66 & 67 Tung Sol 224 & 323 Flasher date codes

[David L.]

Over the years I have had and sold many NOS 224 and 323 Tung Sol flashers but at that time I did not pay much attention to the 3-digit code stamped on them which might be a date code.

I still have 4 NOS Tung Sol 323 plastic flashers but all have the "DOT" and each prong has a small hole. The codes (stamped vertically) are "073", "038", "053", and "435". Based on these codes I would say that the date code format might be the week of the year (the first 2 digits) and the year (the last digit).
Example: "073" = 7th week of 1973

HOWEVER, I also have what I believe is an original blue plastic Tung Sol 224 flasher from an "early" 1967 Buick Special (VIN = 435697B601695, the 1695th one made) in near mint condition. It is very possible that this flasher was a replacement as I found it in the 1967 Buick on Feb. 17, 1992, at a salvage yard in Hinsdale, NH. The flasher does NOT have the "DOT" and does NOT have the small hole in each of the two prongs. The code on the flasher is "806" stamped vertically. The date code obviously can not be the 80th week of 1966 but it could be 1968, 6th week.

I would appreciate any comments to decode this 3-digit stamping. I know that the Tung Sol AP373V flashers used on 1961-1963 Corvettes have yet to be decoded (examples: "H362", "H119", "H661", "H862", H681", "H458").
The AP373V "H362" flasher was removed from a 1962 Chevrolet Impala at a salvage yard in Wilton, NH, on April 11, 1989.

Enclosed are 3 low quality photos of my near mint non-DOT 224 flasher.

Dave

[Wayne M.]

Re: 66 & 67 Tung Sol 224 & 323 Flasher date codes

Dave -- what's this one ? Metal can, prongs have no holes, but there's a faint dimple on the side of each contact, where the hole would be. Top reads: "MFD TO J590-61", then in center "SAE". Other side of barrel (top line) "4___2___3", widely spaced and stamped in very small characters; next line "PAT.NO.RE.24023"; third line "MADE IN U.S.A."

Can take pics of the above info, if needed.



y

[David L.]

Re: 66 & 67 Tung Sol 224 & 323 Flasher date codes

Wayne,

I also have a used light blue metal Tung Sol 224 flasher exactly the same as yours but the stamped horizontal code is "6 3 1" (1966, 31st week???). Each prong has a small "dimple" instead of a hole. I believe the metal 224 flashers were used on "early" 1966 models as well as 1965-1965 models w/back-up lights and I believe that the GM part numbers is 383639. My 1966 Chevrolet Parts Catalog (Oct. 1965) lists GM # 383639 for 64-66 Corvettes w/back-up lights and is described as "FLASHER (2 bulb)(A-418B)". The "A-418B" part number must be from a different vendor.

Dave

[Dave S.]

Re: 66 & 67 Tung Sol 224 & 323 Flasher date codes

Wayne,

I also have a used light blue metal Tung Sol 224 flasher exactly the same as yours but the stamped horizontal code is "6 3 1" (1966, 31st week???). Each prong has a small "dimple" instead of a hole. I believe the metal 224 flashers were used on "early" 1966 models as well as 1965-1965 models w/back-up lights and I believe that the GM part numbers is 383639. My 1966 Chevrolet Parts Catalog (Oct. 1965) lists GM # 383639 for 64-66 Corvettes w/back-up lights and is described as "FLASHER (2 bulb)(A-418B)". The "A-418B" part number must be from a different vendor.

Dave

David,
I can't speak for mid-year flashers but have lots of experience with C3 flashers. The flashers on 68-72 cars are non DOT and have a 3 digit date code often stamped between letters before and after. I don't know what the letters represent but the numbers are the date code. Samples from #552, #224(blue plastic) and #536 flashers are 240= 24th week of 1970, 190=19th week of 1970, 051=5th week of 1971, 190=19th week of 1971, 111=11th week of 1971 and 121=12th week of 1971. The format of the date coding is the same for Ideal and Tung Sol so I suspect GM mandated that dating system be used.
I don't know if that helps but may clarify things for C3 owners.

[Peter L.]

Re: 66 & 67 Tung Sol 224 & 323 Flasher date codes

Sometime on the 1969 +/- or so timeframe TS changed its Production Code from the YMM format with the Y being the last digit of the production year & MM being the month 01 to 12 to MMY with MM being the month 01-12 & Y being the last digit of the year. And around that time they also starting using the "legs" with the hole in them. Pete

[Dave S.]

Re: 66 & 67 Tung Sol 224 & 323 Flasher date codes

Sometime on the 1969 +/- or so timeframe TS changed its Production Code from the YMM format with the Y being the last digit of the production year & MM being the month 01 to 12 to MMY with MM being the month 01-12 & Y being the last digit of the year. And around that time they also starting using the "legs" with the hole in them. Pete

Pete,
Can you explain why the flashers I have and see are week (1-52) format as opposed to a month (1-12) format.???

