Some Observations Regarding
The dating of Gustav Becker Clocks
using Serial Numbers
(with photographs)

Number and serial number can be found on the rating plate. The history of the Dean serial numbering system is as follows: Old Style - The model number is included in the serial number string. Dean Rhapsody 12-String Bass Serial Numbers. There are three different serial numbering systems found on the Dean Rhapsody 12-string basses. These numbering schemes are indicative of which company in Korea manufactured the basses: E = World Factory in South Korea (Old designation) US = Un Sung Factory in Inchon, South Korea. If the serial number of your Kramer starts with the following serial numbers, it is NOT a USA Made or 'American' series Kramer: 1) Two letters followed by a serial number (e.g. AA1234, AC1234, FA1234, FC1234, SA1234) 2) One letter followed by five letters (e.g. B12345) The only exception to this would be some of the 'E' series neckplates did have one letter followed by five letters (e.g.

-- DRAFT 11/2002 --

Dean Guitar Serial Number Lookup

Here's another link with a serial number dating chart . Worth looking at, butthey mention nothing about Braunau factory !
http://www.bhi.co.uk/hints/gbecker.htm

I have seen many people selling Gustav Becker clocks applya date to them based on the serial number on the movement. In many cases Ibelieve the dates provided may be incorrect. I'm not anexpert, nor do I claim to be. As a beginning collector of European,Austrian, & German clocks, I hate to see people be mislead intentionally oraccidentally, when there is information out there that can help.

Many people are inappropriately dating clocks made in theBraunau factory using the Gustav Becker Freiburg factory chart that iscontained within the books listed below. This yields a completely bogusdate and is false and misleading.
Please note that I am merely passing along what I see in the books listed belowand you, of course, may do with the information what you wish. I urge youto do your own research and/or consult an expert before making any expensivebuying decisions. Naturally, if anybody has better information that I do,please pass that along to me and I will happily correct anything that is inerror.

The conclusions I've drawn are as follows:
1) It is relatively easy to tell on most clocks whether a clock was made inFreiburg or in Braunau by looking at the trademark stamped on the back of theclock
2) Clocks made in the GB Freiburg factory can be dated with some level ofaccuracy based on the serial number.
3) Clocks made in the GB Braunau factory cannot be dated with anyaccuracy, as the factory was possibly opened in 1888.
4) According to the books, Freiburg was making close to 100k clocks a year by1880, so one might assume that Braunau was making somewhat less than that peryear.

The 2 books I am using for reference are:
1) Gustav Becker Story - 1847-1927 - by Karl Kochmann @ 1974 1993edition ISBN 0-933396-29-5
2) Clock & Watch Trademark Index - European Origin - by Karl Kochmann@1988 ISBN 0-933396-34-1

1) Reference Book - Gustav Becker Story
Page 32, near the top
GUSTAV BECKER
Braunau - Bohemia, Former Austrian - Hungarian Danube Fed. ( now Broumov, CSR )
Gustav Becker, assembly plant since the year 1888. After the annexation ofBohemia, year 1918 * (*after ww-I)
into Czechoslovakia, Becker Clocks were marketed with the stamp: MADE in BRAUNAUTSCHECKOSLOVAKIA
....
Note: Serial number index not traceable. Plant closing year unknown.

Page 35, 3/4 of the way down the page

Braunau works - Numbering system-or index not traceable.

1) Reference Book - Clock & Watchtrademark Index
Page 293, near the bottom
GUSTAV BECKER
... ...
The Braunau works operated as independent branch factory. No serial numberrecords are found.
... ...
GUSTAV BECKER
Braunau - Bohemia
Former Austrian Danube Federation no Czechoslovakia 036/4
After annexation of Bohemia:* (after WWI) the production of the former Beckerbranch factory
was sold with embossement since 1918

Page 294,
Same chart as in 'The Gustav Becker Story', above.

Photographsof Trademarks

Note: There are lots of different GB stamps , theseare just a few

Example of trademark stamps with Braunau works ( SN100k+ , 500k+ )

Example of trademark stamps with Freiburg / Silesiaworks

Dean Guitars Serial Number Lookup

IExample of trademark stamps with Freiburg/ Silesia works
Oddly enough, on this one, it's on the right side not the left.

Example of a very early trademark stamp with Freiburg/ Silesia works ( SN 89603k )

Example of a very early trademark stamp with Freiburg/ Silesia works ( SN 35k )

Example of a very early trademark stamp with Freiburg/ Silesia works ( SN 25k )

Having recently learned that Freiburg/Silesia is inPoland, there may be some issues in calling these 'German' clocks...but probably not.

Copyright 2002 by Dean Kinard.

Not responsible for errors or inaccuracies. Forreference only, use at your own risk. Sources used are listed above.

Want to know how to date your Fender guitar by serial number? Then you’re in the right place.

Just enter the number below, hit the ‘Decode’ button and our lookup tool will tell you the year your guitar is from, which country it was manufactured in, and even the plant it came from.

You can add any model of Fender guitar: Stratocaster, Telecaster, Jaguar, Mustang, Jazzmaster, you name it! (scroll down below if you need help finding the serial number).

Where to Find the Serial Number on Your Fender Guitar?

The location of the serial number has annoyingly changed from model to model over the years. So where do you find it?

Locations include:

• At the top of the neck plate
• On the front or at the back of the headstock
• On the cover plate of the vibrato (on Stratocasters)
• On the back of the vibrato cover plate (on early ’50s Stratocasters)
• At the end of the heel of the neck
• Between the pick-up and the saddles (some Telecasters)

Some General Rules

The naming convention is a bit haphazard (it’s no different with Gibson serial numbers), but here are some general rules that should ring true 99% of the time – but beware, there are plenty of exceptions:

• The prefix ‘L’ at the beginning of a serial number indicates a guitar from the early ’60s
• The prefix ‘S’ at the beginning of a serial number stands for the decade of the seventies
• The prefix ‘E’ stands for the decade of the eighties
• The U.S. Vintage Series (launched in 1982) uses ‘V’ as a prefix for the serial number
• The prefix ‘N’ at the beginning of a serial number stands for the nineties
• The prefix ‘Z’ stands for guitars made in the noughties (2000 – 2010)

Note that made in Mexico Fender guitars (MIM) and made in Japan guitars (MIJ) have their own unique serial number system.

Pre-1976 Model? Check the Heel Too

Before 1976, frustratingly they often randomly assigned serial numbers. If you want to double-check the year of production year, it’s often a good idea to look at the heel of the neck (which entails removing the neck). Sometimes the potentiometers are worth checking too.

That’s all for now. We’ll keep adding more info as and when we find it.

Good luck!