Serial Numbers

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Serial Number Patterns
Serial Numbers Found
Location of Body Serial Numbers

Serial Number Patterns

Originally, body serial numbers were consecutive within a model's production, although sometimes the numbers jumped, or increased digits, at some significant point but they were not consecutive model to model. As the “Yashica” models came into play, things became interesting with odd sequences, some earlier numbers having more digits than later numbers and prefixes being added. The numbers seemed to be most confusing in the 1957 to 1961 period after which cameras still in production adopted serial numbers with prefixes and settled into a more logical progression again.

The affected models are the Yashica A, B, D and 635 and Yashica-Mat at, or towards, the beginning of their production, the Yashicaflex A3 and B, Yashica C and LM at the end of their production and the second two thirds of Yashica-44 and first half of 44A and 44LM production. As an example, the Yashica A begins with 5 digit numbers, then changes to 6 digit numbers beginning with 79, then changes to 8 digit numbers starting with 571, followed by 7 digit numbers beginning with 58. Then there are 8 digit numbers beginning with 381 followed by 7 digit numbers beginning with 39. These are followed by 6 digit numbers beginning with 64. And then there is the crystal clear 116110451. Similar patterns are found with the other models in this period.

The final block of Yashica A numbers have an “A” prefix. However, the second (from the left) digit of the “A” numbers rarely is higher than “0” and never more than “1” so that there will be for example A 20xxxxx and A 21xxxxx but never A 22xxxxx, the next number being in the A 30xxxxx range. This happens with all the prefixed numbers for all models and also occurs with at least some of the unprefixed 7 digit numbers. Could the second digit be a zero start count for each year of production or some other milestone? The fourth digit from the left is also often low, commonly “0” or “1” but in rare cases, going to “3” or higher. The early Yashica Mat-EM is a notable exception with 5, 7, 8 and 9 appearing.

There are some other oddities too. Early in the piece, the Yashica Flex B seems to have started with six digit numbers and then changed to a new series with 5 digits. At the end of TLR production, the Yashica Mat-124G did a similar thing, changing from a seven digit series, with the “0” and “1” pattern noted above, when the numbers ran out to a new six digit series with no “0” and “1” pattern. The Yashica 635 changed its prefix from ST to SX.

Lens numbers began logically but later cameras seem to have blocks of numbers issued randomly. Even if there is consistency, it is not unusual for a later camera to have slightly earlier lens numbers than the cameras immediately before it. Later viewing lens sequences I don’t follow at all, although generally, the ranges for taking lenses and viewing lenses are the same and often, particularly with earlier cameras the numbers are in close proximity.

To me, there are three issues which contribute to the difficulty with serial numbers. The most obvious problem is that for a time, Yashica used a system that made sense to it but we don't have the key to decipher - we can get a picture of the correct order from trim and detail changes but not understand the reasoning. The second problem is that serial numbers were pre-stamped on peripheral parts that were delivered separately to the production line and presumably there was more than one line. It's obvious how body numbers, taking lens and viewing lens numbers can easily get out of sequence with each other, if allowed to, which brings us to the third issue - I don't think keeping lens numbers in sequence was a high priority, certainly at certain times of production. In the end, the numbers disappeared from first, the viewing lenses and then the taking lenses.

In “66 Models” and “44 Models”, I try to make some sense of at least body numbers in terms of trim changes but putting together meaningful analysis of serial numbers in a systematic way that is easily presentable, is still somewhat of a dream. The table below is the best I have been able to do so far. You will have to trust me that my Excel spreadsheet with individual lines for each serial number and columns for all the possible trim and feature permutations paints a very clear picture of the correct order and age of cameras. I will be the first to admit that it may not be 100% accurate but I think that it is pretty close. Please remember that the serial numbers below are the numbers that I have found so far - they are an indicator only. The serial numbers of the lenses don't directly correlate to the body numbers range - they may start earlier and finish later or vice versa, be out of order or relate to cameras that I don't have body numbers for, i.e., they are indicative of the lens numbers that you may find near the listed body numbers, if that makes sense.

