Help with an unknown mark please

[gramophone78]

Thanks to one of our members, it was brought to my attention there was a mark on the newest Berliner trade mark I found. I never even noticed. However, I checked with a loupe and found it was under the original finish. To me it looks like "TOP" backwards as "POT". That makes no sense to me at all. Can anyone make sense of this??. Is the first letter (??) a "P"???.

[Andersun]

Just a guess but it is so close to the transfer that it might of been a guide for the application of the transfer which would normally not get applied on the case.

[SonnyPhono]

I can't help out with a meaning. But here it is as "Top".

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[SonnyPhono]

Just a guess but it is so close to the transfer that it might of been a guide for the application of the transfer which would normally not get applied on the case.

That would be pretty interesting if it is the case. But if it was to remind the applicant of the orientation, wouldn't it still read "Top" instead of "Pot"?

[gramophone78]

Yes, I can see it as a guide. However, why backwards??. As you can see the decal is nicely centered. Thank you for reversing the mark Sonny. To me, the "P" seems strange. Could it be the letters of the person that put it together??. I might be way off base in saying this.....but, could it be "9 OT"??.

[Andersun]

Before it is applied, you might not be able to see the front side of the transfer, only the side which mounts on the wood. That would explain it being backwards after it has been applied. We also cannot see what other lettering instructions were on the transfer. Looking at the reverse side of a transfer, it would be very easy to put it on upside down because it is all one color. Usually silver or white.

[SonnyPhono]

Before it is applied, you might not be able to see the front side of the transfer, only the side which mounts on the wood. That would explain it being backwards after it has been applied. We also cannot see what other lettering instructions were on the transfer. Looking at the reverse side of a transfer, it would be very easy to put it on upside down because it is all one color.

That would make perfect sense. It was the first thing that crossed my mind but I pictured a decal having a material covering the front that was clear like today's decals so I ruled it out. Back then it was probably protected by something opaque so this would make perfect sense.

If it is the case, I would think it is THE only one with that mistake in existence. I can't imagine many, (if more than just this one) made it out of the factory with such a marking. Regardless, it's pretty interesting and thanks for sharing!

[Andersun]

It is interesting. It probably was not noticed until after the clear-coat was applied. At that point, they would of had to strip the finish and decal off and do it over which would disrupt the assembly line process.

I had an Edison Home that had Edison's signature on the front side if bedplate double stamped from the factory.

[gramophone78]

Andersun, I too agree with your explanation. However,would you expect the mark to be hand written instead of printed like the decal?. I would have thought that "TOP" would be placed dead center at the top. I just can't think of another answer for this mark

[TinfoilPhono]

Before application the decal probably looked something like this, only perhaps even less legible. Once properly softened (probably lacquer, not water) it would have been put on the cabinet and the paper slid off. So "TOP" makes perfect sense as a way for a worker to easily orient it without having to give it a second thought.