Wixom Tag

[driller]

Has anyone seen any '60's era Lincoln vehicle with a brass tag from the Wixom plant?

 

[steve]

Nope

 

[billcu]

What was it, a company car?

 

[driller]

What was it, a company car?

The picture brought up an ensuing discussion on the SquareBirds forum. A 'company car' was one of the possible explanations. The most plausible explanation was that it was an inventory tag that Wixom used?

Apparently there has been other brass tag 'sightings' on T-birds in the past and it was questioned if other model vehicles built at the Wixom complex in the same era would have had such a brass tag, such as a Lincoln, or if any Lincoln aficionado knew of such a tag in use at the Wixom plant.

 

[steve]

those star screws don't look factory

 

[driller]

those star screws don't look factory

Not factory for sure in that pic since that was a restoration example. Other tags have been discovered apparently riveted to the door pillar or firewall.

 

[Ford nut]

I have seen them, not on a Lincoln, I don't think...lol
Inventory tag would make most sense.
But honestly just don't know much about them.

 

[Roadboss]

Wixom Township Property tag?

 

[mlschultz]

Yep, I would bet it is a corporate capital asset tag.

Back in the day "brass tagging" are corporate high dollar assets they depreciate on their tax return over time.

 

[steve]

tried looking on the net, saw one forum that said they were tags made in hast on the line when some sort of regularly identifying tag was not available or maybe special order.

 

[LeoC2]

HOLY OLD THREAD REVIVAL BATMAN!

OK guys, I have an answer. When this thread appeared I asked John Clor if he could find out. Would you believe I just got an answer? Better late than never I guess!

"Leo: That was a tough one! After tracking down and talking to several retirees from Michigan’s now gone Wixom plant, I hear it was a stamped brass tag affixed to random vehicles taken off the assembly line for a quality check, with the numbers identifying the test and/or tester. Keep up your good work with the “Lincolns of Distinction” club!"

 

[simplyconnected]

mlschultz pretty much got it right. Brass tags are never used on Ford products. They identify assets for inventory and tax purposes. Notice that these tags are heavy duty, they don't have high numbers and they are not meant to be removed, ever. They are normally not screwed in place but riveted using 1/8" twist rivets that are pounded in. That's why you see the mounting holes are dimpled. They are hard to pry off by design.
I'm also retired from Ford Motor but in Dearborn. Dearborn Assembly Plant NEVER put one on a Thunderbird, Mustang, Cougar, Maverick or Comet.
Rotation Forms and VINs identify every product Ford made. The Quality Control Dept. and Scheduling both used these as identification. All tests and materials go through 'Quality' and all rotation changes go through 'Scheduling'.
Company-owned (corporate vehicles) were also identified by their 'unique to Ford' license plate numbers. WHQ is only two miles from The Rouge. The basement has a car wash and gas pumps. No money changes hands. The attendant simply notes the corporate (pool car) license number and charges the appropriate dept. There are thousands of pool cars. - Dave