Another stamp pad question? C2

[Tom S.]

I know that the pad was stamped at the engine plant with the engine code and date. Then the St. Louis plant stamped the serial # on the other side of the pad. But why such a differance in size of the stamped letter's. I don't know what the size is but there is quite a differance. Why wouldn't they make them all the same for all plants? You know keep everything uniform. Just curious was there a reason for this differance? Tom

[John H.]

Re: Another stamp pad question? C2

I know that the pad was stamped at the engine plant with the engine code and date. Then the St. Louis plant stamped the serial # on the other side of the pad. But why such a differance in size of the stamped letter's. I don't know what the size is but there is quite a differance. Why wouldn't they make them all the same for all plants? You know keep everything uniform. Just curious was there a reason for this differance? Tom

Tom -

Engineering specified the size of the engine plant machine stamp, and they also specified the size of the slightly smaller assembly plant VIN derivative stamp; have no idea why they're two different sizes.

[Tom S.]

Re: Another stamp pad question? C2

Thanks John I was just curious as to why two differant sizes? I was up in that area cleaning today and it just struck me strange.It just seems like veryone at G.M. would have the same size when building the same cars. Thanks again Tom

[William C.]

Re: Another stamp pad question? C2

GM was a VERY de-centralized operation in the "old days" and always remember "Chevrolet bought General Motors, GM did not buy Chevrolet" to start to understand the mindset!

[Jim D.]

Re: Another stamp pad question? C2

Tom,
In 1960 when GM first started stamping the VIN on the engine pad, they were the same size as the assembly stamp. It wasn't until the later in the 1960 model year that they started using a gang holder for the stamps and at that time the numbers were smaller. Why the change? I don't know.

[Dick W.]

Re: Another stamp pad question? C2

GM was a VERY de-centralized operation in the "old days" and always remember "Chevrolet bought General Motors, GM did not buy Chevrolet" to start to understand the mindset!

And for years Chevrolet ruled the roost. Everyone in the office on Grand Ave understood that, whether they liked it or not.