Corrections: Leslie cabinets. Was Leslie 760.

[SalAzz@aol.com]

Friends:

Sorry for the repost, but the original was incomplete and missing a few
things.

<< Bob S. writes:

>>If you look inside most Leslies, you will see a black stencil with the
>model no. on the lower shelf, next to the bass speaker.  Most late 147 and
>122 Leslies are stenciled 770 ... hmmmm.

I've noticed this too.  Seems like I've never seen one marked 142; they all
say 145 inside.  And 147's made in the '70's all seem to say 122 inside.
 Seems like it would have made sense for the woodshop to call the 41"
cabinets by one number only.  122/147/770 are the same cabinet. The
122R/147R's are the same. The only different 41" cabinet was the 251 which
has the "R" models additional side louvers, but they have the same upper
shelf location and bass cabinet size as the 122/147/770.  I have one and it
does say 251 inside.

More interesting is the number stamped to the left of the model which is a
date code. (It is sometimes hidden by the 15" speaker).  I've pretty much
figured it out from the '50's to the 70's.  Some Leslies only have the date
code and not the model.  Here's how it works:

You have to be able to date the Leslie within 10 years, which should be
fairly easy.  Just to get started, 21H's are 1950's, 22 series is 1956 to
1963, 122/142/147/145's are late 1963 and later.  Any other single speed
model (45/47/51) is prior to late 1963.  There are a number of visual cues:
Anything with a foil CBS ID tag is post 1966, anything with a metal tag is
prior to 1966.  The typewritten silver foil tags appeared in the mid to late
70's.  The new style Leslie logo appeared in 1970, and cabinets made after
then have particle board baffles rather than all hardwood construction and
are missing the instruction sheet formerly pasted to the back.

The code is 4 digits.  The first 3 numbers are the day, and the last digit is
the year.  For example, model 142 serial #B15324 has 2317 stamped on the
baffle which means it was made on the 231st day of 1967.

Here's a few other examples from my collection: 

A 147, sn H47665 is dated 3382 (December 3rd, 1972).

Two 147's with consecutive serial numbers, 86156 and 86157 were made on the
same day, 2519 (1969).  The model is stamped 122-1.  (You know you're too
deep into any hobby when you purchase a Leslie with a consecutive serial
number to one that you bought 20 years previously!).

Two 122R's; serial 42947 was made 3263 (no kidding, November 22nd, 1963).
 WHERE WERE YOU THEN????  I wonder if it was made before or after.... 
Serial 42874 was made 2853, October 12th 1963.

A model 45 sn 60186 is dated 0952 (April 4th, 1962).

A 21H sn 18589 is dated 0798 (March 19th, 1958).

A Leslie is really easy to date; there are date codes scattered everywhere in
them.  The motors, tubes, speakers and some amp components are dated as well.
If any of these components happen to still be the originals, you can date
everything. 

For example, the "JFK" 122R (42947):

Fast motors: 6346 - 46th week of 1963.
Slow upper:  6345 - 45th  "
Slow lower:  6341  - 41st  " 
HF speaker: 220344 - 44st week of 1963.
LF speaker:  220342 - 42nd week of 1963.
Tung-Sol 6550 tubes are dated (322)6338-3.  (38th week of 1963).

Documenation with the organ and speaker shows that the organ was originally
delivered 19 December 1963 with a 22H Leslie and that the store was ordering
a 122R to replace the 22H.

I'm guessing that 220 was an OEM code for Jensen and 322 a code for Tung-Sol
products supplied to Leslie.

This stuff is probably old news to the gurus and rabid collectors, but if
anyone wants more info I'll pass along what info I've dissected out of my
Leslies.

Go get your power screwdriver and go have a look!

Sal