HiPo 289 fan blade identification

[6s1640]

Hi all,

I have this, what I believe, very early HiPo fan blade.  One blade is stamped with Ford logo and no other markings, no date code, no part number, etc. Also the blade is smoth without joggle out side of rivets.  Would this be a 64 Fairlane k-code fan blade?  Thoughts?

I also sent images to Bob Manell for his thoughts.  I'll update when I hear from him.

I added third image to show what I am calling the joggle on an original blade, typical on a 1965-1966  k-code.

Thanks

Cory

[Bill Collins]

It also appears that the outer corners of the blades are more rounded than the later production version. Also, the rivet heads are not smooth, suggesting that it was hand tooled. A prototype or test shot perhaps?

See comparison pics attached. It will be interesting to see what Bob Mannell has to say.

[6s1640]

Hi Bill.

Bob got back to me.  He has not seen my version before.  He sent me a photo of a March 63 blade with all the typical markings.  So I betting mine is even before that date.  I may need to post an image on a Fairlane Forum and see what others Fairlane owners have seen.  Thank you for your thoughts.

Cory

[6s1640]

Hi all,

I heard back from Bob again. At first he wasn't certain but now he's pretty confident.  He sent me a photograph of a preproduction display HiPo 289 with a chrome fan blade that looks pretty much like the one we usually see. This is a reproduction fan blade. We're not sure who made it but it's likely a very early reproduction. This is the only one I've ever seen.  If you have any more info, please let me know.

Thanks

Cory

[Bob Gaines]

Hi all,

I heard back from Bob again. At first he wasn't certain but now he's pretty confident.  He sent me a photograph of a preproduction display HiPo 289 with a chrome fan blade that looks pretty much like the one we usually see. This is a reproduction fan blade. We're not sure who made it but it's likely a very early reproduction. This is the only one I've ever seen.  If you have any more info, please let me know.

Thanks

Cory

What's odd is that you said it was stamped with a Ford trademark. That trademark is the typical way to determine if repro or not. Trademark infringement with Ford is a big deal. It is very strange that a repro MFG would take that chance and risk the wrath of Ford. Of course maybe Ford caught wind of the repro company's stupid infringement mistake and Ford sent their men in black to pay them a visit to disappear them.  

[pbf777]

This is a reproduction fan blade.

    I'm not sure that I agree with the "reproduction" thought; as to me, it looks like quite a bit earlier type of production, maybe the previous decade and just because it 'sorta' looks like something we would like it to be, it's just not right, but also just don't think the "reproduction" identifier fits either.   

    Scott.

[Brant]

I never like to say "never," but it's highly unlikely that any reproduction fan would have that "FoMoCo" marking. I am definitely not familiar with any.

The earliest "reproduction" HiPo fans were made by the original manufacturer and had all of the same markings (except for the FoMoCo marking) as the typical 65-66 HiPo Mustang fan that we are familiar with.

I believe they may have been from the 1980s. I would have to dig mine out. They had the blades stamped in the opposite manner as you mention.

[hertz1966]

This looks like a prototype fan manufactured in a prototype fab shop.  Based on the basic geometry of the fan blades it would be easy to duplicate in sheet metal shop.  Ford must have prototyped parts, engines ect. before going into production.  They didn't have CAD systems or 3d printing capabilities 60 years ago.  It is possible it was stamped with Fomoco for identification from an internal ford sheet metal shop. Usually prototypes are destroyed, however things slip through the cracks.  The production fan would be difficult produce in a prototype shop.  It would take hard tooling to create the stamping geometry in the blade. (See pictures attached)  My vote is a prototype fan created for modeling parts before going into production.