The following revised rationale of Willcox & Gibbs serial numbers, painstakingly researched by Bill Grewe, initiated this revealing correspondence between the author and ISMACS’ Graham Forsdyke.
1857-1866 – 10,000 per year |
1867-1870 – 14,999 per year |
Wheeler & Wilson 4,591 |
Singer 3,630 |
Grover & Baker 3,680 |
AB Howe 133 |
Leavitt 195 |
Ladd & Webster 453 |
Bartholf 31 |
1867 – 14,152 |
1868 – 15,000 |
1869 – 17,201 |
1870 – 28,890 |
Year | Production Estimate | Serial Numbers |
1857 | 100 | 1-100 |
1858 | 900 | 101-1000 |
1859 | 3,000 | 1001-4000 |
1860 | 6,000 | 4001-10000 |
1861 | 11,257 | 10001-21257 |
1862 | 11,500 | 21258-32757 |
1863 | 12,000 | 32758-44757 |
1864 | 12,500 | 44758-57257 |
1865 | 13,000 | 57258-70257 |
1866 | 13,500 | 70258-83757 |
1867 | 14,152 | 83758-97909 |
1868 | 15,000 | 97910-112909 |
1869 | 17,201 | 112910-130110 |
1870 | 28,890 | 130111-159000 |
1871 | 30,127 | 159001-189127 |
1872 | 33,639 | 189128-222766 |
1873 | 15,881 | 222727-238647 |
1874 | 13,710 | 238648-252357 |
1875 | 14,522 | 252358-266879 |
1876 | 12,758 | 266880-279637 |