Difference between revisions of "Vivitar serial numbers"

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* 37 [[Tokina]]
 
* 37 [[Tokina]]
 
* 42 [http://www.bauerinc.com/ Bauer]
 
* 42 [http://www.bauerinc.com/ Bauer]
* 44 Perkin Elmer
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* 44 [http://www.perkinelmer.com/ Perkin Elmer]
 
* 47 [[Chinon]]
 
* 47 [[Chinon]]
 
* 51 Tokyo Trading
 
* 51 Tokyo Trading

Revision as of 19:25, 22 August 2011

Sources

This list should not be considered definitive. Vivitar never published any official documentation of their serial numbering system. The information presented here is collected from various sources. Much of it is the result of individual research by lens collectors; comparing serial numbers on multiples copies of a lens, finding similar lenses known to be made by a specific manufacturer, etc. There appear to be many exceptions to the system presented here, especially in lenses with very early badging (e.g. "P&B Vivitar" or "Vivitar Professional") and in lenses sold late in the history of Vivitar after the original company ceased to exist and the brand was sold to a series of other companies. The consensus seems to be that by 1990 Vivitar's original serial number system had been completely abandoned.

Description

The first two digits of the serial number identify the manufacturer. Some say the third digit represents the last digit of the year of manufacture (e.g. a '4' could mean 1974 or 1984). Likewise, some say the fourth and fifth digits represent the week number of manufacture. The remaining digits would be the actual manufacturing sequence number. There are known exceptions to the year/month portion of the formula.

Manufacturers

Links