Oedipus wrote:The metal parts were sent out to India as kits, known as 'Equipments'.
Thanks. I had wondered if they had just sent out large crates of parts and let the factory at the other end worry about what to put with what - but it makes more sense if they kitted up the parts first
Oedipus wrote:When the model number is stamped on the horn, it's on the wooden part, but as I mentioned before, they seem to have stopped doing this about 1927.
I've had a chance to look at both the 162 horns and no obvious model numbers on either (though one has some of of mark on it I can't quite make out). Sounds like both are then 1927 or later
Oedipus wrote:In the late twenties, the numbering system seems to have changed almost annually, and for a time in 1929 was abandoned altogether -- and that's just at Hayes. Heaven alone knows about serial numbers in India, but I think production was certainly high enough to justify a system of some sort.
I suppose they weren't really thinking about us in the future (!) Presumably whatever they did was good enough for their purposes at the time. It also makes sense to think the Indian factory must have had some sort of system. I've tried googling for pictures of the factory - and found one of the outside which suggests it was a sizable operation.
Thanks for all the info - much appreciated
It also occurred to me with all this talk of the use of teak - that I had no idea what teak really looks like. I was surprised to find it was a yellowish wood - however certain parts of this machine do have a yellowish tinge and I attach a photo of some minor damage to the lid what shows a much lighter wood underneath and underneath the spent needle tray. The lid is also noticeably heavier than the mahogany one of the other 162 (though I don't know if that makes it more or less likely to be teak)
I've also had a go at cleaning up the motor a bit - just to get it running. If anybody is interested I've made a YouTube video:
https://youtu.be/j1fDf_0DQA4