Transmission Exchange

[Mac VP]

We have a 1954 Ford 3 speed transmission in the shop for a rebuild. I noticed a small metal tag that was riveted to the side of the gearbox. The tag referenced a catalog number and included the preprinted name of the rebuild shop. The name was “M & Z Transmission Exchange” and included its location as “Los Angeles 3, Calif”…….anyone ever hear of this company? I’d guess it was pre 1964 because of the pre zip code address.

 

[rotorwrench]

For others that may be interested in this, here's a link
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/transmission-exchange.1353664/

Prior to the zip code system used by USPS that originated in the 1960s, there was a one or two digit code that came about back around world war II to help speed mail piece sorting up a bit. This code was added into the Zip Code system as the final two numbers when the change went into affect. The old 2-digit system was a Postal Zone system for the different areas around larger cities that needed multiple post offices. "ZIP" stood for zone improvement plan.