OK, continuing with this link from my other thread re Hiro's current offering http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7338060587&indexURL=2#ebayphotohosting .
What appears to have happened (my guess) is that Burny/Fernandes were making their own Les Paul guitars quite happily until about 1979-80, ie nothing particularly to do with Tokai (except that most if not all Japanese makers were sharing/renting space in same factory premises, ie many makers under one roof, possibly swapping parts & using same machinery & designs etc.). But then about 79-80 Burny lost their own manufacturing capacity & either shared part of Tokais facilities or got Tokai to make the guitars for them ? for a while that resulted in very similar looking guitars bearing both names (Tokai & Burny/Fernandes) ? so you got some Tokais with Burny type features such as inked SN & holes in neck pup cavity (ie with Tokai on headstock), and conversely you also got some Burny/Fernandes guitars with Tokai features such as circuit board. These guitars mostly seem to date 1979-81, but so far I think the only logical conclusion is to accept the name on the headstock, ie if it has genuine Tokai logo then it?s Tokai, & if it says Burny or Fernandes then it?s Burny (albeit perhaps using & interchanging same/similar parts & construction on both guitars).
The original debate was about inked numbers, & I note that skywoolf?s guitar has impressed number (ie not inked). But skywoolf also has clear Fernandes/Burny on headstock, so I see no reason to regard that as a Tokai. One interesting thing though ? as we know, from 1978-80 Tokai impressed model number into end of Fretboard ? however, would be interesting to find a Burny from that period with same impressed model No. in fretboard,? but so far I?ve never seen or heard of that.
All just 2:cents of course :-? .