Olympus serial number timeline

[jayjay]

Hi Olympus collectors,
I have a couple of Olympus microscopes that I would like to date more accurately. I haven’t been able to find a plot of Olympus serial numbers versus year of manufacture as I’ve seen for other brands such as Leitz. If one exists, please let me know. If not, I was hoping we could make our own.
I have a nice little Olympus VT-2 stereo microscope with a dated inspection certificate and even the year engraved on it as it was a gift from the company (see pics). Just wondering if anyone else wants to add their serial numbers and documented year of manufacture so we can make a plot?

Serial # Year
228738 1975


Thanks, J.

[jayjay]

This may be more challenging than I thought - it seems that at least some models may have their own serial number sequence. Here's what I have so far:

Chief body serial # Date Inspected
Model E
229693 28 April 1965
240989 30 August 1965
259574 18 April 1967
312697 26 Jan 1972

GC
91846 8 Dec 1948

GB
210526 8 Feb 1956
212013 26 May 1956
234732 30 Jan 1961

KM
204651 2 April 1966

SZ
202772 1968
246477 Feb 1974

ST
117965 19 Jan 1928
313058 7 Feb 1941

ST-3
404454 12 Feb 1971

VT-2
228738 April 1975

[jayjay]

I've made some progress with the serial numbers v Inspection Certificate dates for some models below.

Olympus serial number timeline_230322.jpg (63.23 KiB) Viewed 8037 times

It would be great to add some more data points and additional models if you have Inspection Certificate data you want to share.
Thanks, JJ.

[jayjay]

A couple of additions:

Olympus serial number timeline_280322.jpg (60.17 KiB) Viewed 7808 times

[jayjay]

Thanks to those who have provided data. Here's a couple of additional models and data points:

Olympus serial number timeline_300322.jpg (70.92 KiB) Viewed 7744 times

[jayjay]

A few additions, plus I've further sub-divided some models

Olympus timeline_200422.JPG (108.99 KiB) Viewed 7273 times

[jayjay]

Some more plus an edit to Model E bino

Olympus serial number timeline_030522.jpg (85.28 KiB) Viewed 7090 times

[jayjay]

A few more data points...

Olympus serial number timeline_060622.jpg (87.85 KiB) Viewed 6546 times

[jayjay]

More models and data points - thanks to all who have provided certificate info.

Olympus serial number timeline_270622.jpg (87.92 KiB) Viewed 6300 times

[jayjay]

I am very grateful to have been informed that Olympus Inspection Certificates written in Japanese used the traditional Japanese calendar year system, not the Western calendar year. The traditional Japanese calendar is based on how many years each emperor has reigned since beginning their rule, with each emperor given his own era name. Emperor Hirohito reigned from 1926 until his death in 1989 and this is known as the Showa era. Almost all vintage Olympus microscopes are from this era. The earliest Olympus microscopes from 1920-1926 are from the Taisho era.
Below is an example of a Showa era certificate for a Model GK microscope (serial #266485) inspected on 41.5.31 which equates to May 31 1966 according to https://www.ewc.co.jp/Pages/Information/CalendarEN.aspx

Olympus GK 266485 IC.JPG (76.42 KiB) Viewed 6248 times

Based on this, I have edited some of the data. It now appears models ST, ST-2 and ST-3 can be combined into a single plot as their timelines appear continuous. I have also been able to add some additional data points to some models that didn't fit the timelines when read as Western calendar years. I have also corrected an error in a model SZ data point and added model UCE.

Olympus serial number timeline_280622.jpg (87.11 KiB) Viewed 6248 times

[jayjay]

Hi all,
I appreciate the details of the plots are not easy to see. If anyone wants an approximate date of manufacture of one the models listed, then you’re welcome to send me your model and serial number and I’ll let you know which known dates it fits between.

[jayjay]

Model POM added

Olympus serial number timeline_120722.jpg (98.38 KiB) Viewed 5917 times

[jayjay]

A decent number of additional data points:

Olympus serial number timeline_170722.jpg (95.93 KiB) Viewed 5800 times

[jayjay]

A few additions plus hopefully a slightly more readable format.

Olympus model timelines_310722.JPG (109.4 KiB) Viewed 5574 times

[jayjay]

I've played around with the data received so far and I think I've found something interesting. Since the early 1950s, there are no serial numbers below 200000, even for models that were released in the 60s and 70s and for which I have a decent number of data points. This suggests to me that sometime in the mid-50s Olympus decided to re-structure their serial numbering system and start each new model at 200000. A cynic might think this was a marketing ploy to make it look like they were selling even more units than they were..?
So if you have serial number 200001 for a given model, you may actually have the first unit produced, and many of us may have much earlier units than we thought! It will be interesting to see if my theory holds up as more data is added - so please keep the Inspection Certificate info coming in!

All Data combined_020822.JPG (42.71 KiB) Viewed 5465 times

[jayjay]

The other thing the combined dataset shows is that the various student ST and HS versions can be grouped into one timeline as follows.

