Hammond serial numbers & dating.
Tonewheel organs, 1934–1975 — model-by-model serial blocks from owner-reported data.
Hammond is the brand the whole vintage organ market revolves around: the Model A tonewheel console arrived in 1934, the B-3 became an icon of jazz and gospel from 1955, and tonewheel production ended in 1975. Hammond never published factory serial tables — and the numbers are not one sequence: every model group printed its own table, so the model on your nameplate decides which rows apply. The blocks on this site are built from 800+ owner registrations in the community Age Determination List.
Serial number lookup
160 published dating blocks across 39 model series, covering 1934–1977.
Where the serial number lives
- Under the lower keyboard, left or right side — typical on 1970s models and later.
- Metal plate on the rear panel, upper right area, on older consoles.
- Not sure which era? Check the preamp: the AO-28 transformer is silver before 1963 and black from 1963 — black ones often carry a 4-digit date code on the bell.
- False friends: "Hammond" also appears on Hammond Manufacturing (industrial enclosures) and Hammond typewriters. Make sure the plate actually belongs to an organ.
Era markers
| Era | Years | What it means on the instrument |
|---|---|---|
| Tonewheel consoles | 1934–1975 | Model A/AB, BC, B-2/C-2, B-3/C-3, D, E, G, RT-series, A-100, H-100, X-66 |
| Tonewheel spinets | 1948–1975 | M/M-2/M-3, M-100, L-100, S-6, T-series — the "grandma organ" class, from M-3 classics to mass-market spinets |
| Prefix era | 1969–1973 | Plates of this window carry a leading letter: A=1969 … E=1973; the scheme was dropped in mid-1973 |
| Suzuki era | 1985– | Modern Hammond-Suzuki instruments (XK, SK) — no public serial tables exist |
Coverage by model
Consoles
| Model group | Coverage | Dating blocks |
|---|---|---|
| Model A / AB | 1934–1938 onwards | 5 |
| Model B / BA / BC / C | 1936–1942 onwards | 5 |
| Model D | 1938–1945 onwards | 2 |
| Model E | 1937–1941 onwards | 3 |
| Model G (government) | 1942–1943 onwards | 2 |
| Model BV | 1945–1949 onwards | 4 |
| Model CV | 1945–1949 onwards | 5 |
| Model B-2 | 1950–1955 onwards | 5 |
| Model C-2 | 1949–1957 onwards | 5 |
| Model B-3 | 1955–1975 onwards | 17 |
| Model C-3 | 1954–1975 onwards | 16 |
| Model D-100 | 1963–1969 onwards | 1 |
| Model RT | 1949 onwards | 1 |
| Model RT-2 | 1951–1955 onwards | 3 |
| Model RT-3 | 1955–1973 onwards | 6 |
| Model A-100 series | 1959–1975 onwards | 9 |
| Model E-100 | 1962–1969 onwards | 1 |
| Model E-300 | 1965–1968 onwards | 4 |
| Model G-100 (Grand 100) | 1964–1965 onwards | 2 |
| Model H-100 series | 1960–1971 onwards | 3 |
| Model X-66 | 1967–1972 onwards | 2 |
| Model X-5 | 1973 onwards | 1 |
Spinets
| Model group | Coverage | Dating blocks |
|---|---|---|
| Model M | 1949–1956 onwards | 3 |
| Model M-2 | 1950–1954 onwards | 4 |
| Model M-3 | 1954–1964 onwards | 9 |
| Model M-100 series | 1956–1970 onwards | 7 |
| Model L-100 series | 1960–1975 onwards | 8 |
| Model S chord organs | 1951–1965 onwards | 2 |
| Model T series | 1968–1977 onwards | 5 |
Tone cabinets
| Model group | Coverage | Dating blocks |
|---|---|---|
| Hammond tone cabinet A20 | 1935–1938 onwards | 2 |
| Hammond tone cabinet B40 | 1937–1940 onwards | 2 |
| Hammond tone cabinet D20 | 1947 onwards | 1 |
| Hammond tone cabinet DR20 | 1945–1948 onwards | 3 |
| Hammond tone cabinet F40 | 1936 onwards | 1 |
| Hammond tone cabinet FR40 | 1952–1955 onwards | 2 |
| Hammond tone cabinet JR20 | 1953–1958 onwards | 2 |
| Hammond tone cabinet PR20 | 1959–1962 onwards | 3 |
| Hammond tone cabinet PR40 | 1958–1967 onwards | 3 |
| Hammond tone cabinet H12-77 | 1967 onwards | 1 |
| Hammond tone cabinet HR-40 | no published data | 0 |
| Hammond tone cabinet ER-20 | no published data | 0 |
Other
| Model group | Coverage | Dating blocks |
|---|---|---|
| Hammond-Suzuki era (XK/SK/XK-7d) | no published data | 0 |
Blocks are envelopes of owner-reported registrations, verified against date codes by the submitters — not factory ledgers. That is why every result carries a confidence level.
