Numbers behind the trim tag

[Ammon W.]

The letter/number sequence D S - B - 5 are stamped into the support behind my trim tag. Any help on their meaning?

[John H.]

Re: Numbers behind the trim tag

The letter/number sequence D S - B - 5 are stamped into the support behind my trim tag. Any help on their meaning?

Ammon -

All A.O. Smith bodies had a date code stamped on that reinforcement, which was hidden later by the trim tag; what's the body build date code embossed above "STYLE"?

[Ammon W.]

Re: Numbers behind the trim tag

John

Looks like B23 but the tag is really in bad shape.

[John H.]

Re: Numbers behind the trim tag

Ammon -

What year is your car?

[Ammon W.]

Re: Numbers behind the trim tag

It's a 1965 conv

[John H.]

Re: Numbers behind the trim tag

It's a 1965 conv

Ammon -

With a "B23" on the trim tag (September 23rd), I'd say the "DS B 5" stands for Dow-Smith, September, 1965.

[Joe R.]

Re: Numbers behind the trim tag

Most of the AO Smith dates started in January instead of the St. Louis bodies which would start in August. Their sequence did not go along with St. Louis.

But then again??????

JR

[John H.]

Re: Numbers behind the trim tag

Most of the AO Smith dates started in January instead of the St. Louis bodies which would start in August. Their sequence did not go along with St. Louis.

But then again??????

JR

JR -

That was only the case in 1964, when A.O. Smith body production started (in January) - in '64, an "A" on an A.O. Smith tag was January, and an "A" on a St. Louis tag was September. In '65 and '67, A.O. Smith and St. Louis used the same letter/month coding (A = August), but it was different in '66 - "A" was August on A.O. Smith tags, and September on St. Louis tags.

[Ammon W.]

Re: Numbers behind the trim tag

John

Thanks I appreciate the info; and it makes sense too!

[Bill C.]

Re: Numbers behind the trim tag

Ammon -

With a "B23" on the trim tag (September 23rd), I'd say the "DS B 5" stands for Dow-Smith, September, 1965.

John,

So Dow used the model year for 65 in the 64 calender year in this case?

Or, would this stamp actually indicate it was actually the calender year date, which would not make sense being a Sept build date for a 65 model year car? I would expect to see DS-B-4 ?

[John H.]

Re: Numbers behind the trim tag

John,

So Dow used the model year for 65 in the 64 calender year in this case?

Or, would this stamp actually indicate it was actually the calender year date, which would not make sense being a Sept build date for a 65 model year car? I would expect to see DS-B-4 ?

Bill -

I've only seen one A.O. Smith body with the trim tag removed so the date was visible before Ammon mentioned his, and that was many years ago; based on his observation, I'm guessing that they used the model year in their internal date code, not the calendar year. I don't think many folks are willing to remove their trim tag to do any further research on the issue.