Supro Lap Steel Serial Numbers

1951 Supro MOTS Lap Steel Guitar, Serial Number #X2040. Light play-wear with fully functioning pickup and electronics. Appears to be missing bridge cover or possible bending mechanism. The tuner buttons are fragile. Original hard case included. Condition: Good. Vintage Valco / Supro Lap Steel - Vintage McKinney Slide Guitar W / Case. This is from the 1950's and was made by the Valco company, who also made Supro.

Supro Lap Steel Identification

Forum Index> Steel Without Pedals

Next oldest topic :: Next newest topic

Author

Topic: Supro Lap Steel Identification

Paul Hutzler

From:
Seattle, Wa

Posted 27 Oct 2010 11:47 am

I would love some help determining what year my Supro lap steel is. On the back of the headstock there is a ID : #B3094. In addition, the guitar does not take a standard 1/4' cable but instead a different kind of cable threads on. Thanks for any help!

Wayne D. Clark

From:
Montello Wisconsin, USA

Posted 27 Oct 2010 2:00 pm

I HAD A 6 STING BLACK AND WHITE NATIONAL LAP STEEL IN THE LATE 40'S THAT HAD A THREADED JACK. WISH I HAD IT BACK, IT WAS GIVEN AWAY WHILE I WAS IN THE NAVY, THEY DIDN'T THINK I WANTED IT AFTER I HAD PURCHASED A NEW DOUBLE NECK 8 STRING FENDER, WHILE IN DRY DOCK UP IN VALLLEVO. THOSE WERE THE DAYS OF NATIONAL, SUPRO, GIBSON ALL MADE LAP STEELS AT THAT TIME. BUT THIS IS ABOUT YOUR SUPRO AND IM SORRY I DON'T KNOW THE AGE OF YOUR INSTERMENT, BUT IT IS A VINTAGE MODEL.
WATBE D, CLARK
DESERT ROSE S10 3/5
GOODRICH PEDAL
PEAVEY 110

Rick Batey

Posted 27 Oct 2010 2:55 pm

Here's a similar Supro model in a slightly earlier incarnation with just a single volume control and no tone control. Yours might be around 1937 or slightly later. I believe some National serial number data puts the B prefix range at between 1936-1937, but whether that applies to all Supros I'm not certain.
Catalog courtesy Michael Lee Allen.
A forum search on 'Amphenol' will turn up lots of information on screw-on connectors. Hope this helps.

John Billings

From:
Ohio, USA

Posted 27 Oct 2010 3:06 pm

The only serial numbers I can find beginning in 'B,' are National/Valco numbers that do indicate 1937!
http://www.valcopages.com/Dating.html

Chris Battis

From:
Reno, Nevada, USA

Posted 27 Oct 2010 3:10 pm

Here's a list of National and Supro serial #'s. Yours does appear to date from 1937.
http://home.provide.net/~cfh/national.html#serial

Paul Hutzler

From:
Seattle, Wa

Posted 27 Oct 2010 7:51 pm

1937! wow, thanks!

George Rout

From:
St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada

Posted 31 Oct 2010 4:36 pm

Hi Paul. The screw-on connector was common to guitars and amplifiers up to the 60's. I have a National D8 and a 1955 (?) Bogen Challenger CHA33 PA amplifier (which I still use for my Gibson Console Grande) that have those connectors on them. I still see the adaptors in the picture below in old, old music stores. It's a handy device if you want to use a double-ended 1/4' plug cord.
Geo
_________________
http://georgerout.com
'I play in the A Major tuning. It's fun to learn and so easy to play. It's as old as the hills....like me'

Bill Creller

From:
Saginaw, Michigan, USA (deceased)

Posted 1 Nov 2010 6:07 am

That adapter is still available, and it's made by Switchcraft. I have the part number here someplace, and if I find it I will post it. Also trying to remember who handles them. Gettin' old really sucks!

George Rout

From:
St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada

Posted 1 Nov 2010 7:53 am

Hi Bill. I'd be interested in having the Switchcraft part number if it's readily available. I guess I could slueth it out on the net. Ah yes, good ole Switchcraft components. All my career has been in contracts and procurement, and the first 25 years or so were in electronic equipment manufacturing. I purchased tens of thousands of passive components like Switchcraft, Centralab, Amphenol, Canon, E. F. Johnson and the list goes on. Switchcraft made quality items, I wonder if they're made offshore now.
I was just looking in my 1959 Allied Radio catalogue and all the Switchcraft connectors are there except that particular adaptor. There's no number on the 2 I have, it just says Switchcraft Inc.
Geo
_________________
http://georgerout.com
'I play in the A Major tuning. It's fun to learn and so easy to play. It's as old as the hills....like me'

Richard Shatz

From:
Quincy, IL, United States

Posted 1 Nov 2010 8:18 am

Here you go.
http://www.jt30.com/jt30page/eacstore.html

George Rout

From:
St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada

Posted 1 Nov 2010 1:41 pm

Thanks Richard. At least we know they are still available.
Geo
_________________
http://georgerout.com
'I play in the A Major tuning. It's fun to learn and so easy to play. It's as old as the hills....like me'

Jerry Hayes

From:
Virginia Beach, Va.

Posted 2 Nov 2010 10:08 amCord adapter........

Hey Paul, if you need one of those thread to 1/4' phone plug adapters just send me your mailing address and I'll send you one, no charge. I have one left over from an old lapsteel that I used it on before I had it converted to a regular jack.........JH in Va.
_________________
Don't matter who's in Austin (or anywhere else) Ralph Mooney is still the king!!!

Forum Index> Steel Without Pedals

Next oldest topic :: Next newest topic

All times are GMT - 8 Hours

Dating Valco Instruments

The most effective way to date a Valco guitar or amp is by its serial number. From the ‘40s until 1964, the serial could be found stamped into a small metal plate that was tacked onto the back of the headstock or the back of the cabinet. From 1964-1968, the serial was ink-stamped onto a silver foil sticker that is found in the same place. The following is a key for decoding the serial number, but keep in mind that the numbers are approximate.

'N' prefix: 1935

'S' prefix: 1935-36

'A' prefix: 1936-37*

'B' prefix: 1937-38

'C' prefix: 1938-40*

'G' prefix: 1941-42

'G' suffix: 1943-47

V100-V7500: 1947

V7500-V15000: 1948

V15000-V25000: 1949

V25000-V35000: 1950

V35000-V38000: 1951

X100-X7000: 1951

X7000-X17000: 1952

X17000-X30000: 1953

X30000-X43000: 1954

X43000-X57000: 1955

X57000-X71000: 1956

X71000-X85000: 1957

X85000-X99000: 1958

T100-T5000: 1958

T5000-T25000: 1959

T25000-T50000: 1960

T50000-T75000: 1961

T75000-T90000: 1962

T90000-T99000: 1963

G5000-G15000: 1963

G15000-G40000: 1964

Starting with '1-': 1964-68

Starting with '2-': 1968

*'A' and 'C' prefixes also occur in some pre-1936 serials.

1954 Supro Lap Steel

However, some of these plates and many of these stickers have disappeared over time. Often the speaker codes or potentiometer codes can help, assuming that these parts are original and legible. Pot codes can be decodedhere, and speaker codes can be decoded here. For dating pre-Valco acoustic instruments,see this page.