Model catalogue
151 documented models — 138 with published production years (observed 2026-10-12). Years are catalogue-derived; models without published years are listed as placeholders.
Show all 151 models
| Model | Years | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hammond Model A | 1935–1938 | Console | 2 x 61-key manuals · 25-note pedalboard · Leslie: 122, 122A, 142, 147 |
| Hammond Model A-B (AB) | 1936–1942 | Console | Model A internals in the deeper B cabinet · no chorus generator · Leslie: 122, 122A, 142, 147 |
| Hammond Model B-C (BC) | 1936–1942 | Console | first B-cabinet console · chorus generator added · Leslie: 122, 122A, 142, 147 |
| Hammond Model E | 1937–1949 | Console | first Hammond with 32-note AGO pedalboard · toe pistons · Leslie: 122, 122A, 142, 147 |
| Hammond Model B-A (BA) | 1938 | Console | B-C style case with built-in Aeolian-Skinner player mechanism |
| Hammond Model C | 1939–1942 | Console | church-style cabinet · otherwise like Model A-B · Leslie: 122, 122A, 142, 147 |
| Hammond Model D | 1939–1942 | Console | Model C with factory-supplied chorus generator · Leslie: 122, 122A, 142, 147 |
| Hammond Model G | 1941–1944 | Console | Model D for US Government issue (side handles for transport) · Leslie: 122, 122A, 142, 147 |
| Hammond Model CV | 1945–1949 | Console | church cabinet · scanner vibrato/vibrato chorus · Leslie: 122, 122A, 142, 147 |
| Hammond Model BV | 1946–1949 | Console | B-C case · Hammond vibrato + vibrato chorus · Leslie: 122, 122A, 142, 147 |
| Hammond Model M | 1948–1951 | Spinet | first Hammond home organ · 2 x 44-key offset manuals |
| Hammond B-2 | 1949–1954 | Console | 2 x 61-key manuals · 25-note pedals · Leslie: 122, 122A, 142, 147 |
| Hammond C-2 | 1949–1954 | Console | Tudor-style closed cabinet · identical to B-2 electrically · Leslie: 122, 122A, 142, 147 |
| Hammond RT | 1949 | Console | 32-note AGO pedalboard · electronic pedal solo unit (32' voices) · Leslie: 122, 122A, 142, 147 |
| Hammond RT-2 | 1949–1955 | Console | RT with selective scanner vibrato · Leslie: 122, 122A, 142, 147 |
| Hammond M-2 | 1951–1955 | Spinet | M with selective scanner vibrato · Leslie: 145, 147, 125, 251 |
| Hammond S-1 Chord | 1953–1954 | Chord organ | 37-key manual · 96 chord buttons |
| Hammond S-4 Chord | 1954–1955 | Chord organ | chord organ, split vibrato, rhythm bar |
| Hammond B-3 | 1955–1974 | Console | 2 x 61-key manuals · 25-note pedalboard · Leslie: 122, 142, 145, 147 |
| Hammond C-3 | 1955–1974 | Console | identical to B-3 except cabinetry (enclosed lower cabinet) · tonewheel generator · Leslie: 122, 142, 145, 147 |
| Hammond M-3 | 1955–1964 | Spinet | 2 x 44-key manuals · 12-note pedals · Leslie: 145, 147, 125, 251 |
| Hammond RT-3 | 1955–1973 | Console | RT-2 with touch-response percussion · 32 pedals · Leslie: 122, 122A, 142, 147 |
| Hammond S-6 Chord | 1956–1963 | Chord organ | chord organ with touch percussion |
| Hammond A-100 | 1959–1965 | Console | B-3/C-3 tonewheel generator with built-in power amp, speakers and reverb · no separate tone cabinet needed · Leslie: 122, 142, 145, 147 |
| Hammond A-101 | 1959–1965 | Console | A-100 series cabinet/finish variant |
| Hammond A-102 | 1959–1965 | Console | A-100 series cabinet/finish variant |
| Hammond A-122 | 1959–1965 | Console | A-100 series (listed in Blue Book A-100 series) |
