National Dobro Serial Numbers
The National Cash Register company, also known as NCR, was the first company to produce a version of cash registers that resemble the cash registers used today. Made using red brass, nickel plate and oxidized copper and wood, National cash registers are known for their beautiful ornate designs. The most ornate registers were created in the late 1800s to 1915. After 1915, the company changed the production of their registers using a less expensive steel case.
National Dobro Serial Numbers Chart
I cannot find the serial number on a Dobro that is a square neck with a 1896484 patent number. A lot of these came through with no serial number. ALSO in Tom Wheeler's book 'History of the American Guitar / National-Dobro-Valco section is a quote from an interview with John Dopyera himself stating.
Locate the brass or nickel plate on the front of the cash register. It is usually located just underneath the glass window. It will have a series of numbers on it.
Omi Dobro Serial Numbers
Look at the model number on the brass or nickel plate. It is generally a one-, two-, three- or four-digit number on a brass tag on the front of the machine. Close by should be the serial number; it is a five or more digit number generally in the 100,000s or millions. If the serial number begins with an S, the machine was reworked and resold by NCR.
- With 2 serial numbers (S649 on the body and 2356W on the headstock), this is almost certainly a style O body with some sort of factory blemish that was then finished with paint as a Triolian. Paint is 99.9% intact, and it is as clean as I've ever seen.
- National Guitar makers of fine reso-phonic guitars, hand crafted in California.
Check the front of the cash drawer. Many National cash registers have the name 'National' across the front. The logo should be raised and made with the same material as the rest of the cash register. The wood registers have the word 'National' stamped in gold.
National Dobro Serial Numbers Lookup
View the serial number chart (see Resources) to determine when your National cash register was manufactured.