"Dorffs, old and "new"

[Drew Bedo]

Any way to tell if a Deardorff is "old", that is made by the original company in Chicago, apart from one of the "new" ones made in the guy who bought all the parts in the early 2000s?

[Dustyman]

I have both. See attached picture were I've noted the three differences I see.

223014

[uphereinmytree]

The screws on old ones are slotted, new ones can have hex screws

[John Kasaian]

Serial No 6503 probably seperates the old-ish from the new-ish
https://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/showthread.php?825-Deardorff-serial-numbers
IIRC Ken Hough's website listed the chronological production changes as well a serial numbers, but AFAIK that site is lost somewhere in the dust of a barren digital desert

[Dustyman]

My 2014 version has hex along the bottom rail, but all else is slotted.


The screws on old ones are slotted, new ones can have hex screws