| Hammond A-143 | 1959–1965 | Console | A-100 series (listed in Blue Book A-100 series) |
| Hammond A-105 | 1961–1974 | Console | identical to C-3 but with built-in sound system (C-3 needs remote tone cabinet) |
| Hammond F-100 Extravoice | 1961–1964 | Spinet | single 52-key manual · 12 pedals with sustain |
| Hammond L-100 series | 1961–1972 | Spinet | M-100 without scanner vibrato · 2 x 44-key manuals · Leslie: 145, 147, 125, 251 |
| Hammond L-101 | 1961–1964 | Spinet | L-100 series cabinet/finish variant |
| Hammond L-102 | 1961–1964 | Spinet | L-100 series cabinet/finish variant |
| Hammond L-103 | 1961–1964 | Spinet | L-100 series cabinet/finish variant |
| Hammond M-100 | 1961–1968 | Spinet | spinet retaining tonewheel generator, scanner vibrato, vibrato celeste, stereo reverb, presets · Leslie: 145, 147, 125, 251 |
| Hammond M-101 | 1961–1968 | Spinet | M-100 cabinet/finish variant |
| Hammond M-102 | 1961–1968 | Spinet | M-100 cabinet/finish variant (cabinet used on 'A Whiter Shade of Pale') |
| Hammond M-103 | 1961–1968 | Spinet | M-100 cabinet/finish variant |
| Hammond M-111 | 1961–1968 | Spinet | M-100 cabinet/finish variant |
| Hammond M-143 | 1961–1968 | Spinet | M-100 cabinet/finish variant |
| Hammond S-100 Chord (S-101/112/133) | 1962–1966 | Chord organ | 37-key manual · 96 chord buttons |
| Hammond D-100 series (D-152, D-155) | 1963–1969 | Console | RT-3 internals with built-in amp and speakers · 32 pedals · Leslie: 122, 122A, 142, 147 |
| Hammond D-152 | 1963–1969 | Console | variant of D-100 series (cabinet style) |
| Hammond D-155 | 1963–1969 | Console | variant of D-100 series (cabinet style) |
| Hammond G-100 (Grand 100) | 1964–1967 | Console | largest Hammond console · 32-note pedalboard |
| Hammond L-111 | 1964–1972 | Spinet | L-100 series cabinet/finish variant |
| Hammond L-112 | 1964–1972 | Spinet | L-100 series cabinet/finish variant |
| Hammond L-122 | 1964–1972 | Spinet | L-100 series cabinet/finish variant |
| Hammond L-133 | 1964–1972 | Spinet | L-100 series cabinet/finish variant |
| Hammond L-143 | 1964–1972 | Spinet | L-100 series cabinet/finish variant |
| Hammond Chord | 1965–1969 | Chord organ | transistor organ with 48 chord buttons |
| Hammond E-100 | 1965–1970 | Console | self-contained · one set of drawbars per manual · Leslie: 122, 122A, 142, 147 |
| Hammond E-112 | 1965–1970 | Console | E-100 family cabinet variant |
| Hammond E-200 | 1965–1971 | Console | church version of E-100 · liturgical preset tabs |
| Hammond E-300 (E-311/312/333/343/382) | 1965–1969 | Console | lower-cost E-100 · celesta instead of harp sustain |
| Hammond H-100 | 1965–1969 | Console | deluxe self-contained tonewheel console · extra tonewheels · Leslie: 122, 122A, 142, 147 |
| Hammond K-100 series | 1965–1966 | Spinet | 2 x 44-key manuals · 13 pedals |
| Hammond J-100 series | 1967–1968 | Spinet | transistor spinet, no tonewheels · 2 x 44-key manuals |
| Hammond L-100A | 1967–1969 | Spinet | L-100 with 3-knob percussion and special-effect unit in lower-left end block |
| Hammond X-66 | 1967–1973 | Console | all-transistor (no tubes in the organ) · top-octave tone generator with dividers · Leslie: 710, 825 |
| Hammond T-100 series | 1968–1975 | Spinet | tonewheel spinet with solid-state power amplifier · 13 pedals · Leslie: 145, 147, 760 |
