History Fenton Company history lesson

We've all heard the name, it's almost as old as hot rodding itself. They have made everything from headers, cams, air cleaners, heads, intakes, shifters, and wheels and that's just off the top of my head. I believe the wheels and shifters were copies of other popular aftermarket equipment of the time. Heads and intakes seem to have been rebadged from other manufacturers such as Edmunds. As far as I know the headers were thier own designs. Some of thier stuff has even been repoped, most not. There's still tons of thier stuff out there in our cars and at swap meets everywhere... but unlike other big names there seems to be little history about the company itself that was around for decades. Anyone have some history they'd like to share?

 

Bill Smith told me years ago, when I was working for him, that Mr Fenton (not his actual name) was originally from Lincoln Nebraska, but he had to go to California cuz Lincoln wasn't big enough for both of them!
True story...

 

haha well nobody ever accused Fenton products of being top of the line, but I'm still suprised at the lack of info or comprehensive product listings.

 

Fenton intakes and headers can be found everywhere, but I wish someone would repop the air cleaners and valve cover for the chevy 216,235.

 

His real name was Aaron J. Fenton. He died in '06.

 

His real name before he changed it to Fenton was Finkelstien according to Speedy Bill. To quote Bill "The only Hebrews in California were actors."

 

I know this is an old post but have any pic's of the air cleaners?I have never seen any in there ads.thanks

 

I've got three Fenton catalogs ('53, '56, and '59) and never saw air cleaners specific to Fenton in any of them.

 

I met Aaron Fenton on a buying trip many years ago. I was not favorably impressed with his quality (Wheels).

He seemed the least likely guy to be running a speed equipment business. More like a Jewish Lawyer,( which he may have been).

 

Aaron Finklestein was the son of Ben Finklestien that owned Bens auto parts on 0 street in Lincoln that is where the Fenton idea was originated at Bens auto parts.

 

No aircleaners but exhaust manifolds and exhaust to fit them. Several different brand heads along with the house brand.

 

i Dont suppose anyone has adjustment instructions for a Fenton 3speed shifter kit? Its in a 1950 shoebox without overdrive.

 

Speedy Bill bought some headers from Fenton to sell, Fenton under cut Bills prices. Bill had to sit on them for 3 years until Fenton moved to California. Bill eventually got back at him. Lincoln wasn`t a big enough town for the both of them.

 

I like the Fenton 5-spoke mags...

 

I met Aaron Fenton many times during the late 50s and 60s..He was always very nice and business like..We were distributors of many major lines of speed parts in Dallas.
including Fenton...,,,so I enjoyed many meals at his expense,,

 

My father was a metal polisher for Fenton in gardena Ca. back in 1960 to 65, Said the owners name was Aaron Finklestein but didnt always see him, his direct boss was Bud Armstrong that would showcase thier products on a 1958 impala that belonged to one of Buds sons that was in the service at the time. My dad was the goto guy to get things done and revolutionized methods to polish rims that almost looked imposible to do. My father did special deliveries for Aaron, they would ask him to put on a clean work shirt and take a envelope of cash to the bank that was a special delivery to the old contry. My father said he was a a very smart buisnessman and had his hand in almost everything.

 

Well, guys, most all of you who said bad things about Aaron Fenton are just wrong.
I started working for Fenton Mfg Corporation in 1970 and was with the company until 1983 and was by then Senior Vice President & General Manager.
Yes, Fenton manufacturing made low price 3 and 4 speed shifter kits along with other accessories for the hot rod industry.
Before that he did mfg speed equipment for chev 6 cylinders and flathead fords but they were not just relabeled parts.
In fact, the now famous 1957 CHEVROLET BLACK WIDOW cars put together by SEDCO used genuine FENTON cast iron exhaust headers. In the late 1950's the company sponsored the UNSER BROS in the Pikes Peak Races for several years using all his parts.
In 1970 we became an NHRA MAJOR SPONSOR and by 1971 or so almost every single Pro Stock Racer in the country were running FENTON GYRO WHEELS, including Dyno Don Nicholson, The Mopar (Motown) Missile Don Carlton as driver and on and on and on. They were the wheel of choice. I personally supplied literally thousands of wheels to drag racer around the country...so those with the wrong opinion of FENTON COMPANY should be corrected. And yes, his birth name was Finklestien and he was Jewish.

