Vintage hi-fi is not dated by one magic number. Some makers published tables, some left only stamps on the parts, and some left nothing — the archive treats each of those honestly, and the mark you found decides which answer is possible.
Where the maker published per-model ranges — Quad, McIntosh, Thorens TD-124, Revox A77.
Read the guide ↗Code systemThe three letters on a Hunts or Mullard part: week and year, and the part it dates.
Read the guide ↗Code systemFour digits on a Nichicon or Rubycon sleeve — week and year of the part, the working fallback on Japanese gear.
Read the guide ↗Code systemMaker, year and week on transformers, pots and capacitors — the fallback when nothing else remains.
Read the guide ↗Code systemInk stamps under a platter, dated labels inside a chassis, Revox rotor stamps.
Read the guide ↗Code systemKit catalogue numbers and model revisions where no serial register ever existed.
Read the guide ↗Code systemMk I and Mk II, cosmetics and circuit eras that bound a production period.
Read the guide ↗| System | Makers |
|---|---|
| Serial numbers — where they actually work | McIntosh Laboratory · Marantz · Quad (Acoustical Manufacturing) · Thorens · Revox (Willi Studer) · Dynaco · Fisher Radio (The Fisher) · Garrard Engineering · Sansui Electric |
| The three letters on the capacitor | McIntosh Laboratory · Marantz · Quad (Acoustical Manufacturing) · Thorens · Revox (Willi Studer) · Dynaco · Fisher Radio (The Fisher) · H.H. Scott · Garrard Engineering · Dual (Gebrüder Steidinger) · H.J. Leak & Co. · Heath Company (Heathkit) · Electronic Instrument Co. (EICO) · Allied Radio (Knight-Kit) · Harman Kardon · Sherwood Electronic Laboratories · Radford Electronics · Accuphase Laboratory · Luxman · Yamaha (Hi-Fi) · Sansui Electric · Audio Research · J.E. Sugden & Sons · Musical Fidelity |
| EIA component date codes | McIntosh Laboratory · Marantz · Quad (Acoustical Manufacturing) · Thorens · Revox (Willi Studer) · Dynaco · Fisher Radio (The Fisher) · H.H. Scott · Garrard Engineering · Dual (Gebrüder Steidinger) · H.J. Leak & Co. · Heath Company (Heathkit) · Electronic Instrument Co. (EICO) · Allied Radio (Knight-Kit) · Harman Kardon · Sherwood Electronic Laboratories · Radford Electronics · Accuphase Laboratory · Luxman · Yamaha (Hi-Fi) · Sansui Electric · Audio Research · J.E. Sugden & Sons · Musical Fidelity |
| Stamps, labels and rotor marks | Marantz · Revox (Willi Studer) · Garrard Engineering · Dual (Gebrüder Steidinger) · H.J. Leak & Co. · Sansui Electric |
| Catalogue numbers and model revisions | Fisher Radio (The Fisher) · H.H. Scott · Garrard Engineering · H.J. Leak & Co. · Electronic Instrument Co. (EICO) · Allied Radio (Knight-Kit) · Harman Kardon · Sherwood Electronic Laboratories · Radford Electronics · Accuphase Laboratory · Yamaha (Hi-Fi) · Audio Research |
| Mk I, Mk II, and the cosmetics | McIntosh Laboratory · Marantz · Quad (Acoustical Manufacturing) · Thorens · Revox (Willi Studer) · Dynaco · Fisher Radio (The Fisher) · Garrard Engineering · Dual (Gebrüder Steidinger) · Heath Company (Heathkit) · Accuphase Laboratory · Luxman · Yamaha (Hi-Fi) · Sansui Electric · J.E. Sugden & Sons · Musical Fidelity |
| The four digits on the sleeve. | McIntosh Laboratory · Marantz · Quad (Acoustical Manufacturing) · Thorens · Revox (Willi Studer) · Dynaco · Fisher Radio (The Fisher) · H.H. Scott · Garrard Engineering · Dual (Gebrüder Steidinger) · H.J. Leak & Co. · Heath Company (Heathkit) · Electronic Instrument Co. (EICO) · Allied Radio (Knight-Kit) · Harman Kardon · Sherwood Electronic Laboratories · Radford Electronics · Accuphase Laboratory · Luxman · Yamaha (Hi-Fi) · Sansui Electric · Audio Research · J.E. Sugden & Sons · Musical Fidelity |