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mrtbone
Posts: 1
Joined: Apr 24, 2022

by mrtbone »

What vintage is an 88H with the serial no. 804384. I am getting various answers. Thank you.
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BGuttman
Posts: 7368
Joined: Mar 22, 2018

by BGuttman »

There are several "series" of serial numbers for Conn instruments. The initial series went from 0 to 999999, then A00000 to R00000 (covering through the Abilene years). Then there were various serials with 2 letter prefixes covering the 1980s and 1990s. I'm not sure what the current series is. Maybe back to 6 digits.

Note that an 800000 serial would have to be from Elkhart and the engraving would say so. If your instrument is engraved "CG Conn, Elkhart, IND" then the original value would apply. This would make it pre 1960s. If it says "Conn USA", it is much newer.

Some of our experts here could look at the engraving on the bell and tell within a few years when the instrument is from. Pictures of the bell engraving would help.
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hyperbolica
Posts: 3990
Joined: Mar 23, 2018

by hyperbolica »

If it's an original Elkhart, it's from 1959. If not, there are probably some numbers/letters missing. Also where is the serial number stamped? More detail is needed (like the bell engraving).