Years ago one of our mechanics that worked in the lubrication department had a tour of a Wix filter facility. During the tour the liaison said that there were various qualities of filter media they used depending if it was for their product or one of their customers. He asked who they sold to and all he got was a smile. So, Virginia, I believe that a manufacturer has different grades of product.
Dad worked for Electric Storage Battery in Kansas City Mo. in the mid 1960's. ESB was a private label supplier and much later acquired by Exide. ESB was an OEM to the Ford Claycomo plant, Ford had the highest standards of their customers, as I recall the cases were branded "Autolite". I think they were still tar top batteries? Memories are getting fuzzy.
