DEC Manufacturing plant codes

H Vlems

unread,

Dec 23, 2009, 5:26:11 PM12/23/09

to

DEC used to print serial numbers on VAXes and Alphas and other boxes
manufactured in the same period. These serial numbers start with a two
letter code that identifies the production facility. After looking at
the c.o.v. archives the follwoing list was compiled:
AY = Ayr, Scotland
BK = Germany
GA = Galway, Ireland
NI = Salem, New Hampshire, USA
PC = Irvine, Scotland
KA = Kanata, Ontario, Canada
CX = Colorado Springs, CO, USA
WF = Westfield, MA, USA
AB = Albuquerque, NM, USA
IQ = ?
HY = ?, Japan
CA = Misato, Japan
TY = ?, Japan
Two questions. (1) I'm looking for corrections for the list and (2)
for codes of plants that are not yet in the list.
So if you own DEC gear, have a look at the back of the box and check
the manufacturing plant code.
Hans Vlems

Tim Shoppa

unread,

Dec 24, 2009, 8:16:35 AM12/24/09

to

It was back in the early 70's so it predates your desired time frame,
but a lot of PDP-8/E's and F's and M's etc. were manufactured in San
German, Puerto Rico (SGO). RX01/RX02, RL01/02 etc. assemblies (if not
whole drives) were made there too.

Tim.

H Vlems

unread,

Dec 24, 2009, 12:48:39 PM12/24/09

to

Actually I am trying to figure out all the abbreviations. I've been a
user of PDP-11 systems since 1982 but didn't own them so serial
numbers didn't really matter. In fact I don't even know for sure when
the serial number format that starts with the manufacturing plant code
was introduced. That's why I mentioned the VAX and Alpha time frame,
manufactured by Digital. Compaq changed the serial number format, or
added its own way.
It is not my intention to document Digital's serial numbers since the
PDP-1. At least I think I won't since that task feels like a mission
impossible...
Hans

jmfbahciv

unread,

Dec 25, 2009, 9:29:12 AM12/25/09

to

This timestamp would be a help. I had no idea that the parts numbers
indicated the plant manufacturing site. I had very little to do with
that piece of the business.

In fact, I always wanted to find out who/what/where the part numbers
were created. Never got around to asking people about them though.

> the serial number format that starts with the manufacturing plant code
> was introduced. That's why I mentioned the VAX and Alpha time frame,
> manufactured by Digital. Compaq changed the serial number format, or
> added its own way.
> It is not my intention to document Digital's serial numbers since the
> PDP-1. At least I think I won't since that task feels like a mission
> impossible...
> Hans

/BAH

bbreynolds

unread,

Dec 26, 2009, 8:13:06 PM12/26/09

to

> Tim.- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

In the early 1980s, I drove quite often past a DEC plant which was on
the north side of the highway between Caguas and Humacao (PR-30),
perhaps about the vicinity of Las Piedras.
I was given to understand from my Puerto Rican cow-orkers that this
was the keyboard factory for DEC. Confirmation of the factory location
was made on opening up some sealed packages of keyboards, possibly for
some purchased DEC PCs, and getting that quick whift of air from the
upwind side of Puerto Rico.

Bruce B. Reynolds, Trailing Edge Technologies, Warminster PA

H Vlems

unread,

Dec 27, 2009, 7:26:25 AM12/27/09

to

> Bruce B. Reynolds, Trailing Edge Technologies, Warminster PA- Hide quoted text -

>
> - Show quoted text -

But what would have been the plan code?
Examples from my keyboards:

LK201-AA : BO507sssss (made in the USA)
LK201 : BO752sssss
LK401-AA : HJ450sssss (Assembled in Mexico)
LK401-AA : HJ034sssss (Made in Mexico)
LK450-AA : HJ221sssss
LK46W-A2 : CY645sssss (made in Germany)

Hans