How to Determine Age of Kitchen Appliances

Date kitchen appliances based on serial or patent numbers.

Kitchen appliances are necessities that can become collectibles. Determining the age of a kitchen appliance is helpful if you're purchasing or selling a pre-owned appliance. If you are a collector or antique dealer, knowing the age of an appliance is a necessary part of a transaction. Most appliances are dated by the serial number. A patent number can sometimes date old kitchen appliances when no serial number is on the appliance.

Things You'll Need

• Copies of manuals, paperwork, or receipts (optional)

Instructions

Dating Identified Kitchen Appliances

1. Examine the appliance to find the manufacturer, model and serial number. Many appliances have a metal plate on the back with this information etched or embossed. This information can also be located within the appliance. According to the website Appliance 411, appliances made before the 1970s won't always be marked with serial numbers.

2. Write down the serial number, which often contains letters and numbers. According to GE Appliances, General Electric includes the date and year the appliance was manufactured within the serial number. This may or may not be true for other companies.

3. Go online to the company's website. Companies such as General Electric, Frigidaire, Maytag and others are still operating and have websites. According to Appliance Aid, some brands, such as Kenmore, sold in department stores were made by several companies. Department stores, such as Sears, sold Kenmore and might be able to date the appliance based on the model and/or serial number.

4. Note the company's contact information. Many company websites feature help forms to fill out with appliance information or a live chat option which allows a company representative to provide immediate assistance. If the company website doesn't have a search option that allows you to enter the serial number for an automated appliance identification, you'll have to contact the company directly.

5. Call or write the company to request the appliance's date. Include the information you have from the appliance. Details such as the finish color can be helpful. Any paperwork, manuals, or receipts original to the appliance will also help. Provide scans for the company. Often, the appliance manual will have a publication date to help you determine the appliance's age.

Dating Unidentified Kitchen Appliances

1. Search the appliance for a patent number. Though some antique and vintage appliances are unmarked, often a patent number or patent pending number will be etched or embossed on the appliance.

2. Go online to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office website and click on Quick Search. Enter the patent number. A patent is issued to an inventor or company giving the patent owner the exclusive right to produce and sell the item. Most patents are received or pending at least two years before an item is marked with the patent number. According to the US Patent and Trademark Office, you can search for patents issued between the years 1790 to 1975. Knowing the patent issue date will help date your appliance within five years.

3. Research the company that registered for the appliance patent. Older companies are purchased and merged with new companies and assume different names. By searching online or contacting the new company, you may be able to find the appliance age.

References

• Appliance 411: How Old is My Appliance?
• GE Appliances: How to Determine the Age or Manufacture Date of a GE Appliance

Resources

• Appliance 411: Find the Date of My Appliance
• U.S. Patent and Trademark Office: Search for Patent Numbers