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Serial Numbers Found

Model
Body Serial No. Range
No.
Typical Taking Lens Serial Numbers
From
To
66 Series
Pigeonflex (Yashima Seiki)
215xxx
217xxx
7
 244xxx-247xxx
Pigeonflex (Yashima Kogaku Seiki)
218xxx
255xxx
13
 248xxx-269xxx
Yashima Flex
35xxx
44xxx
13
 272xxx-291xxx
Yashica Flex B
?
4xxxx
4
 294xxx-299xxx
52xxx
54xxx
7
 28xxx-35xxx
Yashica Flex S (NKS-FB)
29xxx
30xxx
4
 289xxx-293xxx (Tri-Lausar)
30xxx
34xxx
18
 224xxx-231xxx (Heliotar)
Yashicaflex S (Copal)
30xxx
31xxx
21
 232xxx-237xxx (Heliotar)
67xxx
71xxx
27
 239xxx-250xxx (Heliotar)
Yashicaflex A-I (Y.S.K.)
?
?
2
 12xxx
Yashicaflex A-I (Copal)
12xxx
14xxx
5
 14xxx, 31xxx-40xxx
53xxx
65xxx
11
 57xxx-82xxx
79xxx
80xxx
3
 201xxx-202xxx
116xxx
138xxx
23
 116xxx-134xxx, 225xxx-467xxx, 761xxx-771xxx
Yashicaflex A-II (Y.S.K.)
17xxx
19xxx
8
 18xxx-29xxx
Yashicaflex A-II (Copal)
2xxxx
30xxx
16
 32xxx-50xxx
65xxx
122xxx
40
 58xxx-129xxx, 203xxx-242xxx
112xxx
112xxx
4
 111xxx, 208xxx-225xxx
213xxx
214xxx
8
 328xxx-425xxx, 76xxxx-769xxx
Yashicaflex AS-II
30126
1
 29991 Camera in user manual
81xxx
83xxx
7
 63xxx-90xxx, 109xxx-129xxx
19xxx
23xxx
24
 127xxx-186xxx, 242xxx, 361xxx-886xxx
MolfoReflex
8xxx
8xxx
3
 105xxx-201xxx
114xxx
114xxx
3
 114xxx-204xxx
31xxx
31xxx
11
 128xxx-398xxx
Yashicaflex C
?
?
4
 117xxx-214xxx
504xxx
596xxx
53
 237xxx-809xxx
Yashicaflex
A-III (?)
xxxx
1
 298xxx
121xxx
1
 541xxx
Yashica Rookie
197xxx
230xxx
14
 182xxx, 260xxx, 388xxx-631xxx
Yashica Hi-Mec
30xxx
?
2
 237xxx
Yashica LM
?
?
2
 268xxx-282xxx
100xxx
127xxx
71
 285xxx, 425xxx-495xxx, 534xxx-557xxx, 600xxx-982xxx
790xxx
791xxx
8
 883xxx-981xxx
7100xxx
7100xxx
2
 913xxx-914xxx
57110xxx
57120xxx
7
 256xxx, 405xxx-416xxx, 924xxx-968xxx
5810xxx
5820xxx
3
 212xxx-4xxxxx
Yashica C
?
?
4
 267xxx-296xxx, 410xxx
802xxx
829xxx
30
 423xxx-859xxx
791xxx
793xxx
5
 890xxx-894xxx
57101xxx
57122xxx
5
 915xxx-976xxx
5880xxx
5880xxx
2
 244xxx, 421xxx
38101xxx
1
 442xxx
Yashica A
30xxx
67xxx
20
 370xxx-864xxx (Yashimar)
790xxx
791xxx
2
 873xxx (Yashimar)
57111xxx
5712xxx
4
 957xxx-958xxx (Yashimar)
5870xxx
5883xxx
6
 241xxx-245xxx, 410xxx-425xxx (Yashimar)
38100xxx
38120xxx
4
 425xxx-462xxx (Yashimar)
39102xxx
1
 ? (Yashikor)
3911xxx
3911xxx
2
 271xxx-472xxx (Yashimar) 
3940xxx
3974xxx
26
 293xxx-513xxx (Yashikor)
611xxx
1
 570xxx (Yashikor)
640xxx
641xxx
3
 594xxx-595xxx (Yashikor)
116110xxx
1
 653xxx (Yashikor)
A 1040xxx
A 1041xxx
2
 694xxx-696xxx (Yashikor)
A 2030xxx
A 8060xxx
28
 765xxx-962xxx, 222xxx-342xxx, 691xxx-962xxx (Yashikor)
Yashicaflex A2
7xxx
9xxx
6
 523xxx-524xxx, 604xxx-610xxx, 199xxx
