How to correctly date stamp a restoration battery

[Robert B.]

After a few less than satisfactory experiences with restoration batteries, I decided to try one more time with a different approach. I purchased a battery from Axion Power, the brand name is Turbostart. It is advertised to be an AGM battery, and is offered in a variety of reproduction cases. In my case it is a Delco R59 energizer, for my '67 coupe which is being flight judged at the national this summer, and it appears to be correctly reproduced. It is also very heavy, weighing in at 56 lbs, so it would appear that there's a fair amount of lead inside! The last reproduction battery I purchased from restoration battery weighed 33 lbs.

I certainly can't report on long term life, but it would appear that Axion has a better solution for our classic cars.

However, it was not date stamped, so I would appreciate any pictures of a correctly stamped Delco R59 as a reference. I know the year, month and source numbers, but exactly where were they stamped originally, and what size font, etc?

Thanks,

Bob

[Patrick H.]

Re: How to correctly date stamp a restoration battery

Bob,

From what I can tell, Axion Power is the new owner of New Castle Batteries which now puts out a battery line called Turbostart.
In plain language, it's the same company that made your previous batteries but with a new name.
Even the address of New Castle and Axion is the same.

Patrick

[Michael M.]

Re: How to correctly date stamp a restoration battery

Patrick, I am not sure if Roberts statement was clear. I think he meant Restoration Battery in Ohio. I believe Turbostart is in PA. Robert, the stamp is on the intermediate top cover. The format is year, month, and state the battery was produced in. Not sure the size of the font. I saw a battery stamped in person at a Regional Event. Once the year,month, and state are determined they are put in a stamp holder then heated up and then applied to the top of the battery.

[Patrick H.]

Re: How to correctly date stamp a restoration battery

Patrick, I am not sure if Roberts statement was clear. I think he meant Restoration Battery in Ohio. I believe Turbostart is in PA.

His statement was very clear, but perhaps mine was not.

Restoration Battery is only a reseller.
They buy their batteries from New Castle Battery, now known as Axion Power.
Ergo, the battery he just bought is the same - no better, no worse - than had he purchased it from the company known as Restoration Battery.

Patrick

[Larry M.]

Re: How to correctly date stamp a restoration battery

His statement was very clear, but perhaps mine was not.

Restoration Battery is only a reseller.
They buy their batteries from New Castle Battery, now known as Axion Power.
Ergo, the battery he just bought is the same - no better, no worse - than had he purchased it from the company known as Restoration Battery.

Patrick

I thought that Restoration Battery got their batteries from ANTIQUE AUTO BATTERY in Hudson, Ohio. That is the name that is on my paperwork and the return address on my shipping box.

I believe that there is more than one company making these (restoration) batteries. At one time, I remember seeing ads from both companies.

Larry

[Terry M.]

Re: How to correctly date stamp a restoration battery

73 battery 1.jpg73 battery 2.jpg

Ralph Spears has asked me to post these pictures "this was from my 73 car build 4/2/73"

[Patrick H.]

Re: How to correctly date stamp a restoration battery

They may get them from both depending on the model.

My point is still that I would not guarantee that the new battery is any "better" than a previous repro battery.

[Robert B.]

Re: How to correctly date stamp a restoration battery

The first restoration batteries that I purchased were from Restoration Battery, Cincinnati, OH. When I called them with a warranty claim, they referred me to the manufacturer, who as I recall was Antique Auto Battery. I have purchased three such batteries from Restoration. They have all failed to hold a charge within 24 to 30 months, in spite of using a trickle charger to keep them fully charged, and storing the cars in climate controlled environments.

But to be clear, this battery from Axion is not the same battery as the ones I purchased from Restoration. The weight difference of 23 lbs clearly indicates that there is a difference in the construction!

Bob

[Larry M.]

Re: How to correctly date stamp a restoration battery

The first restoration batteries that I purchased were from Restoration Battery, Cincinnati, OH. When I called them with a warranty claim, they referred me to the manufacturer, who as I recall was Antique Auto Battery. I have purchased three such batteries from Restoration. They have all failed to hold a charge within 24 to 30 months, in spite of using a trickle charger to keep them fully charged, and storing the cars in climate controlled environments.

Bob

Agree.....the "wet cell" restoration batteries had a life expectancy of about 2-3 years. I also had three of them. However, the latest "gel cell" battery that I purchased from Restoration Battery has lasted 7 years. I do not expect it to last much longer, as the voltage is starting to deteriorate. But, at this point, it starts the car just fine.

Larry

[Robert K.]

Re: How to correctly date stamp a restoration battery

I'm not sure that we ever answered Bob's original question which was " I would appreciate any pictures of a correctly stamped Delco R59 as a reference. I know the year, month and source numbers, but exactly where were they stamped originally, and what size font, etc?".. Thanks to Terry for his posting of one set of pictures however, does anyone have any more pictures or any idea of what the specification were from the manufacturer? Where did the battery get date stamped?, size, font, etc. It seems that there should have been some spec out there somewhere for the "job" to get done correctly.....?