| Hammond T-111 | 1968–1975 | Spinet | T-100 series cabinet/finish variant |
| Hammond T-112 | 1968–1975 | Spinet | T-100 series cabinet/finish variant |
| Hammond T-200 | 1968–1969 | Spinet | T-100 with 2-speed Leslie and additive percussion |
| Hammond T-211 | 1968–1975 | Spinet | T-200 series cabinet/finish variant |
| Hammond T-212 | 1968–1975 | Spinet | T-200 series cabinet/finish variant |
| Hammond T-222 | 1968–1975 | Spinet | T-200 series cabinet/finish variant |
| Hammond T-233 | 1968–1975 | Spinet | T-200 series cabinet/finish variant |
| Hammond T-243 | 1968–1975 | Spinet | T-200 series cabinet/finish variant |
| Hammond T-295 | 1968–1975 | Spinet | T-200 series cabinet/finish variant |
| Hammond T-300 (T-322) | 1968–1969 | Spinet | T-200 without cymbal & brush, with 10-button rhythm rail |
| Hammond X-77 | 1968–1973 | Console | restyled H-100 intended to replace the B-3 · own Leslie cabinet X-77L · Leslie: X-77 |
| Hammond H-262 | 1969–1975 | Console | H-100 for churches |
| Hammond L-100-1 | 1969–1972 | Spinet | L-100 with 6-voice rhythm panel in lower-right end block |
| Hammond L-100-2 | 1969–1972 | Spinet | L-100-1 with Rhythm II unit mounted in a drawer |
| Hammond N-100 | 1969–1974 | Spinet | 2 x 44-key manuals · 13 pedals |
| Hammond N-200 | 1969–1974 | Spinet | N-100 with auto glide |
| Hammond N-300 | 1969–1974 | Spinet | N-100 with auto glide and automatic rhythm |
| Hammond Cadette V-122 | 1969–1970 | Spinet | entry-level transistor spinet, no reverb |
| Hammond Cadette V-170 | 1969–1970 | Spinet | entry-level all-tab transistor spinet, no tonewheels |
| Hammond Cadette V-222 | 1969–1970 | Spinet | 2 x 44-key manuals, 13 pedals, 5 preset voices |
| Hammond H-300 (H-110..H-395) | 1970–1974 | Console | H-100 family with built-in automatic rhythm |
| Hammond HX-100 | 1970–1975 | Console | H-100 in X-66-style case for stage use · supplied with D10 speaker |
| Hammond J-400 | 1970 | Spinet | transistor spinet with Leslie, automatic rhythm |
| Hammond L-200 (L-212, L-222) | 1970 | Spinet | L-100 specs plus 15-pattern built-in auto-rhythm unit |
| Hammond Piper Autochord | 1970–1979 | Spinet | first automatic chording instrument · single manual, automatic rhythm, no bass pedals |
| Hammond R-100 (R-124/152/182/195) | 1970 | Console | self-contained, based on E-100 with solid-state amp · built-in Leslie, no scanner vibrato |
| Hammond T-400 (T-412) | 1970 | Spinet | tonewheel spinet with built-in Leslie, auto-rhythm, chimes |
| Hammond Cadette V-322 | 1970–1973 | Spinet | Cadette with automatic rhythm |
| Hammond X-77GT | 1970–1973 | Console | X-77 variant |
| Hammond J-500 | 1971 | Spinet | transistorized tone generator, improved automatic rhythm |
| Hammond Porta-B | 1971–1974 | Spinet | portable L-100 for professional use · tonewheel generator, touch percussion, built-in speakers plus tone-cabinet connections |
| Hammond XTP | 1971 | Console | pedestal-style version of the T-400 spinet |
| Hammond Concorde | 1972–1977 | Console | first LSI-based Hammond console with drawbars, no tonewheels |
| Hammond Phoenix | 1972 | Spinet | first LSI-based all-tab Hammond spinet |
| Hammond T-500 (T-595) | 1972–1975 | Spinet | tonewheel spinet with built-in Leslie, auto-rhythm, auto-accompaniment, optional cassette recorder |