15xxx
19xxx
13
 510xxx-616xxx, 271xxx-296xxx
Yashica-Mat
57xxx
64xxx
21
 19xxx-42xxx (75 Lumaxar)
64xxx
84xxx
55
 29xxx-47xxx, 71xxx-74xxx, 80xxx-97xxx (80 Lumaxar)
791xxx
1
 100xxx (80 Lumaxar)
57100xxx
57120xxx
10
 99xxx-122xxx (80 Lumaxar)
5780xxx
1
 107xxx (80 Lumaxar)
5870xxx
5881xxx
9
 201xxx-204xxx (Yashinon)
37121xxx
38121xxx
6
 209xxx-216xxx (Yashinon)
3890xxx
4120xxx
8
 206xxx-219xxx (Yashinon)
640xxx
651xxx
5
 225xxx-231xxx (Yashinon)
146100706
1
 229xxx (Yashinon)
MT 1030xxx
MT 9111xxx
37
 222xxx-942xxx (Yashinon)
MT 0010xxx
1
 940xxx (Yashinon)
MT 0060xxx
MT 0110xxx
2
 986xxx-1027xxx (f/2.8 viewing lens)
MT 1010xxx
MT 2123xxx
11
705xxx-806xxx, 1037xxx (f/2.8 viewing lens)
Yashicaflex A3
?
?
3
233xxx, 400xxx, 807xxx
11xxx
?
1
 869xxx
69xxx
83xxx
2
?
32111xxx
2
 953xxx-985xxx
Yashicaflex AS
19xxx
27xxx
15
 614xxx-818xxx
Yashicaflex B
62xxx
86xxx
10
 701xxx, 831xxx-876xxx
790xxx
1
 876xxx
5891xxx
1
 431xxx
32101xxx
32110xxx
9
 835xxx, 913xxx-963xxx
3340xxx
3371xxx
11
 204xxx-219xxx, 249xxx, 407xxx-448xxx
Yashica B
393xxxx
3950xxx
7
 462xxx-491xxx, 289xxx-300xxx
620xxx
660xxx
6
 575xxx-628xxx
B 1080xxx
B 1120xxx
2
 750xxx-794xxx
Yashica 635
59xxx
?
2
 982xxx (Yashikor)
5870xxx
1
 238xxx (Yashikor)
38100xxx
?
2
 253xxx-258xxx (Yashikor)
3920xxx
393xxxx
5
 276xxx, 477xxx-488xxx (Yashikor)
4110xxx
4121xxx
6
 554xxx-559xxx (Yashikor)
641xxx
650xxx
3
 601xxx-638xxx (Yashikor)
ST 1020xxx
ST 4031xxx
11
 684xxx-967xxx, 171xxx (Yashikor)
ST 6120xxx
1
 665xxx
SX 4061xxx
SX 9110xxx
47
 197xxx-966xxx (Yashikor)
SX 0032xxx
SX 0080xxx
6
 966xxx-994xxx (Yashikor)
SX 0091xxx
SX 0120xxx
3
 90xxxx-? (Yashinon)
SX 1061xxx
SX 1081xxx
3
 782xxx-1062xxx (Yashinon)
Yashica D
38110xxx
38121xxx
4
 452xxx-464xxx (Yashikor)
3920xxx
3990xxx
16
 276xxx-526xxx (Yashikor)
4100xxx
4102xxx
5
 533xxx-539xxx (Yashikor)
611xxx
641xxx
9
 565xxx-598xxx (Yashikor)
?
?
2
 648xxx-666xxx (Yashikor)
D 1020xxx
D 3010xxx
18
 680xxx-998xxx (Yashikor)
D 3020xxx
D 9121xxx
59
 149xxx-949xxx (new series) (Yashikor)
D 1005xxx
1
 980xxx (Yashikor)
D 0030xxx
D 0061xxx
4
 998xxx-1001xxx (Yashikor)
D 0080xxx
D 0090xxx
2
 984xxx-991xxx (Yashinon)
D 0100xxx
D 0122xxx
5
 979xxx-1034xxx (Yashinon)
D 1021xxx
D 1070xxx
13
 1016xxx-1063xxx (Yashinon)
Yashica D
Hong Kong
H 103xxx
H 113xxx
6
 724xxx-741xxx, 1036xxx, 793xxx (Yashinon)
Yashica AIII
3862xxx
?
4
 285xxx-521xxx
4120xxx
1
 553xxx
611xxx
661xxx
5
 562xxx-637xxx
Yashica Auto
3930xxx
3950xxx
11
 200xxx-208xxx
Yashica Mat-LM
4110043
1
 Camera in user manual
630xxx
680xxx
13
 226xxx-237xxx
156090xxx
156110xxx
2
 240xxx-246xxx
MTL 1020xxx
MTL 5080xxx
72
