"The Raiders of the Lost Filter"
or
"Will the REAL Tiger Fuel Filter please stand up!"
An Article by
March, 2003
Page 4
THE HIDDEN CHAMBER FOUND!
- Another Explorer for the Lost Artifact!
,erstwhile and learned scholar, has entered the field. Without fanfare, bluster, or arm waving, he pursues this challenge the way he has been educated and trained to do. Keeping an open mind, with an unrelenting drive for the facts and the documentation, he has uncovered a hidden chamber.
Bob has added light, not heat, to this story. And what a very interesting find it is.
If you recall, there was a discussion of whether Ford may, at times, substitute a "functionally equivalent' part, with a different design, and retain the Part Identifier in 1,000 of pounds of distributed documentation. From the information presented, he consulted sources and authority which resulted in the following archaeological "find"
The "buried chamber" was located at the parts web site page of Mustang Service Center,11610 Vanowen Street, North Hollywood, CA 91605 (818) 765-1196
Examination of the container shows a "Rotunda" trade name, the same C2RZ-9155A Ford part number, yet a different (R29-A) stocking number. The case on this example is indeed a milky plastic, indicating a nylon type material for strength. It should be noted that the body of the filter indeed carries the "Rotunda" name, as well as the stocking number. Whether these markings are gasoline proof is unknown at this point, but certainly any unused ones on a shelf, even if the outer box was "lost', would still contain this ID, as does this old piece.
What's a "Rotunda"?
An Article on the 1961 Ford Fairlane Club Coupe
"A Techno Street Machine With a Great History"
By David Fetherston
Ford history buffs know the word "Rotunda" has historical significance. At the 1934 World’s Fair in Chicago, the company’s Rotunda building emulated a cluster gearset stacked vertically. After the fair, the building was disassembled and shipped back to Dearborn, Michigan, by boat, where it was reassembled at the Ford Visitors Center, across the road from Ford’s world headquarters. When the Rotunda arrived, its open center was expanded and enclosed with the first Buckminster Fuller geodesic-dome glass roof ever used. Interestingly, there were a lot of newspaper images of this building throughout its 30-year life, and its shape became synonymous with Ford. This shape was reincarnated in the trim and taillights of numerous Ford products including the 1961 Fairlane--thus, the "Rotunda" name tag.
This is in line with Tom Witt's propostition:
"B. OR, could it be that Ford used the same number for two filters? The reasoning being that the all metal design was a direct replacement for the clear/metal type, the inlet/outlet sizes were the same, the external dimensions were similar and the filtering capabilities were the same.
Therefore, did Ford to avoid confusion (with a different part number for the same application) just keep the same part number but offer a different appearing filter?
No proof of either is offered on my part, only suggesting reasons why a picture tells one story and an extensive search via a part number tells another. It would be interesting to know the part number of that "original from the car" filter that a someone still has."
As Bob points out, "I guess there's a difference between NOS (New Old Stock) and NOS "New Original Stock". ;-)"
Yet to be determined is the effectivity date of the change, and whether this influenced what came from Rootes. Both possibilities may yet be correct, depending on date and use, and in a unique circumstance - EVERYBODY was correct, at some point in time.
Our thanks, yet again, for Bob Palmer's picking up the call, and his devotion to both the Tiger and his scientists integrity to search for documentation and proof, versus old memories, or volume of dissenting and unsupported opinion. The mark of the professional.
There may yet be "finds" out there to pin-point the Ford change, and further clarify configuration for those who need authenticity, or are interested in our Marque's history. The Fedora and Jacket are available again to the next Adventurer and seeker of Knowledge.
Steve
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