Seat Date Codes

[Dan D.]

I'm starting to re-do the seats in my late May built 57. The tags on the seat springs (McInerney Spring & Wire Co.) are dated August, 1955. The dates stamped on the foam are June/July, 1956, and one is August, 1955.
Was it 'normal' to have the seats made that far in advance of the car build date?
I can't believe that the seats are not original, but I suppose anything is possible.
Thanks -Dan-

[Joe M.]

Re: Seat Date Codes

The date codes on my 1960 seat frames are 1958. I found that interesting.

[Dan D.]

Re: Seat Date Codes

Thanks Joe,

Beginning to look like they had a huge inventory of seats. Doesn't sound like good planning or inventory control.

Can anyone else chime in with seat dates? Would be nice to know what the scatter spread was over a larger sampling. -Dan-

p.s. I did a Google on McInerney Spring and it came up, but quite old - nothing in the last several years, so I assume they are out of business. The were in Benton Harbor Michigan and listed as interior producers for Detroit up until 1978 or so. Ya Joe, interesting. -Dan-

[Scott S.]

Re: Seat Date Codes

Thanks Joe,

Beginning to look like they had a huge inventory of seats. Doesn't sound like good planning or inventory control.

Can anyone else chime in with seat dates? Would be nice to know what the scatter spread was over a larger sampling. -Dan-

By 1967 they may have straightened out inventory control. The metal tag attached to the seat springs and to the back of the passenger seat are dated 11-8-66 and 11-2-66, the car was built 1-11-67.

I haven't had the seat-foam out yet to check it for a date.

[Steve H.]

Re: Seat Date Codes

Dan,
The seat springs on my August 56 car were dated 1955.

Steve

[Dan D.]

Re: Seat Date Codes

Thanks Steve,

It's beginning to look like seats may pre-date the car by a year or more, but we need a larger sampling size. Anyone else look at their seats? -Dan-

[Rod K.]

Re: Seat Date Codes

I haven't looked at mine in a long time but recall they were from mid 1955 for a Nov '56 car.

[Dan D.]

Re: Seat Date Codes

Thanks Rod,
Keep em coming. Month and year, seats and car build date if possible. -Dan-

[Tom H.]

Re: Seat Date Codes

Dan,

My car is also a May car #4176. The seat spring tags are dated 7/30/56. I posted pictures of the tags in a June 6, 2009 post.

[Gary C.]

Re: Seat Date Codes

Link to Tom Hind's 2009 thread https://www.forums.ncrs.org/showthread.php?p=421138

VIN 3004 has the back seat paper tags dated 7/30/56

Best guess is they produced batches of 1,000 seat runs or ?

Gary
....

[Dan D.]

Re: Seat Date Codes

I'm now convinced I have the original seats. 3 of the 4 cloth ID tags have survived and actually are in pretty good shape. Seats need foam and covers. Everything else seems to be in good shape. There were plenty of sunflower seeds in them. I have them apart. Thanks to everyone that replied.

FYI, here are the actual dates:

Driver Bottom: 8.25.55
Driver Back: 6.7.56
Pass Bottom: 8.23.55
Pass Back: 7.16.56

Car is #4122 - May 21, 57

-Dan-

[Calvin M.]

Re: Seat Date Codes

Hi Dan -

The legible seat tag from my late Aug. '57 is dated 10-31-56 (P/N 3725148).

A black, oblong, heavy paper tag embossed "SHIFT 1" was also hog-ringed to the seat.

Cal

[Pete P.]

Re: Seat Date Codes

Hi Dan,

Here's a late reply since I'm just getting my seats redone this week. The seat tag on my early 1960 (Oct. '59), is dated 12-8-58. I also find it interesting how far in advance the seat springs are dated.

Like what Cal said above, the tag is a black, oblong, heavy paper tag embossed and hog-ringed to the seat back (both driver and passenger backs).