VIC 20 serial numbering

zutman · Post by **zutman** » Sun Oct 11, 2009 6:24 am

From this thread:

http://sleepingelephant.com/ipw-web/bul ... php?t=3903

I came away with the impression that not much is known of the serial numbering schemes used by Commodore in their various factories. The only way to find out is to get the biggest sample of numbers around, so I invite everyone to post the serial numbers of all VIC-20s they know in this thread.

Here's my list:

'Made in west-germany':
- WGC #1056, old version (9v two prong), PAL, old-style VIC-20 badge, PET keys, oct 1981
- WGB #85453, old version (9v two prong), PAL, old-style VIC-20 badge, C64 style keys
- WGC #112083, CR version PAL, new style VC-20 badge.

'Made in england':
- UKB #167754, CR version PAL, new-style VIC-20 badge
- UKB #426629, CR version PAL, new-style VIC-20 badge

Interestlingly, there's already notice something odd: the #1056 was one of the very first sold in the Dutch market in 1981, but it is from WG series 'C'. The second one (also old type) is from series 'B'. The third CR one is again from series 'C'.

Maybe we can reconstruct the different production runs in the different factories. A nice addition to the wiki? Ofcourse also the NA/Japanese NTSC ones but I don't have any...

So please don't hesitate and post those numbers!

Mermaid · Post by **Mermaid** » Sun Oct 11, 2009 7:25 am

My Vic 20s:

'Made in West-Germany':
- WGC #40947, old version (9v two prong), PAL, old-style VIC-20 badge
- WGC #41038, old version (9v two prong), PAL, old-style VIC-20 badge
- WGC #59533, old version (9v two prong), PAL, old-style VIC-20 badge

One of these has PET keys, I'm assuming this keyboard plate is from the oldest serial number Vic but was moved to the newest (broken) machine because the F1 key was broken. Used to have at least one working CR model Vic but gave it away to a friend back in 2002.

carlsson · Post by **carlsson** » Mon Oct 12, 2009 12:44 am

See also this thread:
http://sleepingelephant.com/ipw-web/bul ... php?t=3753

It led to this registry: http://www.deepskies.com/vr/

Witzo · Post by **Witzo** » Sat Dec 08, 2012 10:10 am

Finally looked what number mine has.
Made in West Germany, WGC 69799. PAL of course.

Unfortunately that registry page gives database errors.

IAMAMRA · Post by **IAMAMRA** » Sat Dec 08, 2012 11:30 pm

p13257599

two prong PS

made in USA

ral-clan · Post by **ral-clan** » Sun Dec 09, 2012 9:09 am

I'm doubtful these numbers are going to be helpful unless people specify where their VIC was made along with the badge type and power connector type.

It seems each country used its own numbering scheme. I suspect that Canada started their serial numbers with 23XXX (and I think the C64s with 26XXX).

For instance, my main VIC-20 is Made in Canada and is a brass badge type with two prong power supply. It's serial number is:

S/N: 236958

I have several others and will try and post S/N's whenever I pull them out from storage.

ral-clan · Post by **ral-clan** » Sun Dec 09, 2012 2:49 pm

Managed to pull out another VIC-20

Rainbow badge, DIN power supply connect, Made in Canada:

S/N: 626358

ral-clan · Post by **ral-clan** » Sun Dec 09, 2012 2:54 pm

Pulled out another one:

Brass / gold badge, 2-prong power connector, Made in USA:

S/N: P753487

Dusty · Post by **Dusty** » Wed Dec 12, 2012 5:29 pm

S/N: WG A120335
Made in W.-Germany, 9p power connector

Just a guess: As mine is 'A' series, but has a relatively high S/N, the A, B, C probably means the factory within Germany rather than the version?

ral-clan · Post by **ral-clan** » Wed Dec 12, 2012 6:33 pm

How many factories did Germany have?!

Canada only had one for a nation of (at that time) about 28 to 30 million, only second to Russia in geographic size.

But maybe the German facdtories were serving all of the continent?

Dusty · Post by **Dusty** » Thu Dec 13, 2012 3:00 am

As I said: That's just a guess. Googling the web I just found two locations: Frankfurt/Main (Headquarter of Commodore Germany) and Braunschweig. Germany at that time had about 65 million inhabitants.

Bacon · Post by **Bacon** » Thu Dec 13, 2012 5:59 am

As Dusty said, Germany is a big country population wise (and was even back then when the eastern part didn't belong to the Bundesrepublik). I also think the German factories served large parts of Europe. As far as I know, the only European countries Commodore had factories in were Germany and the UK. I think most of the Swedish C64s, VIC 20s, and C128s I've had were made in Germany.

Edit: Corrected the spelling of Dusty. Somehow an "e" had slipped in there that I didn't notice until now.

Witzo · Post by **Witzo** » Thu Dec 13, 2012 8:33 am

I live in The Netherlands (±15 million people at the time) and all my Commodore stuff had 'West Germany' on it. I think they produced for all of Europe.
And there were a lot of C64s in NL. Seen a fair number of VICs back in the day too. Commodore was definitely the leading brand here.

Jogi · Post by **Jogi** » Fri Dec 28, 2012 2:30 pm

Hi,

WG and WGA Germany (Made in Germany)
WGB UK (Made in Germany)
WGC Rest Europa (Made in Germany)

U.K.B UK (Made in England)

P an V0 USA (Made in USA)

CC Canada (Made in Canada)

only Number Japan

My litle VC20/VIC20 List

http://nemetzpower.de/denial/Jogi.pdf

Gruß Jogi[/url]

DavPow · Post by **DavPow** » Sat Dec 29, 2012 9:55 am

Serial Number : C 267788
Made in Canada
Old style gold badge
2 Prong connector
And well, it's NTSC (obviously)
The keyboard has brown keys and yellow F keys.

Denial

VIC 20 serial numbering

VIC 20 serial numbering

Re: VIC 20 serial numbering