JP Dating Information
JP SERIAL NUMBERS AND DATES
JP was unusual in maintaining a relatively simple and consistent numbering system, although it did change a few times between 1921 and 1971.
WHERE TO FIND THE SERIAL NUMBER
Hand mowers: serial numbers are usually found on the side frame near to the front roller or cutting cylinder. Later motor mowers have a brass plate. Mowers with a removable cutter unit have the number repeated on the side frame.
DECIPHERING THE SERIAL NUMBER
Use the information below with the coding tables to interpret the serial number.
Hand Mowers
1921-1926
Mowers had numbers only so no accurate dating is possible. During this period the only models in production were the 12" and 16" JP Super; the 16” was prefixed by X.
1926-1952
The format generally follows the pattern:
Mower Model Code - Year Letter - Month Letter - Number (Nth mower of that design made that month)
1953-1971
Similar to above but with the Year Letter preceded by a "2" - Month Letter – Model Code – Number (Nth mower of that design made that month)
Motor Mowers
The numbering system generally follows a similar pattern to the hand mowers. However, as far as we know (because relatively few motor mowers were produced), letters designating the month of production were not used except between 1927 and 1935.
The format generally follows the pattern:
Mower Model Code - Year Letter - Number (the Nth mower of that design made that year)
Where a 4-stroke engine was fitted to a model which also had a 2-stroke version, the number is preceded by 4/
From 1955, for models with a single code but produced in different widths, the various sizes were designated by the model code followed by the cutting width (eg B15, B17, B20 etc) and from 1967 the Year Code became E and then ran on but omitting I.
From 1962, with the introduction of the Super Power Mower Mk5, the serial number was preceded by 5/
JP MODEL CODES | |
Model | Code |
12" Super | No code |
14" Super | F |
16" Super | X |
12/14/16" Super Electric | E |
15/17/20 Super Power Mower Mk4 | B |
16" Super Power Mower | 22 |
24" Super Power Mower | 21 |
24" Super Power Mower Mk5 | B |
14" Super Simplex | PV |
16" Super Simplex | PX |
12" Maxees | G |
14" Maxees | FG |
9" Minor | M |
11" Minor | XM |
12" Major | JR |
10" Minimower | TH |
12" Minimower | H |
12" Monarch | H |
14" Monarch | FH |
10" Matchless | W |
12" Matchless | XW |
K-Type Power Mower | KP |
K-Type Electric Mower | KE |
Simplees | D |
Sunbeam | D |
16" Sports Green Mower | SG |
16" Bowling Green/Golf Green | AX |
12/14" Maxees Power Assisted | PA |
12" Maxees Electric | G |
14" Maxees Electric | FG |
12" Monarch Electric | H |
14" Monarch Electric | FH |
JP YEAR CODES | |
Year | Code |
1927 | A |
1928 | B |
1929 | C |
1930 | D |
1931 | E |
1932 | F |
1933 | G |
1934 | H |
1935 | I |
1936 | J |
1937 | K |
1938 | L |
1939 | M |
1940 | N |
1941 | O |
1942 | P |
1943 | Q |
1944 | R |
1945 | S |
1946 | T |
1947 | U |
1948 | V |
1949 | W |
1950 | X |
1951 | Y |
1952 | Z |
1953 | 2A |
1954 | 2B |
1955 | 2C |
1956 | 2D |
1957 | 2E |
1958 | 2F |
1959 | 2G |
1960 | 2H |
1961 | 2I |
1962 | 2J |
1963 | 2K |
1964 | 2L |
1965 | 2M |
1966 | 2N |
1967 | 2O |
1968 | 2P |
1969 | 2Q |
1970 | 2R |
1971 | 2S |
1972 | 2T |
JP MONTH CODES | |
Month | Code |
January | A |
February | B |
March | C |
April | D |
May | E |
June | F |
July | G |
August | H |
September | I |
October | J |
November | K |
December | L |
MOTOR MOWER YEAR CODES (1967 ONWARDS) | |
Year | Code |
1967 | E |
1968 | F |
1969 | G |
1970 | H |
1971 | J |