I am Posting this Reply to, hopefully, clear up any misconception in regard to Ford ?Master Parts Catalogs? (MPC?s), and in particular, that such terminology is not ?slang?.
As I am not all that familiar with pre-1950 Ford publications, (other than the fact that back to the Model T years, through the 1940?s, Ford issues ?Parts Lists? which took the form of loose, stapled sheets, and small booklets), I am going to begin with 1950, as that appears to be the time when Ford became somewhat organized with its Parts Books.
In 1950,Ford published a?1928-48 Ford Chassis Parts and Accessories ? book (copy of inset page attached). This covered parts, with Part Numbers which were available for all of those years. Obviously, in the 20 years covered by that book, many parts had either been made obsolete, or been replaced by other parts designed for later years, yet would fit, and perform like the original parts. While this may have been great for the Ford Parts Department (remember, Ford was I the business of providing the best parts to its customers, not providing necessarily Factory original parts for Restorers ?down the road?), in many cases, Factory Parts had been replaced.
At the same time that Ford printed the 1928-48 Chassis Parts and Accessories Catalog?, they also printed a ?Body Parts Catalog? (not to be confused with a ?Collision Parts Catalog?), which, IIRC, only included post War Body Parts.
1950 also signaled the beginning of Ford printing individual year Chassis Parts and Accessories Catalogs, and individual Body Parts Catalogs. This continued through 1955. During the period of 1950-55, in addition to individual year Body Parts Catalogs, beginning in 1955, Ford also issued a ?1953-55 Body Parts Catalog?.
In 1956, Ford tried a new ?wrinkle? ; they issued a ?1955-56 Chassis Parts and Accessories Catalog?, covering both years, and correspondingly, a ?1953-56 Body Parts Catalog?. Then in 1957, Ford went a step further, and issued a ?1955-57 Chassis Parts and Accessories Catalog?, and correspondingly, a ?1953-57 Body Parts Catalog? (copies of inset pages from each are attached). The only problem with the 1955-57 Catalog, was that it was printed in September of 1956, which meant that any changes that occurred after that date, did not appear.
In my 60 years of collecting Ford Literature (beginning with 1957 items), I have never heard of, or much less come across a ?1956 only? or ?1957 only?, Chassis Parts and Accessories Catalog, nor Body Parts Catalog.
In order to ?combat? changes that occurred after September of 1956, Ford issued its first compilation of both Chassis Parts and Accessories, and Body Parts, in August/September of 1957. It was titled ?1949-57 Master Parts Catalog? and included both text and illustration inter-mixed for all of those years. I believe that this was Ford?s first use of the term ?Master Parts Catalog?. As you can see by the attached copy of its inset page, it is definitely not a ?slang? term.
The success of the 1949-57 Parts Catalog led Ford to yet another format. Beginning in 1958, Ford began issuing yearly ?Parts and Accessories Catalogs?, which included only parts applicable to that Model Year. Like the 1949-57 catalog, these included both text and illustrations for both Chassis and Body Parts, and again, with the illustrations inter-mixed with the text. This continued each year until at least 1985, and most likely, beyond (1984 is the last one that I personally have).
The next multi-year compilation that would appear, was in 1964. This was a ?1949-59 Parts and Accessories Catalog?. This was furnished in two softbound volumes ; Text, and Illustrations, and included both Chassis Parts and Accessories, and Body Parts. I?m not sure why Ford dropped the word ?Master? for this multi-year compilation, as all successive multi-year compilations were shown as ?Master Parts Catalogs?. I have attached copies of all of the inset pages of each multi-year compilation (listed by year of printing), confirming the use of the term ?Master Parts Catalog?. The date of printing also emphasizes the fact that when acquiring an MPC, one wants to get as close to the Model Year that they are dealing with, as the farther removed, the greater chance that the original Factory Parts have been replaced by newer parts, or even deemed obsolete.
I trust that this will dispel the notion that MPC is a ?slang? term. If anything, all too often, MPC is used ?incorrectly? for the single year Parts and Accessories Catalogs. Many times, people will use the wording ?Single Year MPC?, which in that case, may be considered ?slang?.
Bob
