How Old Is My Heller & Brightly?

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Below are several tables to use in figuring out the approximate age of a Heller & Brightly instrument.

SEVERAL NOTES:

  • If a serial number is between 4400 and 6213 use Table I.  These are estimated numbers and are not expected to be in error by more than two or three years.

  • If serial number is in range 6313 to 8287 consult Table II.  These are dates the serial numbers were authorized and in some cases the instruments were not finished for several years.

  • If serial number is in range 6292 to 6670 consult Table III.  These were instruments that were made in the years 1891 to 1897 and duplicated earlier numbers in an effort to hide production from Charles Brightly.  If the number is listed in the table and the instrument is a transit or level as indicated in the second column, then the third column gives the year the number was authorized, otherwise the year is given in Table II.

  • For many of the instruments with serial numbers above 6000, the factory records gives the name of the maker, an approximate date of sale, and the name of the purchaser.

  • If serial number is 10,000 or above consult Table IV.  Many of these instruments were never finished.

 

TABLE I

H & B numbers estimated

Year

Number

1870 4400
1871 4424
1872 4481
1873 4539
1874 4605
1875 4737
1876 4841
1877 4945
1878 5049
1879 5152
1880 5256
1881 5360
1882 5464
1883 5567
1884 5671
1885 5775
1886 5879
1887 5982
1888 6086

TABLE II

H & B numbers Factory Records

Year

Number

1888 xxxx-6213
1889 6214-6351
1890 6352-6536
1891 6543-6734
1892     
1893 6735-6739
1894 6740-6771
1895 6772-6787
1896     
1897 6788
1898 7000-7035
1899 7036-7108
1900 7109-7225
1901 7226-7334
1902 7335-7460
1903 7461-7585
1904 7586-7657
1905 7660-7754
1906 7755-7800
1907 7801-7873
1908 7874-7941
1909 7942-7996
1910 7997-8047
1911 8048-8059
1912 8060-8093
1913 8094-8117
1914 8118-8136
1915 8137-8159
1916 8160-8175
1917 8176-8191
1918 8192-8201
1919 8202-8208
1920 8209-8217
1921 8218-8240
1922 8241-8249
1923 8250-8257
1924 8258-8259
1925 8260-8265
1926 8267
1927 8268-8284
1928 8285-8286
1930 8287
TABLE III
Duplicate Numbers
Number Instrument Year
6292-6309 Transit 1891
6351 Transit 1892
6362-6367 Transit 1893
6369-6372 Transit 1893
6427-6436 Transit 1897
6450-6457 Transit 1897
6464-6483 Level 1893
6497 Transit 1897
6500-6502 Transit 1897
6516-6524 Transit 1897
6608-6625 Transit 1896
6647-6650 Transit 1897
6651-6670 Level 1895

TABLE IV

H & B Inc. Factory Records
Year Number
1928 10000
1930 10001-10013
1931 10014-10022
1932 10023-10062
1934 10063-10079
1937 10080-10130
1941 10132-10161
1942 10162-10222
1943 10223-10237
???? 10238-10321

 

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