A/C Foil date coding

[Tim Sargent]

I am restoring a 67 427/400 car with air conditioning. I sent the compressopr off to Classic Auto Air for rebuild and they do have the yellow "OK CHEVROLET" ink stamping, but not the foil tag. I bought a new foil tag but it does not have a date code. I think MF Dobbins makes the foil tag under GM License for all the suppliers.
The old foil tag had a date code of 102166 and I have seen this date on many cars, so I assume somebody used to make a tag with an early date code that would work for most cars. Does anyone know where to get an A/C foil tag with that date or similar early date code?
Thank you

[Peter L.]

Re: A/C Foil date coding

Tim - I think the foil tag Long Island sells has that CODE. If it's the one I've seen the date is printed on the foil tag in the CODE block in black numbers. Please note that the CODE on the original foil tags was put on the tags with a typewriter type machine as you will find the numbers inprinted (stamped) into the tag. Pete

[Barbara S.]

Re: A/C Foil date coding

Pete. The Frigidaire foil tags that I've seen do not have any date coding in the rectangular area where the date code should be. Many ways have been tried to "type" in the date coding. Typewriters don't work very well because the ink doesn't stick to the silver foil. I printed my date coding on a clear Avery label and then cut it out and placed it in the silver foil area. It worked pretty well.

Tony

[Joe R.]

Re: A/C Foil date coding

Hi Tim:

I won't be able to check my files until later this week, but I do have the information to decode the "code" number on the label. With this information you can generate a date code that is suitable for your car. I realize that this is not exactly the question you asked, but if you are interested I can dig out the info later this week.

[Barbara S.]

A/C Foil date coding decoder

Tim. Here's the decoder for a 67 A/C foil date code:

MMDDYS: M=month; D=day of that month; Y=year; S=shift.

For example, my original A/C tag reads: 060272. Decoded to mean: June 2, 1967, 2nd shift.

Yours is a bit curious. It reads: 102166. That would be decoded as: October 21, 1966, 6th shift. It's the last number, the shift number, that seems curious to me. I've never heard of a 6th shift before. Perhaps others in here can help enlighten us.

Are you sure that you have the original foil tag on your compressor? Is it possible that somebody has already replaced it but mis-typed the date coding?

Tony

[Jack H.]

Way back when...

I worked at Texas Instruments we used a similar system for serial number tags on our electronic data terminals and minicomputers (metal foil labels). They were printed manually by secretarial folks using IBM Selectric typewriters and a 'special' ribbon was used whose ink would actually stick to the metal foil depressions the font ball made.

Later the process was 'automated' with the labels on pin-feed rolls into a computer printer. Again, the ribbon used for the impact printer was a 'special' ink for improved transfer.

With as many compressors as GM produced each day, I'd suspect they used an automated system and may have printed the labels using Teletype machines which would explain why it's hard to duplicate the original font... I don't know anyone that recreates TTY font.

A few years back, I went on a fool's errand calling ribbon suppliers to see if I could obtain one of these ribbons for my IBM Selectric. About 80% of those I called had never heard of such a critter. A few places had 'good ole boys' on staff who spoke up, "Yes, I remember that application. But, I haven't seen those ribbons anywhere in maybe 20 years. Sure wish I could help..."