Serial numbers for all Kay basses and cellos, built between 1937 and October ’69.

Year   First serial #

• 1937   1
• 1938   1800
• 1939   4000
• 1940   6500
• 1941   8500
• 1942   9700
• 1943   10500
• 1944   11300
• 1945   12000
• 1946   13000
• 1947   15000
• 1948   17000
• 1949   19000
• 1950   22000
• 1951   25000
• 1952   28000
• 1953   31000
• 1954   34000
• 1955   37000
• 1956   38000
• 1957   39000
• 1958   39900
• 1959   41000
• 1960   42000
• 1961   43000
• 1962   44800
• 1963   46600
• 1964   48400
• 1965   50500
• 1966   52500
• 1967   55000
• 1968   56000
• 1969   57000

Example: The serial number 24893 is from 1950.

All Kay production records were destroyed when the company was liquidated in 1969. These numbers are derived from the stories of original owners and sellers, and are necessarily approximate. Research continues, and these numbers may be adjusted if new information warrants. Plan on a margin of error of a couple of months.