Frame stamp

[Rayboy]

I just purchased a chassis from a 27 T. It has an odd logo stamped into the frame. Wonder if anyone can tell me what it is. It looks like a company logo. I’ve enclosed a picture of it. Thanks. Ray

[John kuehn]

Probably the frame steel maker. Frames would have steel foundry marks. It’s a guess but could be what it is.

[Rayboy]

Thanks John. It appears to say B. M. Company. I thought Ford made all the all later T frames. I must be wrong

[John kuehn]

I might be wrong too Ray. It could be that Ford made the steel and frames but not sure. I do have a 21 T Touring that I restored several years ago. When I was cleaning up the springs I noticed a Carnegie steel mark on it. But never checked the frame on it.

Check out the encyclopedia in the resources section that’s on the MTFCA website. Go to frame makers and it mentions the names of the companies that Ford used year to year. Maybe more information there.

Could it be Parrish & Bighanm? It’s mentioned as a framemaker. ???

[TXGOAT2]

Where is it located on the frame? Some companies that operated company fleets stamped frames or other major parts with a stock number, company name, or a symbol to identify the car if it was stolen. I used to have a T rear axle that was stamped:
"The Prairie Oil Co.
Glen Pool Oklahoma"

[rickd]

That frame stamp is from the Murray Body Corporation. They were the parent corporation of Michigan Stamping Co. that supplied the Model T chassis from 1913 to 1926. Michigan Stamping was an early supplier to Ford as was another company, Parish & Bingham. On the Model T chassis a Michigan Stamping frame will have the MB pennant shown in your pic. Parrish & Bingham frames will have a P&B inside of a circle.

I recently restored a July 1, 1925 Touring that had the MB stamp on the driver side top of the rear cross member. I've kind of made it a hobby of mine to research frame and body numbers/stamps and the companies that were involved with Ford in the early days. The stamps are hard to find, time and wear have taken their toll on those frames. The early days for these companies were incredibly busy as they tried to supply not just Ford but many of the other up and coming car companies. Of note regarding Michigan Stamping it was eventually purchased by Briggs body company and became a Chrysler Corp. body plant and closed in 1979.

[Rayboy]

Looks like Murray Body Corp is the right one. This frame is from the west so it is in good shape, much better than eastern frames I have seen. It also has the serial number. It is a 27 car. I noticed you said 13-26.
They must have made them through 27 or it’s a leftover from 26. Here are a couple more pics. Thanks for the info. Ray

[rickd]

Ray, Murray continued to make the frames through 27. The short version; Murray Body Corp. went into receivership in December of 1925. In the 20s body manufacturers were trying to absorb other competing firms to protect their contracts with Ford and MBC got too far out there financially. Mainly because of the long term Ford contracts they came back as Murray Corp. of America in January 1927. MCA continued in business until 1965 and were involved in the Model A body building and other Fords after that. Its hard to say if your frame was built and stamped in 26 or 27 but that is some of the background of the companies involved. Glad you found that stamp, they are not real common due to wear and rust on those frames.

[varmint]

Parrish & Bingham stamp on mine.

[Jevil]

Where did you find the stamp? Mine ist 14793931 (engine and frame). Must be a same day car. Maybe I will find that stamp also.
Best regards,
Jens

[Rayboy]

[Rayboy]

You probably won’t be able to see the stamp if you have a body on the car. It would be covered up. Ray

[Jevil]

Definitely. But thank you anyway.
BR,
Jens

[Drobnock]

There is a possibility unknown trademarks can be found here - https://libguides.nypl.org/trademarks/h ... trademarks

The United States Patents and Trademark Office -
https://www.uspto.gov/trademarks/search

[Allan]

Are the brands stamped INTO the metal. or are they embossed above the face? I can't really tell from the photos. Steel manufacturers often had a brand engraved into the mill rollers used to make the product. Hence, the logo then appears embossed on the steel. This is evidenced in the spring leaves of T's. The Ford script is raised, and appears at random locations along the various leaves, depending on the frequency of the logo appearing on the rolled stock and the length of the spring leaf.
I have never come across a stamp like that on any of our Canadian sourced cars.

Allan from down under.

[rickd]

Allan, they are stamped into the metal. Probably the better pic that shows that is the OP pic of the rear crossmember driver side. He has circled the location of the stamp. Shows better if you can enlarge it. The stamps I have found have been consistently in this location, the most recent on a late 25 Touring I restored. To your comment re. Canadian cars, I don't know. In my research on the Murray Corp discussed in my posts above I did not come across any mention of frames going to or being built in Canada. I can speculate though that if there were no frame builders in Canada at that time I could certainly see that happening.

[Bryant]

Mine has it in the same spot. Production date approximately Dec 30 1925. 1926 body. Always wondered what it was. This thread may clear that up.
Bryant

[Bryant]

Raymond does your frame have this? Passenger side frame rail near the carburetor. This end up?

Bryant

[Allan]

Rick, Canadian frames were made for RHD and LHD, This may mean specific Canadian production. In the process, the rails were stamped with holes in both frame rails for the steering bracket, handbrake quadrant, starter switch, and, strangely, the battery carrier even though the battery was always fitted with the battery on the left side. It could bee that all the flat rails were stamped the same, and did not become left and right side rails until the U channel was formed, thus the annomaly in the battery carirer holes.

Allan from down under.

[Rayboy]

Bryant, Thanks for the pics. I checked my frame and didn’t see any marks like yours. Who knows for sure. It could be a kidnapped Ford worker trying to send a “help me” message. Ray

[Bryant]

Well it was worth a shot! Thought maybe that manufacture had more similarities. Thanks for checking

Bryant

[Rayboy]

I just realized there is another stamp on my frame. I’ve never seen this one on a frame either. Enclosing pics. Ray

[Rayboy]