Vivitar serial numbers
Contents
Sources
This list should not be considered definitive. Vivitar never published any public 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. The consensus seems to be that prior to 1970 no systematic system was in use and after 1990 the serial number system described here 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
- 6 Olympus
- 09 Cosina
- 13 Schneider Kreuznach
- 22 Kino Precision
- 25 Ozone Optical
- 28 Komine (likely Kominar, aka Nittō Kōgaku. Komine doesn't appear in US or Japanese Trademark registries)
- 32 Makinon
- 33 Asanuma Shōkai
- 37 Tokina
- 42 Bauer
- 44 Perkin Elmer
- 47 Chinon
- 51 Tokyo Trading
- 56 Kyoe Schoji
- 61 Samyang Optics Co., Ltd
- 75 Hoya
- 77 Kobori Mfg Co. Ltd
- 81 Polar