| Hammond Cougar | 1973–1976 | Spinet | transistor spinet with drawbars (successor niche to L-100) |
| Hammond Dolphin | 1973–1976 | Spinet | spinet with 20 one-finger chords; Dolphin 9900 (1976) added a polyphonic synth |
| Hammond Maverick | 1973–1975 | Spinet | mid-priced all-tab spinet |
| Hammond Regent | 1973–1976 | Console | first all-tab theatre-style Hammond organ |
| Hammond Sounder | 1973–1976 | Spinet | first Hammond to retail under $500 · single-manual organ |
| Hammond Cadette VS-300 | 1973 | Spinet | vibrato & reverb, manual balance, automatic rhythm |
| Hammond Aurora (Century/Custom/Classic) | 1975–1981 | Spinet | first composite spinet with drawbars and electronic voices · no tonewheels |
| Hammond Grandee (11100 / 11200M) | 1975– | Console | full-featured console popular in the Low Countries |
| Hammond Monarch | 1975–1977 | Console | console organ |
| Hammond Portable X-5 | 1975–1978 | Spinet | IC-based portable spinet |
| Hammond Romance series | 1977–1983 | Spinet | IC-generated spinet, no drawbars |
| Hammond B3000 | 1978 | Console | solid-state copy of the B-3 with string division, electric and grand pianos · supplied with matching Leslie HL-722 · Leslie: HL-722 |
| Hammond Portable X-2 | 1978 | Spinet | single-manual version of the X-5 |
| Hammond Colonnade | 1979 | Console | console version of Aurora Classic |
| Hammond Commodore | 1979–1981 | Console | 9 upper and 9 lower drawbars |
| Hammond Elegante | 1980–1981 | Console | 1980s flagship: 2 x 61 manuals, 25 pedals, tonebars, multiplex synthesiser |
| Hammond Portable B-100 | 1980–1984 | Spinet | single-manual version of B-250 |
| Hammond Portable B-200 | 1980– | Spinet | successor of X-5, portable version of Aurora 8222 |
| Hammond Portable B-250 | 1980–1984 | Spinet | 2 x 61-note manuals, built by Nihon Hammond |
| Hammond Portable B-300 | 1980– | Spinet | B-200 plus strings, portable version of Aurora Classic |
| Hammond Composer | 1982–1983 | Spinet | transistor organ with 'Compose-a-chord' |
| Hammond Portable B-400 | 1984– | Spinet | drawbars, digital drum machine, digital solo voice, choirs, MIDI |
| Hammond Super B | 1986– | Console | first fully digitally sampled Hammond (Suzuki-Hammond) · dual manual, downloadable voice tables, MIDI |
| Hammond Super CX-2000 / SX-2000 | 1988– | Console | expanded orchestral section with digitally sampled voices |
| Hammond EX-1000 | 1989– | Console | built by Hammond Suzuki in Japan · voice ROM / style / RAM cards |
| Hammond XB-2 | 1991–1998 | Portable | single-manual digital organ, first digital Hammond-Suzuki |
| Hammond XB-3 | 1993–1998 | Portable | dual manual, 4 sets of drawbars, reverse-colour presets, waterfall keys |
| Hammond XB-5 | 1993– | Portable | two manuals, two sets of drawbars, bass drawbars |
| Hammond XM-1 / XM-c1 | 1997–2005 | Module | MIDI organ module with drawbar controller |
| Hammond XB-1 | 1998–2005 | Portable | standalone version of XM-1, DSP tone generation + Leslie simulation |
| Hammond XK-2 | 1999–2004 | Portable | improved XB-2 with waterfall keys |
| Hammond XE series (XE-1/2/200) | 2000– | Portable | modular single/dual manual instruments |
| Hammond New B-3 (B-3mk2) | 2003– | Console | replica of the original B-3 with digitally generated tonewheel simulation · Leslie: 122A, 122XB, 3300 |
