The 6-digit code here is 304930. The code on the tone pot is 304931. Using the Triode Electronics EIA code list, we can suss out '304' being Stackpole, the '9' being 1949, and the '30' and '31' as weeks of the year. So the pots were made in the 30th and 31st weeks (July) of 1949. A demo of my 1950's Oahu Tonemaster. C6 tuning, played through a Fender Champion. Recorded with Digital Performer using a karaoke backing track of 'Cold Co. A demo of my 1950's Oahu Tonemaster. C6 tuning, played through a Fender Champion. Recorded with Digital Performer using a karaoke backing track of 'Cold Co.

Dating Valco Instruments

The most effective way to date a Valco guitar or amp is by its serial number. From the ‘40s until 1964, the serial could be found stamped into a small metal plate that was tacked onto the back of the headstock or the back of the cabinet. From 1964-1968, the serial was ink-stamped onto a silver foil sticker that is found in the same place. The following is a key for decoding the serial number, but keep in mind that the numbers are approximate.

'N' prefix: 1935

'S' prefix: 1935-36

'A' prefix: 1936-37*

Oahu Lap Steel History

'B' prefix: 1937-38

'C' prefix: 1938-40*

'G' prefix: 1941-42

'G' suffix: 1943-47

V100-V7500: 1947

V7500-V15000: 1948

V15000-V25000: 1949

V25000-V35000: 1950

V35000-V38000: 1951

X100-X7000: 1951

X7000-X17000: 1952

X17000-X30000: 1953

X30000-X43000: 1954

X43000-X57000: 1955

X57000-X71000: 1956

X71000-X85000: 1957

X85000-X99000: 1958

Oahu Lap Steel Serial Numbers Chart

T100-T5000: 1958

T5000-T25000: 1959

T25000-T50000: 1960

T50000-T75000: 1961

T75000-T90000: 1962

Oahu Lap Steel For Sale

T90000-T99000: 1963

G5000-G15000: 1963

G15000-G40000: 1964

Starting with '1-': 1964-68

Starting with '2-': 1968

*'A' and 'C' prefixes also occur in some pre-1936 serials.

Oahu Lap Steel Guitar

However, some of these plates and many of these stickers have disappeared over time. Often the speaker codes or potentiometer codes can help, assuming that these parts are original and legible. Pot codes can be decodedhere, and speaker codes can be decoded here. For dating pre-Valco acoustic instruments,see this page.