Serial numbers in Dave’s videos

[golden_labels]

I was wondering: what’s the purpose of sharing serial numbers so prominently in EEVblog videos? I can’t find the answer to that on the forum.

[ataradov]

Sometimes some ranges of S/Ns have specific issues. But I doubt it is done on purpose, probably just gets in the shot with other info.

Do you have examples?

[golden_labels]

Now I am thinking my brain has just glitched.

I was sure I’ve seen Dave showing serial numbers multiple times. Not by accident, but specifically for that purpose. But now, after checking three dozen videos, I can’t find any single instance of that.

Ignore me, I don’t know what has happened here. 

[drussell]

Dave does occasionally mention serial numbers, especially if they are relevant to the discussion, like if a device appears to be an early model, with low serial number, or from a small production run, trying to guesstimate approximately how many may have been made, etc. or just for interest sake on some particularly historic piece of kit, etc. etc.

[Domagoj T]

Are you talking about date codes on ICs in vintage gear? They are sometimes indicative of date of manufacture of the devices itself, when it's otherwise hard to pinpoint.
Their displays are usually preceded by the smell test, which Dave is pretty proficient at, if I might say so myself.

[golden_labels]

No, I’m not referring to daycodes or simply showing labels. Those things are obvious. I’m referring specifically to serial numbers only.

But at least drussell’s message confirms that I am not insane.

We need AI to index content in EEVblog videos.

[Ranayna]

He definitely mentions them when he come across one. Especially in vintage teardowns this is very apparent. If he sees one, he mentions it. Mostly with an added "for those playing along" 
But I think generally this is just mentioning the number, with only sometimes, as was already stated, speculating about the age of the unit.