Collecting 1581 Serial Numbers

Robin8BitShowAndTell · Aug 18th 2020

Hi, this is my first post, sorry it's in English. I'm Canadian! I recently made a video about estimating the number of 1581 drives by using the "German Tank Method" (which I hope isn't an offensive phrase!) and based on my current data and assumptions, the total estimate is around 60,000.

Here's the video:

[External Media: https://youtu.be/Oe8AHYJdXHs]

Since releasing that video I've been sent a lot more data by viewers and by Facebook group members, but there are still some holes which may mean Commodore skipped certain ranges of numbers, or we just don't have enough data yet. Here's all the numbers:

https://docs.google.com/spread…srzfD5US1TJexpwFYLVVPp88/

It's been suggested to me that there might be many 1581 drives owned by forum members here. If you'd like to contribute, please post photos of the serial number badge on the bottom of the drive here or email robin (at) 8bitshowandtell.com. If you feel like opening your drive up, serial numbers from the motherboard (usually starting with JA or JE) and drive mechanism are also welcome as they can be used for alternate estimates. I am of course sharing all data I'm sent.

If sending a photo isn't possible, text submissions are okay too; make sure you include the prefix (such as JA1, JE1, HB or other similar). I've been tracking them separately. Thanks.

HOL2001 · Aug 19th 2020

Wow, what a honor to have you here!
Welcome to the board, Robin!
I will check mine this evenig and post it here.

Spider1982 · Aug 19th 2020

Yes. I See this already in Facebook . Welcome.

Bobbel · Aug 19th 2020

Here are pictures from my two drives. It made me wonder that there are no nameplates on either of them

Drive 1

Drive 2

When disassembling I realized that I had to clean both drives in addition, one ejection button is defective but it still works

toms01 · Aug 19th 2020

Hi! I only got a pcb : JA0007422

(and completely OT: some 1581replica without any serial numbers

)

ratz · Aug 19th 2020

Hi, I've seen your video some days ago and until then, I didn't even know the term "German tank Method", so no bad feelings.

My 1581 has the Numbers: JE4000403 (on Housing) and JA0037974 (on PCB)

Another PCB has the Number JE0007103

Superingo · Aug 19th 2020

I own two 1581 Drives and both of them have no Label with a Serial.

And I saw many of these at Ebay - also without a Label.

xlar54 · Aug 19th 2020

Quote from toms01

I think, unbeknownst to Robin, that he just started the worlds first 1581 registry

HOL2001 · Aug 19th 2020

Here is my serial.
But I didn't dare to open the drive.

Parser · Aug 19th 2020

JA 0030727 ... no serial badge.

CentralPerk · Aug 19th 2020

My 1581 has a 110V PSU (we use 220V here) so it was probably imported from the USA, which was a common practice in my country for CBM hardware back in the day. It was also a good opportunity to blow out the internal dust and give it a preventive lubrication and head cleaning.

Parser · Aug 19th 2020

Quote from CentralPerk

It was also a good opportunity to blow out the internal dust and give it a preventive lubrication and head cleaning.

Of course ... ... my 1581 was very dirty & yellowed ... but now not yet anymore.

Parser · Aug 19th 2020

Quote from HOL2001

But I didn't dare to open the drive.

Who dares wins!

Parser · Aug 19th 2020

Quote from xlar54

I think, unbeknownst to Robin, that he just started the worlds first 1581 registry

Maybe Robin8BitShowAndTell should start a 1571 serial registry as well?

CentralPerk · Aug 19th 2020

Quote from HOL2001

But I didn't dare to open the drive.

Quote from Parser

Who dares wins!

If it ain't broke, don't fix it!

Robin8BitShowAndTell · Aug 19th 2020

Thanks everybody for the welcomes and new data. This is great! I've updated the spreadsheet with all the latest numbers.

Now with about 3x the data we're still estimating near 60000: 57666 based on case serials and 62904 based on motherboard serials. There is still a big hole of nearly 7000 with no samples in series JA1 so I'll probably split that series into two next time I update it, so maybe we're looking more in the 50 thousands.

If anyone wants to set up registries for more CBM devices (and include all the data we've got for the 1581 now) then I'll definitely help promote it - but I won't be running it

Parser · Aug 19th 2020

Quote from Robin8BitShowAndTell

so maybe we're looking more in the 50 thousands.

... less the 1581 which were scrapped (unintentionally).

-trb- · Aug 19th 2020

Quote from Bobbel

Here are pictures from my two drives. It made me wonder that there are no nameplates on either of them

Quite some moons ago a former Commodore employee from Toronto was selling 1581 casings and electronics. This lasted for years. You just had to add a disk drive to have a complete working 1581 (e.g. the internal drive from Amiga 500). Maybe that's were all the 1581 units without serial number come from?

xlar54 · Aug 20th 2020

Aw come on Robin - sure you dont wanna do the 1541 registry?

xlar54 · Aug 20th 2020

Quote from -trb-

Quote from Bobbel

Here are pictures from my two drives. It made me wonder that there are no nameplates on either of them

Quite some moons ago a former Commodore employee from Toronto was selling 1581 casings and electronics. This lasted for years. You just had to add a disk drive to have a complete working 1581 (e.g. the internal drive from Amiga 500). Maybe that's were all the 1581 units without serial number come from?

I remember that. And i wouldnt think too many Amiga users would have been happy about it.

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