Spotmatic Serial Numbers?

[marcusverger]

I have a couple of Pentax Spotmatics - SP 1000 & SP F models.

I have the serial numbers and was wondering if there is any way of knowing when they were made by using these numbers??

SP 1000 S/N is 5763364
SP F S/N is 6121110

Thanks !!

 

[resummerfield]

I’m not aware of any way to decipher a production date from the serial number. However, from my listing of Spotmatics compiled over several decades, the 4,xxx,xxx numbers ran from about 1973 through 1975. I would guess both of your numbers are from 1976 or possibly 1977.

 

[Kodachromeguy]

Regular Spotmatic purchased in Massachusetts in 1971: 2794488.
Spotmatic F, unknown original date, purchased via evilbay: 6045378

 

[marcusverger]

Many thanks to you both for the information!!

 

[Nitroplait]

I would guess both of your numbers are from 1976 or possibly 1977.

Did Pentax still make Spotmatics (and M42) in 76/77?
If I remember correctly my Pentax K2 is from 1975.

 

[waynecrider]

Didn’t the S/N change when production went to China.

 

[Disappointed_Horse]

As far as I know, all Spotmatics were made in Japan. I don't think they moved production to Hong Kong until around 1980 (mainland China was some years after that). This was well into the K-mount era.

 

[resummerfield]

Did Pentax still make Spotmatics (and M42) in 76/77?
If I remember correctly my Pentax K2 is from 1975.

According to Gerjan van Oosten’s “The Definitive Asahi Pentax Collector's Guide 1952-1977”, the M42 Spotmatic F was produced through September 1976, and the M42 SP 1000 was produced through January 1977.

Production of M42 Spotmatics did move to Hong Kong shortly after production ceased in Japan, but I'm not certain of the date.

 

[250swb]

I can't help thinking that in an age when owning a camera is not only about film and lenses but sometimes about nostalgia, but certainly about being nerdy, Pentax's would be more collectible or noticed if they had the same sort of database as Nikon or Leica. I'm not one for joining clubs, but being able to look something up on a list puts you in a club, and in many ways you can become as interested in other peoples cameras nearly as much as your own.