Please identify t-top bags

[William M.]

I picked up a pair of real nice t-top bags at Carlisle for my '73. Lettering is very clear on both bags and is quite different than the TEX "months in a circle" date stampings I'm familiar with. Anyone know which manufactuer this is?

I assume it's March 1973, which would be perfect for my 4/3/73 build. What's the "AT" and "FR"?
Thanks

[Michael F.]

Re: Please identify t-top bags

aftermarket maybe???? just a guess as mine I have from my 1-owner 73 were not that way

[Terry M.]

Re: Please identify t-top bags

I picked up a pair of real nice t-top bags at Carlisle for my '73. Lettering is very clear on both bags and is quite different than the TEX "months in a circle" date stampings I'm familiar with. Anyone know which manufactuer this is?

I assume it's March 1973, which would be perfect for my 4/3/73 build. What's the "AT" and "FR"?
Thanks

I would be very surprised if Chevrolet ordered the bags from only one source. So why should these NOT be OEM bags if the date code fits?

TEX seems to be the most common logo -- although an Internet search makes it sound like that term may be a description of the material rather than a company. It seems Mercedes-Benz uses a TEX material in some of their upholstery.

[William M.]

Re: Please identify t-top bags

JG says "Other manufacturers may have supplied material for the bags".

As far as Mercedes-Benz (which I know a little about since I sell them for a living), "MB Tex" is the name of the synthetic material used to cover the seats on their low-end to mid-range models.

[Reba W.]

Re: Please identify t-top bags

I would think that this is a material manufacturer's stamp. All GM assembly stamps that I have seen are not in the actual cloth, but made with a rolling date stamp with month, day, and year.

If the bags are original equipment, the date would certainly work unless there is a later date stamped by GM. Look carefully for that date. It was done with water soluble ink and may be gone or just a smudge of ink.

[William M.]

Re: Please identify t-top bags

I would think that this is a material manufacturer's stamp. All GM assembly stamps that I have seen are not in the actual cloth, but made with a rolling date stamp with month, day, and year.

If the bags are original equipment, the date would certainly work unless there is a later date stamped by GM. Look carefully for that date. It was done with water soluble ink and may be gone or just a smudge of ink.

Wouldn't it be the manufacturer of the bags that would date code them? Why would GM stamp them?

[Reba W.]

Re: Please identify t-top bags

Maybe I used the wrong name. I don't know if that was GM or the supplier. Perhaps it was the company that assembled the bags. I do know that I have seen many with two dates--one in the fabric and then the small ink stamp with and exact month, day, and year. Most 1970-up bags have a plain flannel lining with the stamped date.

[Dave S.]

Re: Please identify t-top bags

Maybe I used the wrong name. I don't know if that was GM or the supplier. Perhaps it was the company that assembled the bags. I do know that I have seen many with two dates--one in the fabric and then the small ink stamp with and exact month, day, and year. Most 1970-up bags have a plain flannel lining with the stamped date.

Based on my own cars and many that I have judged the numbers and letters shown are the manufactuers codes and date the fabric itself was manufactured. TEX with a date is another commonly seen marking.
The water soluable red ink stamp Reba refers to is the date placed by the person who stitched the bags from the rolls of fabric. I would guess that the suppliers of these bags purchased rolls of fabric from TEX and the others and made the completed bags with a requirement that the bags be stamp dated when the stitching was completed.

[William M.]

Re: Please identify t-top bags

Both bags have the "3 AT 73 FR" repeating throughout. Additionally, they each have a single small red date stamp.


Unfortunately, I can't decipher the red date on either one.


How would these bags judge? Is it good enough that the material is dated with the black "3 AT 73 FR"? Or must the red date be readable?

[Dave S.]

Re: Please identify t-top bags

Bill,
Assuming the 3/73 fabric date is prior to the build of your 1973 then they should judge 100% on originality. Condition is another thing. IMHO any judge who deducts for an unreadable "stitch" date which is known to be blurry or missing is being overly critical.
Just my $0.02

[Tom H.]

Re: Please identify t-top bags

Hey all !

Just for the conversation. Here is the stamping from my 73. I've had it for years and bought it from the past owner who'd owned it since 1975. I believe they are the bags that came with the car.

[William M.]

Re: Please identify t-top bags

Tom,
What is the build date of your '73? I assume sometime after 11/72.
The bags I purchased are 3/73 and my build date is 4/3/73.
Thanks,
Bill

[Tom H.]

Re: Please identify t-top bags

Tom,
What is the build date of your '73? I assume sometime after 11/72.
The bags I purchased are 3/73 and my build date is 4/3/73.
Thanks,
Bill

Mine is Dec. 72.

[William M.]

Re: Please identify t-top bags

Here are two others I've collected:

First one is the same style as the pair I just bought.
"1 AT 73 FR" less distinct

But it has a small black "MAR 6 1973"


Second one is the different "TEX" style

This has the months in a circle date stamp of 7/73


So I think I'll stick with the "3 AT 73 FR" ones since they're a matching pair in excellent condition with a date that works for my car.

[Reba W.]

Re: Please identify t-top bags

I cannot speak for all JGs, but the 1970-72 one says to deduct only if the date is later than the car, not if it is missing.