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pre-1937 Van Norman serial numbers

Cal Haines

Diamond
Joined
Sep 19, 2002
Location
Tucson, AZ
A question for johnoder or anyone else with serial number books that cover pre-WWII milling machines:

In the late 1930s, Van Norman switched to 4-digit serial numbers issued sequentially by model number; that is, all the No. 12 milling machines started getting a serial numbers starting at 5000; No. 26's also got serial numbers starting at 5000. The full serial number of the machine was the 4-digit number with the model number as either prefix or a suffix (i.e. 5000-12, 7689-12, 5000-26). Prior to that, Van Norman appears to have used 4- then 5-digit serial numbers assigned sequentially to milling machines regardless of model. The 5-digit numbers went at least as high as 13744 before the switch.

Does anyone have any serial number reference books that cover the period prior to 1937?

Thanks!

Cal
 
These books - to the best of my knowledge - came into being solely for the benefit of the somewhat organized used machinery dealers. That is why they all say they are by the arm of whatever organization they apparently had and that is INDUSTRIAL MACHINERY NEWS

My 1975 version states it is only the sixth edition, so it seems likely to me that no such organization (or publication benefiting that organization) was in existence prior to WW2

I gather the organization contacted MAKERS and asked for serial records. Since this was all voluntary it had mixed results.

I suppose it may be possible to Google that name with the added word HISTORY and see what one came up with - if anything
 
Thanks John. I take it that your books don't go back that far?

John Kasunich used to have a web site that listed Van Norman serial numbers, as published in the book "Machine Tool Serial Numbers". Fortunately, I saved a PDF of the page before it vanished. But it starts with the newer 4-digit system that I described.

BTW, Vintage Machinery has serial number lists for a number of different US manufacturers (but not Van Norman) here: link

Cal
 
So I have the earliest version of the book that I've seen which listed as "Third Printing, 1963 Revision, copyright 1959". Later books had a lot of very early data redacted from them.

The earliest Van Norman numbers are from 1935 and it looks like the numbering changed in 1937. However no where near all machines used that 5000 and up serial standard. The list is such a mess I'm not even going to try to list them here. I'll work on getting that info to you if you PM me an email address.

Mike
 
Mike's book only has three entries prior to 1937:

1935: No. 22 s/n 13247
1936: No. 22 s/n 13510; No. 32 s/n 13442

If I understand correctly, those are the last serial numbers issued to machines in those years.

There are no Van Norman No. 12 serial numbers listed prior to 1937. However, one or two No. 12s with 5-digit serial numbers have turned up that appear to be pre-1937. All post 1937 serial numbers are 4-digit, with the exception of a few No. 12s made in 1955 when they apparently hit serial number 9999 and continued on as far as 10024.

Prior to 1946, most of the model's serial numbers started at 5000. Some of the models introduced after 1945 have serial numbers that start at other multiples of 1000; for example, the No. 16L, 16M and 16S have serial numbers that start at 3000, 2000 and 4000, respectively.

Thanks again for your help, Mike!

Cal
 
I have a van norman 1-V with serial number 5130. It would be interesting to know when it was made, I'm told it's a really rare machine.
 
I have a van norman 1-V with serial number 5130. It would be interesting to know when it was made, I'm told it's a really rare machine.

I believe you are correct as there are only three entries for the "1V"

5055 1941
5131 1942
5139 1943

Making some assumptions here... If the first unit was 5001, which appears to have been there normal behavior, then they only made 139 of them in three years. I have seen catalog photos of them.

PS these numbers should indicate the last serial for that year.
 
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I have one. Van Norman 1-V serial no 5023. Also in the uk. Love it. I think it came from Vickers.
 
Im not sure of the serial number on my Van Norman No 6 mill, but it was built in 1941. I say 1941, because the wiring diagram inside the electrical panel has a date of 1941 on the paper.

Mike's book only has three entries prior to 1937:

1935: No. 22 s/n 13247
1936: No. 22 s/n 13510; No. 32 s/n 13442

If I understand correctly, those are the last serial numbers issued to machines in those years.

There are no Van Norman No. 12 serial numbers listed prior to 1937. However, one or two No. 12s with 5-digit serial numbers have turned up that appear to be pre-1937. All post 1937 serial numbers are 4-digit, with the exception of a few No. 12s made in 1955 when they apparently hit serial number 9999 and continued on as far as 10024.

Prior to 1946, most of the model's serial numbers started at 5000. Some of the models introduced after 1945 have serial numbers that start at other multiples of 1000; for example, the No. 16L, 16M and 16S have serial numbers that start at 3000, 2000 and 4000, respectively.

Thanks again for your help, Mike!

Cal
 
Van norman crankshaft grinders

I have been trying to find serial numbers for Van norman 666 crankshaft grinders to try and identify the 3 machines I have 5045 and 5054 I think , any help would be appreciated .... At least trying to see what year they were made in ..
 
Folks have asked about the 666 before. The old serial number book I have (circa 1963) has lots of various Van Norman grinder models but the 666 is not listed.
 








 
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