At least two different serial number systems ran concurrently mostly indicating the souorce in either of two different factories (Terawaki and Terashima/Terajima).
This thread looks at serial numbers ending in the year made. This seems to align with production at teh Terashima facility, although it may not be so clear cut.
The other serial number system is based in the model number and were apparently made at the Terashima facility.
Cat’s Eyes Model Based Serial Numbers
A former employee, Norihiro Yoshida, drew the line at the 800,000 yen level for separating the two factories,
"Raw guitars produced at the headquarters factory in Terawaki were mainly mass-produced products. We produced CE150-CE300 mass-produced products and CE400-CE600 semi-manufactured products. Luxury handicrafts with a CE rating of 800 or higher were made at the "Terashima Factory" on the south side of Hamamatsu Station."
Norihiro Yoshida's Blog, Tokai Employee 1979-1984
But I am not so sure this is where the division lies since the serial number system split at the 400/500, 000 yen level. Also confusing is that the 400,000 & 500,000 yen level guitars had scarf joints, a trait in common with lower priced models, while having serial numbers similar to higher end guitars. CE400 has a normal scarf joint. CE500 has a diamond volute with a scarf joint running through it. So it is not so easy to see a clean dividing line.
CE600
CE500
CE400
Trying to log these as they pop up.
1975
092175 (CE600) Yamauchi
145975 (CE600) Yamauchi
1976
052476 (CE400)
092276 (CE500)
094176 (CE500)
385x76 (CE500)
458676 (CE500)
475676 (CE400)
561676 (CE600) Yamauchi
626576 (CE1000) Yamauchi
1977
623577 (CE1500)
710077 (CE800)
741677 (CE1200)
758277 (CE2000)
118477 (CE400)
148577 (CE400)
1978
035578 (CE500)
037778 (CE500)
042578 (CE500)
055778 (CE400)
?58278 (CE600)
060178 (CE400)
168678 (CE400)
849278 (CE600)
972878 (CE1500)
980178 (CE1500)
1979
113779 (CE500)
124079 (CE500)
124879 (CE500)
210879 (CE500)
217979 (CE400)
266779 (CE400)
480479 (CE400)
1000979 (CE1000S)
1103979 (CE800)
1111379 (CE800)
1132879 (CE800)
1154479 (CE1200S)
1980
000180 (CE1000D)
004780 (CE1000D)
009380 (CE1000D)
011480 (CE1000)
018080 (CE800)
036780 (CE500CF)
081280 (CE500 CF)
127380 (CE500 CF)
1158580 (CE600)
1231680 (SW1000, Snappy)
1245980 (CE1500)
1259780 (CE2000, Snappy)
1276680 (SW800, Snappy)
1981
006881 (CE1200D)
019881 (CE1000)
022681 (CE1200D)
029781 (CE1000S)
124181 (CE600CF)
129281 (CE600CF)
189081 (CE500)
1347181 (CE2000)
1982
284582 (CE500CF)
This thread looks at serial numbers ending in the year made. This seems to align with production at teh Terashima facility, although it may not be so clear cut.
The other serial number system is based in the model number and were apparently made at the Terashima facility.
Cat’s Eyes Model Based Serial Numbers
A former employee, Norihiro Yoshida, drew the line at the 800,000 yen level for separating the two factories,
"Raw guitars produced at the headquarters factory in Terawaki were mainly mass-produced products. We produced CE150-CE300 mass-produced products and CE400-CE600 semi-manufactured products. Luxury handicrafts with a CE rating of 800 or higher were made at the "Terashima Factory" on the south side of Hamamatsu Station."
Norihiro Yoshida's Blog, Tokai Employee 1979-1984
But I am not so sure this is where the division lies since the serial number system split at the 400/500, 000 yen level. Also confusing is that the 400,000 & 500,000 yen level guitars had scarf joints, a trait in common with lower priced models, while having serial numbers similar to higher end guitars. CE400 has a normal scarf joint. CE500 has a diamond volute with a scarf joint running through it. So it is not so easy to see a clean dividing line.
CE600
CE500
CE400
Trying to log these as they pop up.
1975
092175 (CE600) Yamauchi
145975 (CE600) Yamauchi
1976
052476 (CE400)
092276 (CE500)
094176 (CE500)
385x76 (CE500)
458676 (CE500)
475676 (CE400)
561676 (CE600) Yamauchi
626576 (CE1000) Yamauchi
1977
623577 (CE1500)
710077 (CE800)
741677 (CE1200)
758277 (CE2000)
118477 (CE400)
148577 (CE400)
1978
035578 (CE500)
037778 (CE500)
042578 (CE500)
055778 (CE400)
?58278 (CE600)
060178 (CE400)
168678 (CE400)
849278 (CE600)
972878 (CE1500)
980178 (CE1500)
1979
113779 (CE500)
124079 (CE500)
124879 (CE500)
210879 (CE500)
217979 (CE400)
266779 (CE400)
480479 (CE400)
1000979 (CE1000S)
1103979 (CE800)
1111379 (CE800)
1132879 (CE800)
1154479 (CE1200S)
1980
000180 (CE1000D)
004780 (CE1000D)
009380 (CE1000D)
011480 (CE1000)
018080 (CE800)
036780 (CE500CF)
081280 (CE500 CF)
127380 (CE500 CF)
1158580 (CE600)
1231680 (SW1000, Snappy)
1245980 (CE1500)
1259780 (CE2000, Snappy)
1276680 (SW800, Snappy)
1981
006881 (CE1200D)
019881 (CE1000)
022681 (CE1200D)
029781 (CE1000S)
124181 (CE600CF)
129281 (CE600CF)
189081 (CE500)
1347181 (CE2000)
1982
284582 (CE500CF)
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