Engraved numbers on Vintage Lenses Minolta

millenial

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Hello,

I just purchased a pair of lenses from a local woman, her father recently passed away (he was the owner of said lenses). These numbers are engraved on the side of the lenses and on the bottom of the Minolta camera. I know this is a long shot, but the daughter also doesn't know what the numbers could be. It almost seems silly for me to ask because this could have been a man with just his own inventory system.

I'm just wondering if maybe someone recognizes the number pattern, I'm in the US, maybe this is a phone number sequence for another country? Does anyone else here do this to their equipment?

I like to know the history of my stuff, so little things like this peak my interest.

Thanks!
 

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BrianShaw

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Social security number. At one time in the long-distant past, 1970's or so, some folks felt that engraving their social security number on things would help with the return if the items were stolen or lost. Law enforcement actually encouraged the proctice... but that was before the identity theft risk associated with such a practice was understood.

The most detailed information that you can get today is the state in which the social security number was originally issued, but not to whom:



In the modern era it seems the gneric practice still is encouraged by some but recommends use of drivers licence numbers or the like.


Operation Identification

Alabama's oldest public 4-year university located within a four-city area on the Tennessee River known as the Shoals
www.una.edu
 
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Paul Howell

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It was common in the military, Vietnam, I have a chrome Nikon that has someones SS number. While in the Air Force I started with a Konica T, my first sergeant twisted my arm until I had it engraved. When I sold it I blurred out the numbers lost some value.
 
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millenial

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Thank you both, this scratches my itch of curiosity. Very interesting to think this was common practice!

Paul, just to clarify, the Konica T lost value because you engraved your SS, not because you blurred them out
 

xkaes

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It's too bad that these were etched on the lenses -- assuming you want to sell them. My guess is that the small one is a 45mm f2.0, and the larger is the 100-200mm f5.6 zoom. If that's the case, they are not worth much anyway.

Here are all of Minolta's SLR lenses -- FYI:

http://www.subclub.org/minman/length.htm
 

MFstooges

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It's crazy how it goes from making the number public, then hides it from ID theft, then being helpless since the hackers keep stealing it almost every day.
 
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millenial

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You are correct on the zoom, the smaller one is the 50mm f1.4 (49mm filter thread version, 1979, based on my research from the "rokkor files").
 

xkaes

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The MD Rokkor 50mm f1.4 is a great lens. The 100-200mm f4.5 zoom isn't a bad lens -- it's just pretty dark in the viewfinder, and you have to focus using the matte part of the screen. It was made in SEVEN different versions and was Minolta longest running lens -- it even appeared under Minolta Celtic lens line.
 
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MTGseattle

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I recently ended up with a selection of Minolta SRT gear. Every last piece has an SSN etched into it, even the flash. My Great-Uncle was a veteran and a machinist. Every tool I inherited from him with a large enough surface has his SSN on it.
It's endearing in a way, like remembering my Great grandmother and my grandmother watching us at Christmas making sure we carefully opened our gifts so that the wrapping paper could be re-used.

Signs of different times.
 
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millenial

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Same situation here, even the flash has the number on it. I ended up messaging the woman who sold me the equipment, she stated it must've been her grandfather's because it was definitely not her father's SSN.

I think you're right, in some sort of way, this engraving feels special. It's like "John Doe was here", and now I have the privilege of using the same equipment as him. Or maybe I'm just hoping someone in the future feels the same about using my equipment.
 

xkaes

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MTGseattle said:
It's endearing in a way, like remembering my Great grandmother and my grandmother watching us at Christmas making sure we carefully opened our gifts so that the wrapping paper could be re-used.
Click to expand...

Waste not, want not!
 

xkaes

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millenial said:
Same situation here, even the flash has the number on it. I ended up messaging the woman who sold me the equipment, she stated it must've been her grandfather's because it was definitely not her father's SSN.
Click to expand...

My understanding is that the social security number can tell you quite a bit, such as date of issue and perhaps approximate location. "006" might mean very early and in New England. Just a guess.
 
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millenial

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xkaes said:
My understanding is that the social security number can tell you quite a bit, such as date of issue and perhaps approximate location. "006" might mean very early and in New England. Just a guess.
Click to expand...

You are correct, based on my research from the links above provided by Brian, this man was issued/applied a SSN in Maine. Before the 70's you could apply for a SSN in any state, didn't matter if it was your resident state. Unfortunately, the women who sold me the equipment was vague with information provided, I really wanted to ask if he was in the military, but I felt I had already asked too much. Still satisfied my curiosity.
 

xkaes

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OK. So here's what I can tell you about the lenses.

Assuming they were bought NEW, that 50mm f1.4 was first produced in April of 1979, and production stopped in May of 1981 (when it was replaced with a slightly different 50mm f1.4). The 100-200mm zoom was probably bought around the same time.

There must have been a camera -- any idea about that???? Not much use without a lens!!!
 
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millenial

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Yes! The lot came with the the two lenses, an XG-1, flash, manuals, and a strap that smells like the 70's - I got a great deal at $30 for the lot.

Regarding the 50mm, I find it interesting (and have yet to find information on this) that this one has the "49mm" filter thread sizing information. I've seen photos of other variations of this lens, some of (what should be) this exact variation that do NOT have the filter thread information.

The XG-1 is in good condition, the leather has seen better days. Unfortunately, the flash is missing the battery cover and I have yet to research if it's worth finding a parts donor. I almost feel inclined to keep it, to keep the family together.
 

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Paul Howell

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millenial said:
Thank you both, this scratches my itch of curiosity. Very interesting to think this was common practice!


Paul, just to clarify, the Konica T lost value because you engraved your SS, not because you blurred them out
Click to expand...

I think both, I traded in my T for a Black Nikon F kit, it was in Santa Barbara, the Nikon was used, at good price as the F2 had just come out. The guy behind the counter took off $20 as the T body had been engraved, not sure if it mattered that I had blurred my SS number.
 
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Paul Howell

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The original owner of the lens might have started with a 101 or the like, then at some point upgraded to the XG-1 but kept the lens, a common practice as long as she/he did not want P or S preferred exposure automation. I use older lens on my X700.
 
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millenial

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Paul Howell said:
The original owner of the lens might have started with a 101 or the like, then at some point upgraded to the XG-1 but kept the lens, a common practice as long as she/he did not want P or S preferred exposure automation. I use older lens on my X700.
Click to expand...

That would make sense as to why she said the numbers may have been her grandfather's. He maybe had the 101 originally. She did mention the XG-1 was the family camera until her father upgraded to a (assuming DSLR) Nikon, but she hasn't been able to "get it to charge".
 

xkaes

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The XG-1 appeared in 1978, so that is contemporaneous to those lenses.

http://www.subclub.org/minman/xg1.htm

As to the writing on the Minolta lens face plates, it changed over time -- and sometimes even when the lens itself didn't change. Examples of this is adding the filter diameter to the face plate, or the location of MADE IN JAPAN.

http://www.subclub.org/minman/5014.htm

The 100-200mm had more variations that any other Minolta lens!!

http://www.subclub.org/minman/1005008.htm
 
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millenial

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Those are some great sources, thank you!
 

MTGseattle

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I just hope analogue photography manages to hang on for a few more decades. As silly as that may sound.
 

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Back in the early 1990's my insurance company, in Australia, gave out free UV marking pens for marking your items in a discrete place - under battery covers, inside containers etc. The police recommended using your driver's licence no. and the police supposedly checked any recovered stolen gear under UV lighting. As I didn't have access to a UV light source I was never sure how well the 'invisible' UV ink had lasted after application.
 
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