Gibson FON and serial number question.

[midyearguru]

I have a Gibson F2 mandolin with a serial number of 82525 and the label appears to be 100% original and correct. From this number I calculate it to be built in 1925. However, the FON stamped inside is 8814, which would suggest 1927. It is a well documented instrument with a lot of provenance but this discrepancy has me puzzled. Any further information would be most appreciated. Thanks.

[MikeEdgerton]

Welcome to Gibson. Your mandolin (I'm assuming) is this one and what you are seeing is the traditional assumed build dates vs. the newly accepted by some ship dates. The 1927 FON for 8814 doesn't appear to have been assigned to a mandolin.

Joe Spann's book has changed what many thought they knew.

[rcc56]

When Joe Spann's "Guide to Gibson" came out, he updated the serial number list as well as providing the FON tables.
According to the serial number listing on page 191, 82525 would indicate early 1928.

[midyearguru]

Thanks. That makes more sense. The 8814 and 82525 are VERY clearly visible. In Spann's book, page 64, they talk about FON "rollovers" in that once a batch of instruments were made with a specific FON, there was no need to keep it and it could possibly be assigned to another batch of instruments.....which is most likely (clearly?) the case here. Yes Mike, that's mine.