How To Date Your Brother (typewriter), Part One: The Serial Number and how to interpret it.

2014-06-08-1 2014-06-08-2 omef71a 2014-06-08-3 brother-warranty-3 brother-datecodes-1 2014-06-08-4

why would they say that the manual is good for machines produces after these serial numbers, unless they had some sequence to them? Sequentiality here only makes sense if we assume the numbers underlined in blue are a "Style Code", and even then it falls apart: 0550 is too low, and the model 1350 and 333RS would share the same style code.

why would they say that the manual is good for machines produced after these serial numbers, unless they had some sequence to them? Sequentiality here only makes sense if we assume the numbers underlined in blue are a “Style Code”, and even then it falls apart: 0550 is too low, and the model 1350 and 333RS would share the same style code.

2014-06-08-5

Updated: June 8, 2014 — 3:42 pm

12 Comments

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  1. When you said “date” I thought you meant “how to take your typewriter on a date”, which is not beyond the realms of possibility I guess … ;)

  2. once again, a very informative article. im sure it will be used as a reference until the internet gets abducted by aliens.
    I don’t have a Brother typewriter but I am warming to the idea :)

  3. I have just bought a second-hand Brother Deluxe 220 and am trying to determine when it was manufactured. It’s a gift for a friend of mine, so it would be nice to be able to give him some history to go with it if I can.
    The serial number is: C13648278. It was made in Nagoya, Japan. Judging purely by the look of it, I’m guessing that it is a fairly late model. Late 70s or early 80s, I’d say. But am I right? Can anyone help?

  4. Also: This post is titled ‘… Part One’. Is there a Part Two somewhere?
    And: This site is awesome. Kudos to Mr. Munk!

  5. I just bought a portable Brother Deluxe typewriter at a thrift shop today, and so far I’m loving it! It’s so smooth and the keys feel so light and easy to type on that it’s almost like typing on a computer! I was trying to do some research, and I just found your website. It’s great! I really appreciate all the work you’ve done! The serial number on my typewriter is B6139833, so if I’m interpreting it right, it was made in February 1966? That seems about right, since it has kind of pastel blue color which seems to have been popular in the 60’s.

  6. Found a brother typewriter dumped, says brother but only has a serial number no letters or model to identify.
    65779119

  7. Can anyone help me date my Brother Deluxe 220 please? The serial number is:
    A63676139

  8. Have bought a Brother Typewriter for daughter.

    What model is this?

    Brother Nagoya, Japan
    H35315632

    Please and thank you.

  9. I have a Brother “Project 1413”

    Ever heard of it? It needs a peer cord (nothing modern works) and I can’t find info on it anywhere. NOT IN THE DATABASE? : (

    1. Nope, but there were hundreds of brands slapped on Brother machines. We’ll still be discovering them until the heat death of the Universe. :D

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