 247xxx-437xxx
Yashica Mat-EM
EM 4029xxx 
EM 7051xxx
51
 438xxx-703xxx
Yashica E
YE 3060xxx
YE 4021xxx
25
 No lens numbers
Yashica 24
L 5110xxx
L 7110xxx
25
 509xxx-776xxx
Yashica 12
R 7031xxx
R 8041xxx
10
 686xxx-766xxx
Yashica Mat-124
7110xxx
9121xxx
47
 776xxx-935xxx
0010xxx
0062xxx
10
 938xxx-971xxx
Yashica Mat-124G
0091xxx
0120xxx
8
 990xxx-1020xxx
1040xxx
1124xxx
18
 710xxx-774xxx
2022xxx
4123xxx
28
 764xxx-814xxx, 1079xxx-1170xxx
5020xxx
9123xxx
31
 No lens numbers
053xxx
097xxx
11
 No lens numbers
104xxx
235xxx
41
 No lens numbers
Yashica Mat-124B
110xxx
143xxx
5
 No lens numbers
44 Series
Yashica-44
17xxx
22xxx
28
 333xxx-345xxx
5670xxx
1
 355xxx
5850xxx
5851xxx
2
 347xxx-348xxx
?
?
2
 355xxx-356xxx
5882xxx
5890xxx
28
 361xxx-425xxx, 531xxx
?
?
5
 366xxx-426xxx
3890xxx
3895xxx
7
 426xxx-434xxx
?
?
7
 372xxx-436xxx
3922xxx
3923xxx
3
 385xxx-458xxx
3971xxx
3972xxx
2
 602xxx-604xxx
38101xxx
38115xxx
11
 437xxx-446xxx, 373xxx
?
?
8
 454xxx-491xxx, 603xxx
650xxx
69xxxx
4
 547xxx-549xxx
Yashica 44A
?
?
7
 349xxx-462xxx
3940xxx
4112xxx
71
 349xxx-516xxx, 600xxx
620xxx
650xxx
8
 527xxx-540xxx, 415xxx
FA 1020xxx
FA 3111xxx
56
 682xxx-999xxx,
107xxx-113xxx
FA 5040xxx
FA 5060xxx
3
 295xxx-338xxx
Yashica 44LM
3930009
1
 200022 Camera in user manual
?
?x
3
 204xxx-205xxx
3961xxx
4111xxx
17
 202xxx-203xxx, 467xxx-507xxx
39100xxx
39101xxx
2
 207xxx, 541xxx
549xxx
1
 347xxx
610xxx
660xxx
18
 539xxx-552xxx
166090xxx
166091xxx
14
 550xxx-559xxx
FL 1020xxx
FL 6120xxx
58
 685xxx, 740xxx-945xxx, 111xxx-351xxx, 669xxx-740xxx

Note: “No.” is the number of cameras found in the serial number range. Sometimes it may include cameras with serial numbers just outside the range if the serial number is not visible but lens numbers were consistent. In other words, like the rest of the table, it is a guide only. Don't total this column and expect it to equal the total numbers of cameras in my database quoted elsewhere. In theory it should but my database grows more quickly than I can find time to update this table. I do try to make sure that significant serial numbers or patterns are updated.

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Location of Body Serial Numbers

The Pigeonflex, Yashima Flex, most Yashicaflexes and Yashica TLRs have their body serial number on the top edge of the nameplate. However, these are the exceptions:

In summary, all Yashima/ Yashica TLRs , have their serial numbers on the top edge of the nameplate except for models with exposure meters when this arrangement is not possible (all except Mat-LM).

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