Gang stamp anomaly in hidden VIN

[CantRepeat]

I'm sure this is authentic but both of my hidden VINs have a 3 out of place. Was this common place?

[bcmiller]

Not common. But it seems genuine.

[dannystarr]

One of mine with a 4 up higher. Danny

[dannystarr]

Second Hidden Partial VIN. No alignment issue.    Not the same stamp gang holder?  .. D

[dannystarr]

more

[KurtS]

I find it more interesting that the leading 7 is missing on both stamps....

[68camaroz28]

Kurt, I swear you have eagle eyes.....

[CantRepeat]

I find it more interesting that the leading 7 is missing on both stamps....

Odd as well in the first photo you can clearly see another L and 1 that is lightly stamped.

Would seem like a lot of work to forge a not so rare car.

[KurtS]

That's not another L, that is just part of the stamp itself.

I think it's all factory, btw.

JohnZ said:
Yup, the operator bumped the "egg" while he was re-positioning the tool and knocked one of the number rings off-index; I've seen that before. Nobody paid any attention to it in the plant, as it was "invisible" - the heater or A/C case was installed over it before the body got to the first Chevy Trim Line inspector.

[dannystarr]

Kurt,
Do you think the guy noticed the first stamp was out of line, then corrected it on the second? Were they stamped at the same time?... D

[CantRepeat]

That's not another L, that is just part of the stamp itself.

I think it's all factory, btw.

JohnZ said:
Yup, the operator bumped the "egg" while he was re-positioning the tool and knocked one of the number rings off-index; I've seen that before. Nobody paid any attention to it in the plant, as it was "invisible" - the heater or A/C case was installed over it before the body got to the first Chevy Trim Line inspector.

The more I look at it I think you're correct. Probably me just over analyzing it.

[crossboss]

Not uncommon for a missed/not in sequenced stamp or a missing # or letter. Seen this on many cars, including brand X also. Remember, these were hand stamped, not like todays robotic/ bar coding systems.

[KurtS]

Kurt,
Do you think the guy noticed the first stamp was out of line, then corrected it on the second? Were they stamped at the same time?... D

I'm confused - I don't see any correction.
Here's how the stamper worked:
JohnZ says: The hidden VIN stamp device (made for us by the George T. Schmidt Co. in Chicago) used in the body bank was suspended from overhead (it was heavy). Think of a sliced hard-boiled egg, where each slice was a rotor with letters and numbers on its outside diameter. Every second actuation advanced the rotor(s) one unit, and an internal air cylinder pressed/rolled the "egg" against the sheet metal, with an anvil on the other side of the sheet metal. The rotor(s) were driven and indexed via gear teeth on their inside diameter.
Kurt says: it indexed every second actuation because there were two VINs to stamp on every car.  And if they missed stamping a car, the index would be off by one and need advanced manually.

[dannystarr]

Sorry, I meant the difference in MY hidden VINS. D

[KurtS]

Probably bumped the stamper in between stamping the two imprints.