Million Dollar Question about numbers

[Pamela H.]

T12IICWR
T= Made in Tonawanda
12 = December
CWR= 454, 270HP, Automatic
In the photo I have these two "lines" do not look like "1", as they have no hook (serf), they are just straight lines, could be 11 but I don't know...
If it is T1211 that means that the motor was built Dec 11, 1973 right? Why would they not look like the 1 right after the T?

Real puzzler for me.
Thanks
Pam

[Michael W.]

Re: Million Dollar Question about numbers

It's common to see the letter 'I' substituted for the numeral '1' on engine pads.

[Paul D.]

Re: Million Dollar Question about numbers

I'll bet whoever assembled that gangholder just didn't take the time to locate 3 '1' dies and sustituted 'I'. Now, can Mike and I split the million? Happy Thanksgiving! Chip.

[Terry M.]

Re: Million Dollar Question about numbers

In reality the number 1 and the letter I were stored in the same compartment in the set up desk.

When they set up the stamp in the morning it was the luck of the draw as to which they grabbed. However, whatever they set up for that date and suffix code was the same for all engines of that type built that day. Those with a huge collection of stamp pad data know which days certain suffixes were built and how many 1s and Is were used (if any) on that day.