| Hammond XK-3 | 2004–2007 | Portable | same internals as New B-3, built-in Leslie simulator |
| Hammond XK-1 | 2005–2011 | Portable | cut-down XK-3 |
| Hammond XM-2 / XM-c2 | 2005– | Module | MIDI module version of the XK-1 |
| Hammond XK-3c | 2007– | Portable | updated XK-3 |
| Hammond SK-2 | 2011–2020 | Portable | dual-manual SK-1 |
| Hammond SK1 | 2011–2020 | Portable | stage keyboard with pianos and other samples plus organ |
| Hammond XK-1c | 2013– | Portable | improved XK-1 |
| Hammond XK-5 | 2016– | Portable | 4 drawbar sets + pedal like B-3, improved multi-contact keybed · Leslie: 122A, 3300 |
| Hammond SK-X | 2018–2020 | Portable | replaced SK-2, 2 drawbar sets, 11-pin Leslie connector · Leslie: 122A, 3300 |
| Hammond A20 tone cabinet | — | Tone cabinet | tone cabinet, own serial series |
| Hammond B40 tone cabinet | — | Tone cabinet | tone cabinet, own serial series |
| Hammond D20 tone cabinet | — | Tone cabinet | tone cabinet, own serial series |
| Hammond DR20 tone cabinet | — | Tone cabinet | tone cabinet, own serial series |
| Hammond ER-20 tone cabinet | — | Tone cabinet | absent from the age-list registry: no serial series published (honest no-data) |
| Hammond F40 tone cabinet | — | Tone cabinet | tone cabinet, own serial series |
| Hammond FR40 tone cabinet | — | Tone cabinet | tone cabinet, own serial series |
| Hammond H12-77 tone cabinet | — | Tone cabinet | tone cabinet, own serial series |
| Hammond HR-40 tone cabinet | — | Tone cabinet | absent from the age-list registry: no serial series published (honest no-data) |
| Hammond JR-20 tone cabinet | — | Tone cabinet | 21 W tube amplifier, own serial series |
| Hammond PR-20 tone cabinet | — | Tone cabinet | tone cabinet, own serial series |
| Hammond PR-40 tone cabinet | — | Tone cabinet | 40 W tube amp, two 15" + two 12" speakers, necklace spring reverb, own serial series |
| Hammond SKX PRO | — | Portable | current stage keyboard with 11-pin Leslie output · Leslie: 122A, 3300 |
What it is worth
- Consoles, condition ladder (curiocomp, 2026): project $2,000–5,000 · working $5,000–10,000 · restored $12,000–20,000.
- B-3 with Leslie 122, both restored: $15,000–25,000. A Leslie cabinet on its own: $2,000–5,000.
- Spinets (M-3 class), working: $150–400. Non-working consoles and home organs often have zero or negative value — transport costs more than the instrument.
- Dealer asking prices, Oct 2026 (vintagehammond.net): B-3 1974 + Leslie 122 — $8,500 · C-3 + 122 — $6,995 · RT-3 + 715 — $6,995 · RT-2 + 45 — $4,500.
Frequently asked
How do I date my Hammond B-3?
Choose "B-3 / C-3" in the decoder above and enter the number from the plate under the keyboard. First blocks of the line: 56014–59544 = 1955; 76654–80991 = 1959. The last documented block runs open-ended from 1974–75, when tonewheel production ended.
Why does the same serial number give different years on other sites?
Because Hammond used one number sequence for several models at once (B-2/C-2 share it, and B-3/C-3 continue it), and the community tables are envelopes of owner registrations, not factory records. Model-first dating removes most of that confusion.
My serial has a letter in front — is that a year?
Between 1969 and mid-1973, yes: the leading letter sets the year (A=1969 … E=1973). After mid-1973 plain numbers resume. Enter it as-is, the decoder handles both.