prefix letter on Ford Badges

The letters signified which part of the plant they were assigned to. You weren't permitted to go to other areas of the plant in which you did not work.

I have a list that tells what dept went with what letter, but it may take a day or so to dig thru my files.
 
Oddly enough, I just today got a packet in the mail that explains all of it. I had met a man in Hershey and we struck up a conversation about them.

I'm at work right now and will try to post sometime tomorrow.
-Tim
 
Thanks guys for checking this out for me, I am sure this is a question most Model "A"s have wondered about before. I was sure Henry had a reason for what he did and I appreciate any information to answer this question.
 
Alright...

The Model A era badge was actually the Model T style radiator and was used 1920-1931.

This list that I have does not show what the letters designated for this style of badge but there is a comprehensive list for the later 1937-1960's era Rouge.
A - Motor Building
B - Motor Building, Paper
C - Plant, Tank Engine, Power Plant, Specialty Foundry
D - Gear and Axle
F - Engine Plant
G - Iron Foundry
H - Plastic
J - Exists, Dept unknown
K - Exists, Dept unknown
L - Stamping Plant
M - Iron Foundry
N - Glass Plant - under 5,000 Mfg Service, Over 5,000.
P - Casting Machine Plant
R - Steel Mill
S - Stamping Plant
T - Mfg Service
U - Exists, Dept unknown
W - Mfg Service, Under 5,000, Tool and Die under 5,000
X - Dearborn Assembly
Y - Exists, Dept unknown
Z - Frame Plant

This comes from a list compiled by a man named Jim Krucki.

-Tim
 
I'm pretty sure "K" is Ford Service- aka Harry Bennett's men. This likely changed when Henry Ford II took over in '45 and Ford Service changed names to "Plant Protection".

You'd see Bennett's men everywhere including Edison Institute, the private homes of various Ford family and high ranking executives. For instance, Charles Sorensen and Ray Dahlinger who were neighbors of Henry Ford had men supplied by Harry Bennett for the purpose of keeping their respective properties secure. Ford Service was one of the few if only division of employees who could go everywhere in the plant.


An "HP" prefix would indicate they were assigned to the Highland Park complex. The badge is the same 1937-1964 style with the Rouge background, but would have HP then the badge number. Ford made tractors there as well as other operations after the Rouge opened for production in 1927.

It's also worth noting when you were assigned a badge, you'd get a set of tool checks that matched the badge number.
 
Now what about this guy...

Just sold on the 'bay for almost $300...

I thought it looked home made/modified.
-Tim
 

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WTSHNN said:
Now what about this guy...

Just sold on the 'bay for almost $300...

I thought it looked home made/modified.
-Tim
Click to expand...

Looks like a fantasy item to me. Not unlike those "Guard" badges that were floating around by the hundreds a few years ago.

Like Vince, I've never seen a badge like that and I've been collecting Ford Memorabilia for a good many years in addition to being a Ford historian.
 
A neighbor lady claims she worked for Ford in Ypsilanti, and her badge said "Ypsilanti" on it. She says she still has it "somewhere," and will give it to me when she finds it. Was there in fact a badge marked Ypsilanti?
 
I have a triangular tool check out tag from the Rouge Plant.
X= assembly
315 - employee pay number

These were used to check out company tools, so they knew where to look if they weren't returned at the end of the shift.
 
Gary in MN said:
Hello Luke: Any ideas on this badge ??

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Gary in MN
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Gary,

I haven't seen a pin like that before, but if I had to wager a guess, I'd say it dated from WWII era. Quite possibly used by someone inspecting B-24s coming off the line at Willow Run or amphibious jeeps at the Rouge, etc.

In my collection of NOS, I have a few Ford jeep NOS parts. The script on the boxes match the script on your pin.

All this is just an educated guess, but it may give you an avenue for more research.
 
Hello Luke: Thanks for the info. Here is one more I do not have any idea what era it is from.

Ford badge 008 (Small).jpg


Thanks again. Gary in MN
 
I have the Rouge id badge with the letter 'W' before the id number from the model a era. What shop does the 'W' designte?
 
No, I am sorry to say that I do not know them.

Thank you for the answer to my question.

Dick Munger
 
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