Mark -- With great trepidation, and working inside one of those "shoebox"-sized plastic tubs, lined and covered with plastic "cling wrap" and working through a cut in the middle of the wrap* -- because I *AM* one of the world's premier klutzes -- I managed to get the band off at the lug ends without losing either of the spring bars! Engraved at the 6 O'Clock edge of the case is "2446C." At the 12 O'Clock end is the serial number "145442." Hope this adds to your fund of knowledge. Judging by this S/N, what do you think was the date of manufacture?

Thanks again

Bart

: * I got this idea from the way they used to work plutonium when I was an experimental machinist at Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico -- only they used lead-lined gloves and a lead-crystal viewing window. Working plutonium was strictly a volunteer task for extra -- quite a bit extra, IIRC -- pay, and you could only work on the plute rigs 15 minutes a day. I never volunteered!