50g - Differences in production batches

[3298]

(04-01-2021 01:44 PM)rprosperi Wrote:  

(04-01-2021 12:44 PM)3298 Wrote:  With those serial numbers I can deduct that your old one was made in week 15, 2007, the new "spare" one is from week 28, 2016. Having just the last digit of the year makes for some ambiguity between very early and very late serial numbers because the 50g was produced for slightly more than 10 years, but this serial number format change eliminates that.

I'm pretty sure no units were made in 2016, as in late 2015 Tim reported production had already ceased, so this makes this unit from mid-2006, in fact quite early production. Checking my own units it paradoxically appears that the early units did not have the "HPK-49GPLUS(B)" raised lettering on the back, while later ones did (e.g. I have 2 units from 2012 that do have this and several from 2006/2007 that don't). Presumably "HPK" is for "HP Kinpo", but just a guess.

We puzzled over that mystery earlier, and concluded that even 2017 serial numbers exist. You posted in that thread, so you should have known.