While cleaning up under the hood of the very original 63 Lark I recently purchased, I came across these chalk marks. One is "S74", the other is the number "90". They are down low on the passenger side front fender. Any guesses what they mean?
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Steve
Buckeye, Arizona
1960 Hawk R2 4 speed project -
They were used on the production line to keep track of what accessories, etc got installed on each vehicle. They were usually the last couple of digits of the line number, the serial number, or some other ID number on the production order.Skip Lackie -
My '51 Land Cruiser has similar marks on the original paint on the firewall. I don't think chalk was used, but rather, paint sticks as we used to call them when I was selling industrial supplies.John Clary
Greer, SC
SDC member since 1975Comment
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They look like a grease pencil mark, or like the lumber crayons that carpenters use to mark studs. But could also be a paint pen mark like what plumber/pipefitter use on steel pipe.Comment
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My Dad was an experimental flight test and production mechanic at The Boeing Company in Seattle for almost 40 years. All the mechanics wrote all over the airplane structure and used a grease pencil. The writing it makes looks very similar to your pictures. Here is what they are. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grease_pencilJohn
1963 Avanti R2
Marshall, VAComment
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Steve: That's not S74, it would be SF4; the body's model number. (I am assuming yours is a 1963 Lark Regal 2-door sedan; correct?)Originally posted by coyote View Post
I don't know when our culture started putting that stupid slash across the leg of the numeral 7, but, somehow, we managed to get pretty doggone close to Y2K functioning just fine with 7s being 7s and script Fs being script Fs, as in your second picture.
I don't believe the numeral 7 was being so bastardized in late 1962 or 1963, however, when you car's body was manufactured. (Not that I have a strong opinion on the matter, you understand...<GGG>)
However, I do not have any idea what the 90 means. BPLast edited by BobPalma; 11-14-2011, 10:56 AM.
We've got to quit saying, "How stupid can you be?" Too many people are taking it as a challenge. 
G. K. Chesterton: This triangle of truisms, of father, mother, and child, cannot be destroyed; it can only destroy those civilizations which disregard it.Comment
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Bob - I think you nailed it. It is a Lark Regal 2 door sedan. It never dawned on me that the second character could be an "f" and not a "7". You see that slash across the number 7 so much these days.Steve
Buckeye, Arizona
1960 Hawk R2 4 speed projectComment
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We've got to quit saying, "How stupid can you be?" Too many people are taking it as a challenge.
G. K. Chesterton: This triangle of truisms, of father, mother, and child, cannot be destroyed; it can only destroy those civilizations which disregard it.Comment
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The reason for the slash across the numeral 7 is to clearly distinguish it from a numeral 1 that might have the top serif exagerated (the little angled bit on the top of the verital line). It is also done to the letter Z to distinguish it from a numeral 2.
This was originally a european practice that has made its way to Canada (where we also throw a letter U into words like colour and honour) and now it sounds like to the USA.\"Ahh, a bear in his natural habitat...a Studebaker!\"
51 Land Cruiser (Elsie)
Jim Mann
Victoria, B.C.
CanadaComment
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Well....I think the extra slash is harmful to the environment! Just think of all the extra little "Ink Plants" have to die for that stupid slash across the number 7! Don't be lazy...write your 7's correctly and you won't need a stupid slash! Save the planet!John Clary
Greer, SC
SDC member since 1975Comment
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I have seen the slash on 7 and on Z for most of my life. I believe it is of Germanic history, but I am as reliable as WIKI....Comment
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Another explanation for numeric slashes:
Ain't sayin' it's so. <G>sigpic
Dave LesterComment
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Sometimes, those markings spell out what the car is supposed to have for options:
CraigComment
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That is so interesting. I love learning about the origins of the things we take for granted!Originally posted by Studedude View PostAnother explanation for numeric slashes:
Ain't sayin' it's so. <G>
Thanks, Dave.
Jim\"Ahh, a bear in his natural habitat...a Studebaker!\"
51 Land Cruiser (Elsie)
Jim Mann
Victoria, B.C.
CanadaComment
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