I have this timeline for the early MIJ era and USA production interruption: Randy Ito's timeline is little off, and I think there's a translation issue with the model names. I suspect that the serial number is on the bridge plate - it seems like the early MIJ Teles were done that way. Robgilmo, it would be of some interest, at least to me, to know that number on the bridge. Now, how those 3 NOS left-handed Fender bridges got to an auction in Carlsbad, NM in which the holdings of a defunct music store in Ruidoso, NM were being sold is another mystery, right? My two bridges are just like the one in the first post t up for thru-the-body strings and the option of 3 or 6 saddles. A left handed bridge on a right-handed tele yields something that I like on a Tele.a slightly tighter, brighter sonic on the bass side and a warmer sonic on the treble side. I had 3 of them, but I used one on a build.the other one was A029195.
I have always considered thesenumbers to be serial numbers. Patent numbers, ime, do not have a letter prefix, and the number would be in the millions for a Fender, ime. However, the numbers are different.on the two left-handed Tele bridges I have, the numbers are A029194 and A029196. Above these Axxxxxx numbers, 'Fender Pat.
Update.now that I have these two bridge plates in hand.