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MG TD TF 1500 - How old were parts on the assembly line

Sandblasted the leaf springs today. Both sets are marked with what I assume is a date on the small leaf.

TD 4139 (Nov 1 1950) has 7-50 on both. So it would appear that at least 3 months of parts were available.

I know that is not necessarily correct, as they may not have used parts in order of when they were received, or how they were stored.

Neither my starter or generator have correct dates, so I cant use these as a comparison.

This was on the bottom of the leaf springs.

Bruce Cunha

I would think it is reasonable to assume any subassembly dates within several months prior to construction of the car is acceptable.

Bill Chasser
TD/c-8151
W A Chasser

Windscreens were from the previous quarter though if there were any still on the shelf they could have been two quarters earlier.. Cheers
Peter TD 5801
P Hehir

Probably original in my opinion. 3 months seems like a reasonable age.
Steve Simmons

I think it is original. Just was thinking that if they made approximately 500 TD's a month, they had 3000 springs in inventory. Probably more.

And both have the same date. So probably stored as a pair.
Bruce Cunha

In general 3 months for a part would be reasonable. Less than 1 month is a stretch. 6 months is possible for some parts but rare.

Not a lot of dated parts on the car. The generator, starter, coil and windshield come to mind.
Christopher Couper

Chris,

You can add to your list of dated parts, the following:
Distributor, wiper motor, ammeter, turn signal relay and voltage regulator.

John

J Scragg

Armstrong shocks.

My TF was completed 11/30/1953

Frank
TF1414

Frank Cronin

Not sure, but when they welded my shuttle, they used rusted metal.
when I stripped paint, I found this rough strip welded in place.


Michael Grogan TD23816

These dates are kind of fun. If anyone would like to share a picture of an original part, like Frank did above, I will add it to this new page I created.

http://www.mg-cars.org.uk/mgtd/mgtd_details_dates.htm
Christopher Couper

I found numbers on the front axle, but it does not look like a date.

It is a stamped number. Not cast. Number on this one is 4 206

Have not found any other suspension parts that have stamped numbers on them.

Bruce Cunha

Manufacturers in the UK often used / use alternative codes for dates - such as year and day number, or year and week number or machine number, shift number, week number and year number, etc. The intention being to give them traceability in case of a fault. So 4 206 could be 1954, day 206 in which case it would be a replacement rack on your car. But just as likely is that it is number 206 made on machine 4. Sometimes the codes are obvious and sometimes not.
Dave H
Dave Hill

Where is the windshield date code located?
S Griffin

If you mean the date code on the glass, it is integral with the Triplex logo by dots over the various letters and numbers. It doesn't go any closer that the year and the quarter. From the Frame Up has a document on their web site describing the date coding.
Lew Palmer

http://www.mg-cars.org.uk/mgtd/mgtd_etchings.htm
Christopher Couper

Checked the other front axle and it has 4292 No spacing between the 4 and the 2. Clearly hand stamped as the 2 is lower.

So 86 numbers apart.

It is not that far off from my car number.

Anyone able to see if their axle number is close to their car number?

Bruce Cunha

I have a small list of Radiator dates for the TF. The radiators are typically one or two months earlier.

Matthew.
M Magilton

This thread was discussed between 30/03/2018 and 13/04/2018

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