Author: Ronaldw441 <[email protected]>
Newsgroups: rec.audio.tubes 
Subject: Dynaco Serial Numbers
Date: 14 Dec 1996 08:28:06 GMT
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Had posted what I believe is a method to determine the age of Dynaco equipment by using the serial number as a reply to a question in this newsgroup. Thought I would post it again to get feedback.

Not sure if this is accurate, but it works for all my Dynaco (and Hafler) equipment.

TO FIGURE OUT THE DATE OF MANUFACTURE OF DYNACO EQUIPMENT USING THE SERIAL NUMBER:

Use Serial Number 3809077 (for a MK-III) as an example.

First (and sometimes second) digit is product code with respect to introduction of that product into line. The Mark III was Dynaco's third product, see below.

Next digit is the year manufactured. In the example above, this unit was made in either 1958 or 1968. (The example serial no. is for a MK-III that I own made in 1958)

Next two digits indicate week made. Example indicates that unit was manufactured in the ninth week of 1958.

Last three digits indicate unit's number within the week. Not sure if it means the 77th MK-III made that week, or if it includes all products made that week. Believe it to be the latter.

Don't know how to tell which decade but believe Dynaco made some tube equipment in the 70's with black cages/cases. I have a Dynaco brochure from 1975 that pictures a ST-70, a MK-III, and a PAS-3X with what appears to be black cages or case, but it could be just the lighting used for the photograph.

PRODUCT NUMBER;

From the manuals that I have on hand, I thinks the product number goes something like the following.

No.            Product                 Year Introduced
----      &nnbsp;    --------------          ------------------------
1                  ?                   Not sure, probably MK-II in 1957
2              PAM-1                   1957
3              Mark III                1957
4                  ?
5                  ?
6              Stereo 70               1961
7              PAS-3                   1963
8                  ?
9                  ?
10                 ?
11                 ?
12                 ?
13                 ?
14                 ?
15                 ?
16             FM-3                    1964
17             Stereo 120              1967 ? (added info, See Below)
18             PAT-4                   1967 ?
19                 ? 
20            (Dynaco Stereo 80        1972  added info, See Below)
21                 ?
22             FM-5                   (1973 added info, See Below)
23             AF-6                    1974
24 and on ?????????

My apologies to the guy that E-mailed me with the question on case colors and his Mark III serial number. I kinda dumped his E-mail before I had a chance to reply.... Woops. 

Mike- saw your Dyna page & have some info. The ST-120 was definitely
intro'd in 1967. FM5 was 1973 (I got mine in late '73.) I am currently
restoring an FM3. Two things: Do you have any original Dyna  technical
literature on the Dynaquad system? Second, you might want to list
"Keeping the Dyna FM3 Working" on the Audio By Van Alstine website.
Thanks!

Don't know if you're interested in updating this info, but
I have a Dynaco Stereo 80, and its serial number begins
"2020" (the right half of the tag is missing), which I guess
would mean its Product Number is 20, and it was manufactured
in 1972, which seems to fit with the rest of your data, and
my memory.  I bought it used in 1978 along with a PAT-4 and
a pair of Advent/1's.

Thanks for posting the info,

Steve Ford
West Grove, PA

Stereo 70 and FM-3 Reviews in Audio Shopper - http://audioshopper.com/archive.htm

This page last updated on February 7, 1999