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I recently acquired a Columbia Type B. It has a serial number of 97196. Is there any resource where I can get an approximate year of manufacture?

Gerald Corby wrote:I recently acquired a Columbia Type B. It has a serial number of 97196. Is there any resource where I can get an approximate year of manufacture?

Your B was manufactured in late 1897.

Unfortunately, there are no known original documents that specify Type B production numbers, but the model (often advertised as the "Eagle") was introduced in August 1897 and the serial numbering began at 80,000. It can be proven that approximately 65,000 Eagles had been manufactured during the first year. Since yours is the seventeen thousand one hundred ninety sixth example produced, we can be pretty sure it left the factory in late 1897.

George P.

Thank you, That is awesome. So far the only problem is a broken governor spring. If I can find a set of three I will replace all of them. Again, thanks very much!

Gerry Corby

You're very welcome.

You can get new governor springs from Ron Sitko,56 Church Hill Road. Waterford NY 12188
Telephone (518) 371-8549

Good luck!

George P.