Levin Serial Numbers

1900 – 1970 Sequential – listed below
1-6 digits stamped into the top edge of the headstock – often difficult to read.
Some banjo models have the serial number stamped on the inside of the rim.

1970 - 1972
6 digits hand-written on the label or printed on a silver sticker placed on, or
near the label inside the instrument. It's not uncommon for those stickers to
fall off where they can sometimes be found loose inside the instruments.

1972 - 1974
6 digits printed on a small brown paper label glued to the label.

1974 - 1979
Six digits printed on the label.

Year    Serial Number
1900     1 - 90
1901     91 - 473
1902     474 - 982
1903     983 - 1648
1904     1649 - 2673
1905     2674 - 4160
1906     4161 - 5842
1907     5843 - 8054
1908     8055 - 10065
1909     10066 - 12104
1910     12105 - 14475
1911     14476 - 17048
1912     17049 - 19757
1913     19758 - 22765
1914     22766 - 25785
1915     25786 - 29339
1916     29340 - 33829
1917     33830 - 38398
1918     38399 - 41750
1919     41751 - 45996
1920     45997 - 48663
1921     48664 - 49766
1922     49767 - 50960
1923     50961 - 52669
1924     52670 - 55018
1925     55019 - 58262
1926     58263 - 61029
1927     61030 - 64274
1928     64275 - 68224
1929     68225 - 71939
1930     71940 - 75971
1931     75972 - 79078
1932     79079 - 82022
1933     82023 - 86306
1934     86307 - 91524
1935     91525 - 96981
1936     96982 - 102985
1937     102986 - 108392
1938     108393 - 114174
1939     114175 - 119373
1940     119374 - 123698
1941     123699 - 129542
1942     129543 - 135882
1943     135883 - 143365
1944     143366 - 154203
1945     154204 - 167856
1946     167857 - 183407
1947     183408 - 195194
1948     195195 - 208144
1949     208145 - 227015
1950     227016 - 243439
1951     243440 - 271455
1952     271456 - 291537
1953     291538 - 303551
1954     303552 - 321200
1955     321201 - 336743
1956     336744 - 350110
1957     350111 - 366295
1958     366296 - 384905
1959     384906 - 402016
1960     402017 - 411407
1961     411408 - 420508
1962     420509 - 429605
1963     429606 - 438472
1964     438473 - 448145
1965     448146 - 458480
1966     458481 - 474502
1967     474503 - 486142
1968     486143 - 491732
1969     491733 - 499256
1970     499257 - 507899
1971     507900 - 514799
1972     514800 - 522499
1973     522500 - 530599
1974     530600 - 538999
1975     539000 - 547499
1976     547500 - 554999
1977     555000 - 561600
1978     561601 - 564889
1979     564890 - 567750

The Levin factory closed in 1979.
Some nylon string acoustic models were built by Landola in Finland.

Year            Serial number                                  
1980 - 198?     567751 - 570978 (latest known example)

Levin Serial Numbers and Model Names

In late 1947, Levin redesigned and modernized its entire line of instruments. Changes included cutaways on archtops, natural finish on some f-hole guitars and mandolins, and a line of nylon string acoustics. Up to that point, only the top 3 archtop guitar models (The De-Luxe, Solist and Royal), some early lutes and some fancier banjo models had names. All Levin’s other instruments were identified by a model number only.

After 1947 all models were given a name and a model number. The model number was inconsistently stamped as a prefix or suffix to the serial number. If the model was available in both natural and sunburst finish, the letter "N" would follow to denote a natural finish instrument. The use of a prefix or suffix was largely discontinued in 1955 when the most of the lines were redesigned again. Some prefix and suffix designations remained on old models until they were all discontinued by 1958. In the redesigned lines of 1955, all models were identified by model number only.

Prefixes and Suffixes of the Lines of 1947 - 1955 (1958)

Model  Name
1       De-Luxe
2       Solist
3       Royal
4       Orchestra
5       Star
6       Dansant
7       Valencia
8       Sevilla
9       Navarra
10     Madrid
11     Tarragona
12     Barcelona
13     Ambassadör
14     Princess
15     Diplomat
16     Carmen
17     Rio
18     Ideal
19     Amatör / Favorit
20     Senorita
21     Kentucky
22     Bolero
23     Havanna
24     Carmencita
25     Kansas
26     Pepita
27     Texas
28     Nevada
30     Trubadur
31     Artist
32     Opera
33     Sonett/Menuett
34     Revy/Elite
40     Aristokrat
41     King
42     Master
43     Serenad
44     Rosalie
45     Safir
46     Classic
47     Not Known
50     Konsert
52    Capri
53    Palermo
54     Taranto
70     Alto
75     Tenor
80     Oktavo
85     Oktavo
90     Kamiki
92     Honolulu
95     Hula

Prefixes and Suffixes of the Lines of 1955 - 1963

A few prefix or suffix’s were occationally used – but without clear reason.

Model   Name
29     Rondo
55
111
112
114
115
118
124
330