CMP Part Numbers: "Neutral Numbers"
 

If you look in any CMP parts book printed after 1943 or so there is a column to the right of the part description for a "Proprietory or M.T. Number". Not many entries are made in this column but a typical entry might be NA/GB150224.
I have an undated cross reference book titled "Neutral Numbers" that lists a series of sequential numbers from AG2 to BR192149 with their equivalent manufacturerer number (Ford, GM, Chysler etc).
The numerical parts of the numbers are sequential but periodically the prefixes change: starting with AG, then AT, AL, AE, AN, AB, AM, AC, UJ, CL, GB, FA, RA and finally BR.
As an example: from parts book C60L-03: "Ball, steering shaft" is part number 104918 but the Proprietory/M.T.Number is NA/AN 40004. My Neutral Number cross reference book lists this as equivalent to GM 104918, GM 147485, F 353076S and C 104918. (F-Ford, C=Chev(?)). The NA prefix presumably refers to North America.
It appears that the Neutral Number system was devised to standardize all of the manufacturer part numbers (much like the US did with the "G'" number system for vehicle parts) but was never fully implemented for CMP's. Maybe it was commonly used in British parts books.
Can anyone clarify when this system was developed and if it was ever widely adopted. I assume that by the mid-1950's everyone went to the Federal or National Stock Number System that is used to the present (e.g.: 5330-00-741-0741).
........ Brian

Hi Brian, my "special" reference books showing not only Neutral numbers to
Ford-GMC-Dodge numbers but also the other way: Dodge numbers to
GMC-Ford-Neutral numbers plus etc. etc. The 4 (small) books are undated !

Dirk

CMP Neutral Numbers
 

Thanks for the info Dirk. I have never seen any other cross-references for these numbers. This must have been a sort-lived numbering system as far as CMP parts.
...... Brian

Other observations on part ####
 

We have observed that certain CMP part numbers, particularly for Ford, are still being used today for identification/catalogue purposes by repro dealers today....

The Ford 1940 master cylinder number in the CMP parts manual is still being used to identify a replacement by Mac Auto which specializes in repro parts.

Remember that all our brake components on CMPs, whether Chev or Ford, are all Ford parts.

Brian..... are you considering reproducing your manual for resale....?

Boob

Bob, I think that while the brake components at the wheel are all Ford, the Chev Master Cylinders are Chev parts. Many of the Ford numbers are still in use by Ford themselves, let alone the Repro guys!

Agreed about the master cylinders being brand specific, but as always there is an exception. The Ford Master cylinder is also used by Fruehauf and various other members of the Steel Body Manufacturer's Association for the CMP trailers. As a result, it appears in manuals published by Chrysler for the trailers so it could look like the Ford master cylinder in Chrysler products (accurate if you treat the machinery trailers "final assembled" by Chrysler as being Chrysler products).

Ford Part Numbers - Caution!
 

Just a comment regarding Ford part numbers - Bob noted correctly that Mac's Auto and even Ford still use the original part numbers. This is so BUT the devil is in the detail! You have to know the prefix number as well to get the correct part. For example, 14401 is the number for a dash wiring harness but there are 26 different versions with prefixes like 46-, 81A-, 91C etc. that tell you which year and model vehicle is involved. Unfortunately, there are no prefixes for CMP's presumably because parts were taken from a variety of models' bins. You have to know - or guess- if you are ordering from Mac's since they don't know what CMP's are!

One more detail.....
 

If you drop in on Mac's on a Saturday morning... they are busy.... and have NO time to chitchat..... or to take out 3 parts to fits which fits.... I have also gone during the week whe quieter...... I had to symphatise with the clerk who has no idea what the parts are for...... and merely punches in a coded number and aplastic bin appears with the parts..... he can't tell you if the proper part can be compared and might just be in a bin next to it.....

They have the stuff but you need to know what you need.....

Compare to
CarQuest on Startop...Rick will pullout old books that shows not only the dimensions of rad hoses but there shape...... try to find a rad hose that fits the small outlet of the original rad and the larger outlet of the engine....

all depends on who you know and how willing they are to help you...

Boob

CMP parts numbers
 

I have two parts books for Ford civilion vehicles from 1928 to 1945 .Would they be of any use ?

parts manuals.....
 

Hi George.

Grant Bowker may be interested to add to his collection...... they comning handy when you need to cross reference civilian Ford parts that have been used on CMPs..... even Chevy CMPs have a lot of Ford parts.....

Bob C