 

I just came across this thread and I am trying to identify fitment of a pair of Y-Block Fenton cast iron headers (exhaust manifolds). They are stamped 0708 RH and 0708 LH. I have had them for 40 years and believe that they had come off of a 1956 Ford. I read above that Heathen has early Fenton catalogs - can you, Heathen, or anyone else help me I.D. what model, year and engine size they fit?

 

My Y-block Fenton Headers are stamped “RH 0708” and “LH 0708”. The box indicates they are for 1954 Mercurys (auto and manual trans) and for 1954 Fords (auto only). I haven’t tried to fit them on my ‘55 Mercury (with auto trans), yet. But, the right side looks to be a direct bolt up to the oem exhaust pipe. The left side header is a little longer with a slight curve at the end compared to the stock manifold. Though, it looks to be a clear fit around the stock steering box. The exhaust pipe on that side might fit with a simple shortening. But, will more likely need a little reshaping, too.
Hope this helps!

 

Thanks for all the great input on this thread, great history from a great company, i think what people were referring to on the rebranding intakes is when Fenton bought out Edmunds, This was prob 15 years ish prior to you being there, i wish you were there to set the story strait, Fenton was supose to have boughten out Edmunds, sold worthwhile remaining stock, then rebranding patterns (this i know for sure as i have identical intakes with Edmunds and fenton intakes just differnt logos, along with Y-block valave covers and im sure a few others) then a bunch of edmunds stuff was melted down and turned into mag wheels! I believe all above that i stated is true as ive read it in many places along with what had happened to Eddie Edmunds, lots of people over the years have knocked edmunds and fenton stuff but i like both product lines. neat stuff !

heres fenton and edmunds y-block valve covers, i dont have pics but i have matching fenton and edmunds y-block 3x2 intakes too

heres a fenton 4x2 which is the same casting as a sharp intake

and the most common fenton intake, which ive see cast as prob 20 different incarnations

 

Who cares if his name is Finklestein, or Fenton. He produced many a variety of parts that we could afford. My roadster has Fenton staggered hole SBC valve covers, Fenton tri-power intake, Fenton engine adapter, Fenton fuel block, and the rare at the time, chrome plated Fenton SBC exhaust manifolds. They are now being re-popped. Yes, Fenton products were not top of the line, but it let many of us get into the hot rod scene. When I had a choice, I did what many of us did then, buy what we could afford. I'm happy with what I have.

 

I'd rather know the legend *&* the true history. Both are usually rather interesting, w/the truth taking 1st place, often, "you just can't make this stuff up". . Listening to people spout n repeat B.S. as actual history gets old. That's why some folks care...
Marcus...

 

When I bought my 57 BelAir in 1970 it had a Fenton shifted three speed, the only Fenton product I've ever owned, it seemed to work ok but I couldn't wait to replace it with the T-10 and Hurst Comp. Plus. shifter.

 

Any one have pics of Fenton 235 valve cover? Thanks in advance.

 

Does anyone know the year Fenton opened? Was it late '40s or early '50s?

 

Both Edmunds and Fenton co-existed back in the day however Fenton bought out Edmonds in 1959/60. Edmunds Custom was in business from about 1934 (Possibly earlier) until purchased by Fenton, the original Edmonds line was renamed along with some new products.
Circa 1935, low-rise intakes by many of the aforementioned makers, plus newcomers like Navarro, Burns, Schultz, Fenton, Offenhauser, Freiman, Clark, and Lightning, to name a few, soon appeared.

• https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/fenton-speed-parts.304159/
• http://myflatheadford.com/edmunds-custom-intakes/
• https://www.hotrod.com/articles/1048srp-ford-flathead-intake-manifold-collection/

References to FENTON are on pp. 86, 125, 284 (Below) and 338

 

Here's the first photo lightened up a bit.

 

The first magazine ads are in mid- '53.

 

I'm looking at a set if Fenton heads right now for my Flathead and wondering if I should get them. Kind of pricey but they do look to be in nice shape. I'm just looking for something different and vintage. What do you think?