistake. But so far don't see any other explanation.

By the way one of the strange date codes I listed earlier was on a NOS DC-12 battery I had. Still have the photo evidence.

Can't wait for someone to come forward and provide an explanation.

[Michael J.]

Re: When did battery date codes change?

You mentioned these NOS batteries as over the counter replacements. Many times those parts had different characteristics from production line parts. I suspect that is the issue here.

[Troy P.]

Re: When did battery date codes change?

Only difference I've ever seen is the Delco emblems and the DC-12 on the front of the case are painted yellow. Otherwise the batteries are the same.

The theory about the yellow paint is the battery would be more attractive on display for an OTC sale.

In any case it makes no sense that an over the counter battery would have a different date code scheme. They are made at the same plant on the same line as batteries delivered for assembly plant install. Also none of the Delco catalogs I have indicate there is any difference.

But for those that are not aware, an OTC dry battery ended up with two date codes. One was applied at the factory just like we normally see. The other was stamped on top of the negative terminal when the battery was charged and sold. That second date was indicating the beginning of the warranty period. Delco provided dealers with the stamp to use for each new year. The stamp included only the year and month. No need to identify the plant again.

BTW there is a vintage Delco battery factory video on YouTube. Shows how they made the batteries and painted the logos.

[Troy P.]

Re: When did battery date codes change?

I'm not dismissing your thought that the date/plant codes should have for some reason differed if the battery was not destined for a vehicle assembly plant. Its a possible explanation.

However, that still leaves the questions of when that started and how are the codes interpreted.

[Gary B.]

Re: When did battery date codes change?

The 68-69 TIM&JG and the 70-72 TIM&JG are silent on dating. I've never been provided the date code information, or been able to find it.

As a side thought, batteries are judged using the Standard Deduction Table, not CDCIF. 10% deduct for no date code stamping. 30% for reproductions.

When I was having my 72 base motor coupe judged, I gutted it's original battery from the bottom, put a new battery inside and put it back in the car. In over 20-times being judged, only one person looked at me and asked where I got an original battery. Judges look, see what they think is a repro, take 30% off. Automatic, boom. 21 points for the battery, 30% was 6 points. I got tired of arguing with them, and moved on. The car still got 97% for Duntov judging.

If somebody has the 68-72 date coding information, I'd be happy to add it. Anybody???

Gb

[Jimmy P.]

Re: When did battery date codes change?

When revising the 3rd Edition 73-74 TIM&JG we didn't mention date code info in the final product either or illustrate it in any Battery photos, although I recall having some discussion. However, we did mention(and illustrate with photos & captions)the Battery date codes in the new 3rd Edition of the 75-77 TIM&JG. I do have a few photos from my files illustrating a couple original 1973 Delco Energizers from revision team and NCRS members. The codes were heat stamped below the gang caps in 73-75. Day on the left...year,month and factory on the right side. First photo is a '73 R89S July 10, 1973 not sure what factory used 'K'? Tom Kobman once told me that three factory code letters were 'l'(I)- Muncie, Indiana...'V'- Olathe, Kansas...'T'- also Muncie, Indiana. Never mentioned 'K'. I'm sure someone on here probably knows. Second photo is from a 1973 R89W HD Delco Energizer..dated March 19, 1973.
Then, the batteries changed to the red/ white/ blue Delco Freedom Battery for '76 &'77. The date code format remained pretty much the same. I took a photo of the '76 example found on page 49 (Fig.I 13.7) 3rd Edition 75-77 TIM&JG. Date code... June 23, 1975. Not sure what the codes looked like for 78 & later.
Hope this info is useful.
Happy New Year!

PS..Gary, I would assume the ' 73 date code format would have been the same on earlier C3's, for sure the 72 Energizers. Biggest difference would be the Mylar labels changed during '73 from the black/ silver label in early 73 to the black/ white label with red danger oval!

[Terry M.]

Re: When did battery date codes change?

The 68-69 TIM&JG and the 70-72 TIM&JG are silent on dating. I've never been provided the date code information, or been able to find it.

As a side thought, batteries are judged using the Standard Deduction Table, not CDCIF. 10% deduct for no date code stamping. 30% for reproductions.

When I was having my 72 base motor coupe judged, I gutted it's original battery from the bottom, put a new battery inside and put it back in the car. In over 20-times being judged, only one person looked at me and asked where I got an original battery. Judges look, see what they think is a repro, take 30% off. Automatic, boom. 21 points for the battery, 30% was 6 points. I got tired of arguing with them, and moved on. The car still got 97% for Duntov judging.

If somebody has the 68-72 date coding information, I'd be happy to add it. Anybody???

Gb

I do, but my challenge will be to find it. I have a battery product sales brochure someplace. Either with the materials Delco sent me for the Sealed Side Terminal story (I didn't pass those on to you yet, did I?) or with all my books in my library in the garage. It will be another of the many searches I have to make. Just keep reminding me.

In the bigger scheme of things, does it matter. Your experience and mine with the 1971 are the same. We do these things more for our own satisfaction than anything. Maybe some day it will provide a learning experience for someone and that will make it all worth while.

[Troy P.]

Re: When did battery date codes change?

That's interesting stuff. Two "K"s and an "I" in locations suspected to be 70's era battery plant codes. Also note in the 5 mystery codes I listed in my first two posts there was a "C" and a "N" in what is being suggested as the plant code. Problem is we have no idea what 4 plants those would be.

These are the codes and plants active as of end of 1957:
V is Olathe, KS
X is New Brunswick, NJ
T is Muncie, IN
S is Anaheim

Now here's the thing I'm a C1, C2 guy and researched early Delco battery plants active for those years. I will look into Delco plant history again tomorrow and see what other plants I, K, C and N might be...if in fact they are really plant codes. I know they built at least one more plant in the US. Down south maybe. Also a plant was built in Mexico and one in France. I will investigate.

Since I don't know 70's era Corvettes please tell me if assembly was still in Saint Louis and what year it moved to Bowling Green. Assembly plant location is important because, to the extent possible, batteries came from the Delco plant closest to the car assembly plants. The reason Delco built plants where they did was to be close to GM assembly plants for the simple reason batteries are so darn heavy they are expensive to ship. Thus before 1957 the batteries to Flint and then Saint Louis came from Muncie. After 1957 when the Kansas plant was completed that's where Corvette batteries came from. That's why judges should expect to see a "V" code on any factory installed tar top.