Olympus model timelines_020822.JPG (137.02 KiB) Viewed 5462 times

[jayjay]

A few additions:

Olympus model timelines_140822.JPG (143.69 KiB) Viewed 5202 times

[jayjay]

New models and data points have been added to the mixed model graph and a labelling mistake to Homare UCE rectified.
I've decided to separate serial numbers below 200000 and pool the models into one graph for now - I've only received data for five of these to date and removing them makes reading the post-1954 timelines easier. It may be that pre-1954 models shared the same serial number sequence, but more data points are needed to confirm this.

Olympus model timelines pre-1954_140822.JPG (29.93 KiB) Viewed 4753 times

Olympus model timelines_280822.JPG (153.64 KiB) Viewed 4752 times

[jayjay]

A few additions:

Olympus model timelines pre-1954_140822.JPG (29.93 KiB) Viewed 4271 times

Olympus serial number timelines_060922.jpg (149.27 KiB) Viewed 4271 times

Olympus serial number timelines - mixed models_060922.JPG (59.43 KiB) Viewed 4271 times

[jayjay]

Update

Olympus model timelines pre-1954_140822.JPG (29.93 KiB) Viewed 3864 times

Olympus serial number timelines_160922.jpg (151.76 KiB) Viewed 3864 times

Olympus serial number timelines - mixed models_160922.JPG (61.19 KiB) Viewed 3864 times

[jayjay]

Some more pre-1954 units have surfaced, plus there's a couple of additions to post-1954 timelines:

Olympus model timelines pre-1954_270922.JPG (52.35 KiB) Viewed 3484 times

Olympus serial number timelines_270922.jpg (151.9 KiB) Viewed 3484 times

Olympus serial number timelines - mixed models_270922.JPG (68.9 KiB) Viewed 3484 times

[jayjay]

Latest update. I've combined JM with SZ as both models use the same head.

Olympus serial number timeline Mixed models pre-1954_121022.jpg (74.02 KiB) Viewed 3182 times

Olympus serial number timeline Models E G STHS_121022.jpg (109.87 KiB) Viewed 3182 times

Olympus serial number timeline Models K SZJM PM6_121022.jpg (86.04 KiB) Viewed 3182 times

Olympus serial number timeline Mixed models_121022.jpg (75.84 KiB) Viewed 3182 times

[jayjay]

New information is only trickling in at present, so please contact me if you can add to the dataset.
There's a few updates to each of the graphs.

Olympus serial number timeline Mixed models pre-1954_231122.jpg (71.24 KiB) Viewed 2423 times

Olympus serial number timeline Mixed models_231122.jpg (75.19 KiB) Viewed 2423 times

Olympus serial number timeline Models E G STHS_231122.jpg (111.43 KiB) Viewed 2423 times

Olympus serial number timeline Models K SZJM PM6_231122.jpg (86 KiB) Viewed 2423 times

[jayjay]

Update with 47 new data points and some models separated to aid with readability

Olympus serial number timeline Mixed models pre-1954_230123.jpg (63.04 KiB) Viewed 1389 times

Olympus serial number timeline Mixed models_230123.jpg (63.22 KiB) Viewed 1389 times

Olympus serial number timeline Models E G STHS_230123.jpg (120.46 KiB) Viewed 1389 times

Olympus serial number timeline Models K SZJM PM6_230123.jpg (88.14 KiB) Viewed 1389 times

Olympus serial number timeline Models H MF FHF V VK VB452 VB454_230123.jpg (54.27 KiB) Viewed 1389 times

[jayjay]

10 new data points and some improvements to layout. It appears the trinocular heads for models E, F & MF follow the same sequence.

Olympus serial number timeline Model E & bi tri heads_060223.JPG (64.18 KiB) Viewed 994 times

Olympus serial number timeline Model G & ST HS_060223.JPG (80.54 KiB) Viewed 994 times

Olympus serial number timeline Pre 1954 and mixed models_060223.JPG (79.79 KiB) Viewed 994 times

Olympus serial number timeline Models K & SZ JM_060223.JPG (62.22 KiB) Viewed 994 times

Olympus serial number timeline Mixed models F MF H & PM camera adapter_060223.JPG (57.15 KiB) Viewed 994 times

[jayjay]

I've combined the different V models I have data for. There's evidently a couple of different serial number sequences. More data will help clarify relationships within the dataset.

Olympus serial number timeline Mixed models V_060223.JPG (32 KiB) Viewed 994 times

[jayjay]

I've finally found time to sort through some of the data I have for objectives. As with the microscope chief bodies and heads, the data suggests the objective serial numbers were reset to start from 200000 in mid-1954.

Olympus serial number timeline 10X objectives_200323.JPG (42.62 KiB) Viewed 45 times

Olympus serial number timeline 40X objectives_200323.JPG (41.82 KiB) Viewed 45 times

I'm not sure what's going on with the 100X data around 1965 - it appears a new objective model was introduced with a serial number reset to 400000.

Olympus serial number timeline 100X objectives_200323.JPG (41.1 KiB) Viewed 45 times

I also have limited info on other types of objectives e.g. 4X, 20X, 60X etc and will add more figures once I receive additional data.