On the headstock, the X prefix serial number dates this steel to 1954, and the original. Serial numbers appear to have some pattern but I haven't spent much time on them. This steel has been strung with fresh roundwound 11-50 strings.

There are bridge, nut, knob and tuner variations during different time periods as well but with all the brands they were offered in it can be hard to nail these down. From, the serial was ink-stamped onto a silver foil sticker that is found in. From the ‘40s until, 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. There were originally round holes with ferrules to feed the strings through on the back that was later sometimes replaced with a stamped one-piece affair to feed the strings through on the last versions. Supro 60 lap steel serial number The most effective way to date a Valco guitar or amp is by its serial number. 1950 and enlarged and mounted straight after. Appears to be all original, aside from the tuner buttons that I replaced. The cover over the pickup (hand rest) was angled before ca. The fingerboard was black, then became cream colored about the same time (around 1950). The headstock (after the tulip shaped early models was more rounded on the end (ca.'47)and became squared off after a few years. Generally: Pot codes are often there but not always easy to see. I've got a mess of old MOTS Magnatones and their relatives and there are a number of keys to date them.