In fact it doesn't even have a serial number. It has all the specs of a pre-Baldwin/ODE banjo but already with the Baldwin banner in the headstock.
Posted -: 16:20:11First you should check out this long thread about ODEs.its been running for a couple of years.Second - unless he beats you to this, look on my page and see STANGER - he and Ed Britt will know everything right down to what the guy at the factory was snacking on when that number was stamped on it.But, it was probably made in 1980. My student (and she is on my front page AMANDA GOOCH) has a 6500 made in 1979. You can see her photos on her page.And there is an ODE banjo group on YAHOO if you are interested in joining that. Lots of info and photos on there as well.Scooter Muse. Posted -: 17:32:24Hi, Ray.I think you have one set of numbers out of order. I'll bet its 10-80-62.There's a possibility that this number may have been written out of order- I've seen some labels where the person who numbered the label showed some number dyslexia.
At the end of a busy day, this can hit most folks once in a while.Either way, I'm with Scooter- your D was probably made in Oct. Of 1980.This numbering code started in the early 1970's, after Baldwin moved the Ode banjo works to Arkansas from Colorado. There were several earlier numbering systems used before the buyout and the move. This one made the most sense by far. The first 2 numbers are the month, second 2 are the year, and the third 2 numbers are the individual piece. The last numbers are an accumulation of all the banjos made during that month in all configurations and styles.So far, it's impossible to say just how many of one model were made during a particular year, or how many of one model was made in total.
The current databases being compiled are very incomplete. I'm sure there were original documents that detailed all of this info, but they're long gone now.regards,StangerThe pen is mightier than the pigs.Edited by - stanger on 17:36:29.
Posted -: 14:21:34quote:Originally posted by BanjoLinkMIke - there is an old Ode (6500 model, I think - same as Ray's)) on Ebay that has a photo of the following serial number on the label (11-63-80). Would that indicate that the serial number Ray posted is probably correct?No. It just means that the SAME NEW-GUY wrote the label forbanjo #62 and in October, and #63 in November, of 1980.Thanks for pointing that out - there's an interesting 'pair'.It.might. show someone was mixed-up for a while, on the order of the numbers.I've seen a couple others with the numbers swapped. I'll have to see of they are from the same time period.Best-Ed Britt.
A good fiddle tune will bring two or more people together who might otherwise be enemies.Edited by - BrittDLD1 on 14:43:52. Posted -: 14:34:50quote:Originally posted by renopkerI waited 1 year when I ordered my D and got it just after thenew years S# 1-77-01Hi Renopkr -And that's exactly what your serial number shows:January - 1977 - the FIRST banjo done.Best-Ed BrittPS. Hope you're not not mad at my comments on the'expensive' topic. Have you got any sound files ofyou playing your Baldwin-ODE? You're a good picker!. A good fiddle tune will bring two or more people together who might otherwise be enemies.
Posted -: 01:01:15Cool, Renopkr!I wonder how far into the new year your banjo was completed and shipped. As the first finished banjo of the year, it was probably started just before the '76 holidays.It could have been all done, ready to roll, before the holidays, too. All it needed was a final inspection, setup and a label before shipping. That could have been done on Jan. 2nd.If neither, I suspect that it was started on the 2nd or 3rd, and completed 2 weeks into the new year- that seems to be the average time needed for most factories back then.Fun to think about trivia like this.regards,StangerThe pen is mightier than the pigs.