[David L.]

Re: 66 & 67 Tung Sol 224 & 323 Flasher date codes

Sometime on the 1969 +/- or so timeframe TS changed its Production Code from the YMM format with the Y being the last digit of the production year & MM being the month 01 to 12 to MMY with MM being the month 01-12 & Y being the last digit of the year. And around that time they also starting using the "legs" with the hole in them. Pete

Pete,

This makes sense for 3 of NORS Tung Sol 323 DOT yellow plastic flashers but not for the 4th.
MMY
073 = July 1973
038 = Mar. 1978
053 = May 1973
435 = ?? 1975 (stamping mistake???)

My 1967 Buick Special Tung Sol 224 non-DOT blue plastic flasher (probably a replacement) must be 1968, June* (YMM= "806").

*corrected ("8" = 1968, "06" = June)

Dave

[Dave S.]

Re: 66 & 67 Tung Sol 224 & 323 Flasher date codes

Pete,

This makes sense for 3 of NORS Tung Sol 323 DOT yellow plastic flashers but not for the 4th.
MMY
073 = July 1973
038 = Mar. 1978
053 = May 1973
435 = ?? 1975 (stamping mistake???)

My 1967 Buick Special Tung Sol 224 non-DOT blue plastic flasher (probably a replacement) must be 1968, August (YMM= "806").

Dave

How about 073=7th week of 1973, 435=43rd week of 1975 etc. That would be consistent with my examples from my Bowtie cars. I believe DOT flashers were introduced in the 72/73 time frame.

[David L.]

Re: 66 & 67 Tung Sol 224 & 323 Flasher date codes

How about 073=7th week of 1973, 435=43rd week of 1975 etc. That would be consistent with my examples from my Bowtie cars. I believe DOT flashers were introduced in the 72/73 time frame.

Dave

Refer to the very first post (12/17/2011, 01:39 PM) of this thread, 2nd paragraph.

The "806" code on my Tung Sol 224 non-DOT blue plastic flasher makes sense where "8" = 1968 and "06" = June. I made the correction in my previous post.

Dave

[Dave S.]

Re: 66 & 67 Tung Sol 224 & 323 Flasher date codes

Dave

Refer to the very first post (12/17/2011, 01:39 PM) of this thread, 2nd paragraph.

The "806" code on my Tung Sol 224 non-DOT blue plastic flasher makes sense where "8" = 1968 and "06" = June. I made the correction in my previous post.

Dave

So it seems that prior to 69 (give or take) the year was the first number of the stamping group and sometime in 69 and later the year was the last number. When DOT was introduced in the 73 time frame it seems there is no clear decoding method just like the earlier flashers.
It would be nice to get some data while judging cars but the dates are near impossible to see without removing the flasher. (clearly a No-No)

[Terry M.]

Re: 66 & 67 Tung Sol 224 & 323 Flasher date codes

Sometime on the 1969 +/- or so timeframe TS changed its Production Code from the YWW format with the Y being the last digit of the production year & WW being the week 01 to 52 to WWY with & Y being the last digit of the year and WW being the week 01 to 52. And around that time they also starting using the "legs" with the hole in them. Pete

There Pete I corrected it for you.

Pete and I spent a lot of time quite a few years ago doing field work on these dates and on other details of flashers. We solicited the cooperation of owners to remove the flashers on a large number of mid-years and early C3s. I am not aware that our research extended beyond 1972 because at the time we were doing this NCRS did not judge newer than 1972 Corvettes -- that ought to give you some indication of how long ago it was.

[Peter L.]

Re: 66 & 67 Tung Sol 224 & 323 Flasher date codes

My err. The formats should not be MM for month of the year, 01 to12; but WW, week of the year, e.g. 01 to 52. Pete

[Terry M.]

Re: 66 & 67 Tung Sol 224 & 323 Flasher date codes

My err. The formats should not be MM for month of the year, 01 to12; but WW, week of the year, e.g. 01 to 52. Pete

You guys in New Mexico made the national news last night. They said the lab was closed too. I hope your power stays on. Be safe.

If you are in SA, forget I said anything.

[Ronald L.]

Re: 66 & 67 Tung Sol 224 & 323 Flasher date codes

He's in the snow bank Good thing its there and not here, isn't New Mexico like in the desert and supposed to be warm?

[Terry M.]

Re: 66 & 67 Tung Sol 224 & 323 Flasher date codes

He's in the snow bank Good thing its there and not here, isn't New Mexico like in the desert and supposed to be warm?

Pete's home is in Los Alamos. I have never been there, but I understand the town is rather elevated (7200 feet) and the weather is what one might expect for alpine climate. They know the meaning of the term sublimation. Look it up.

http://www.visit.losalamos.com/

If he is where I think he is a snow bank is a far treck.