This seems to be a good thread to leave this:
I already wrote about the LP replicas and their specific logo style trademark registration of March 7th, 1978 here:
https://www.tokaiforum.com/threads/...paul-reborn-lps-1978.26311/page-7#post-224251
First LP model trademark they registered is "Reborn" on May the 4th be with you, 1978:
Here's the
"Love Rock" registration (applied for September 1980):
Fender-style guitars:
"Springysound" was registered as a trademark Oct. 31st, 1977:
This is one of the many "dead" trademarks now since the registration was not renewed. It looks like the registration in late 1977 confirms why there are so few 1977 serials around - they just didn't have much 1977 left when they started making them!
Silver Star follows October 31st, 1979:
I won't discard the possibility that trademark registrations could be applied for long after it was actually used (not before, because you may have to prove that you are actually using the trademark to keep it). However, it looks like Tokai was usually very timely in these things. One example is the registration of the "Final Prospec" mark:
End of September 1981 sounds like that would've been just the time they also ordered the first batch of "FINAL PROSPEC" stamped hardware for the new 1982 product line production, "ZERO FIGHTER" was applied for March 4th, 1981... so apparently these trademark registrations can help (with lots of caution!) to pinpoint/verify/substantiate some dates and rumors.
Edit: added Reborn
Edit #2: added Silver Star
