[Hallicrafters] S-40B serial number question

[Chris Kepus]

A longtime ham friend of mine called me over to look at a receiver that a
neighbor had given him.   My jaw dropped a bit when he took me into the
garage and there on the workbench was a Hallicrafters shipping box.    On
the exterior, there were a number of labels including a couple of small
Hallicrafters labels:  one is a serial number label, the other is a blue and
white Hallicrafters label with "S-40B" on it.  Inside the box was a
remarkably pristine S-40B.

The receiver is very nice.  No dings or dents.  It has a slight dusting on
the chassis.  A couple of the metal tubes not marked Hallicrafters are
Sylvania with bright yellow markings.  The labels on the rear chassis apron,
other than slight yellowing,  look like they were put on there yesterday.
Under the cabinet, there is another pristine large cardboard label that
warns the user not to break the seals, which are present and have not been
broken.  On the upper right rear corner of the cabinet, there is a
paperboard "Hallicrafters" tag affixed to the cabinet with one of the hex
screws that retain the cover hinge.  This tag has been damaged due to
handling but the serial number printed on it is legible and matches the one
on the shipping box.  

This is pretty exciting to me as this was the closest I've been to a near
mint example of one of these (notwithstanding only light cabinet dust and
minimal chassis surface crud).  My first Novice rx was a S-40A.  (In 1955,
it looked pretty good, also.) :>)

My friend had already turned on the receiver to try it so it was too late to
warn him otherwise.   So he demonstrated it and, thankfully, it played and
did so very nicely.   

He asked me if I was interested in it, and if so, he would give me a deal I
couldn't refuse.  Clearing my throat of frothing saliva, I said, sure!
Since he's a friend, I told him it could likely be worth more money than he
was asking and I would be happy to sell it for him on eBxx.  He declined my
eBxx offer, was happy with my cash in his hand, so it followed me home.

Close examination on the test bench confirmed it's wonderful condition.  The
only thing I'm curious about is whether or not Hallicrafters placed a serial
number somewhere on the chassis since I can't find one.  There is a
stenciled (or stamped) number in red ink on the surface of the chassis at
the left rear near the edge .  It was done sloppily as the first digits are
not legible at all.  The digits at the end do not match the ending numbers
of the SN on the tag and on the box.  "Run 3" is a suffix to the series of
digits.  

I would greatly appreciate some enlightenment on the serial number location.


Thanks,
Chris
W7JPG