There is much confusion surrounding identifying & dating of the Japan & Hong Kong versions of the K1000.
Although this is a very old thread which has been revived here are a few general notes to clear up a few misconceptions mentioned earlier in this thread about the K1000 which can be verified from the physical study of hundreds of K1000 bodies.
* K1000 bodies have never been assembled in Tiawan. This possibly comes from later M50/2 lenses used on the K1000 bodies ( & others) were of Tiawan origin which first appeared on series II K1000 bodies.
* K1000 bodies were produced in both Japan & Hong Kong from the very first production. Only the late K1000 series V (plastic top & bottom plates) bodies were produced in China along with some HK production.
* The presence of the bump or the ASAHI text or the AOCo logo alone does not constitute a K1000 body as being Japanese origin.
* The AOCo logo & the ASAHI text were dropped late in series III production when assembly was primarily moved to HK.
* If you compare two K1000 bodies
from the same production period in series I through to series III, both the Jap & HK assembled bodies are 100% identical in construction & internal componentry.
* There is no reason for there to be a difference in the quality of the bodies assembled in either of the assembly locations. No doubt Pentax were simply taking advantage of cheaper labour costs.
* Series I - Japan & HK but predominantly Japan.
Series I bodies most easily identified from BOTH the bump on top & 750**** -> 79***** serial number range.
HK assembled series I bodies were 'assembly only' in HK. These bodies used Japan manufactured components.
If my memory is correct without looking back through notes, nylon gears for the shutter curtain tension adjustment first appeared late in Series I body in
both the Jap & HK assembled bodies.
Serial numbers were located on the top plate but moved to bottom plate during transition period between series I & series II bodies.
Do not confuse with Series III bodies which also used the same serial number prefix used within this range (7******) but is located on bottom plate.
Origin can be confirmed by -
- ' ASAHI OPT. CO., JAPAN engraved on back of top plate (RHS). Common for early series I
- ' JAPAN ' engraved on bottom plate. ' ASAHI OPT. CO. ' engraved on the back of top plate (RHS) Not very common but a number of samples have been verified.
- ' BODY ASSEMBLED IN HONG KONG ' engraved on bottom plate. ' ASAHI OPT. CO. ' engraved on the back of top plate (RHS), Not very common but a number of samples have been verified.
- ' BODY ASSEMBLED IN HONG KONG ' sticker on bottom. ' ASAHI OPT. CO. ' engraved on the back of top plate (RHS). Common for late series I bodies
- 'JAPAN' sticker on base plate (late in series). ' ASAHI OPT. CO. ' engraved on the back of top plate (RHS). Common for late series I bodies.
- If there is no engraved origin & sticker has been lost there is no way to determine origin either externally or internally. However, if the sticker has been removed but residue remains origin can be reasonably assumed by the size of the remaining residue. Short 'JAPAN' or much longer 'ASSEMBLED IN HONG KONG'.
* Series II - Japan & HK but HK starts to dominate
Identified from serial number on bottom plate & 600**** -> 699**** serial number range.
Do not confuse with Series V bodies (plastic) which also used some serial numbers with the same prefix (6******).
HK assembled series II bodies were assembly only in HK. These used Japan manufactured components.
Origin can be confirmed by -
- 'Japan' sticker on bottom plate.
- 'ASSEMBLED IN Hong Kong' sticker on bottom plate.
- If there is no engraved origin & sticker has been lost there is no way to determine origin either externally or internally. However, if the sticker has been removed but residue remains origin can be reasonably assumed by the size of the remaining residue. Short 'JAPAN' or much longer 'ASSEMBLED IN HONG KONG'.
* Series III - Japan & HK but HK is now the main assembly location
Origin can be confirmed by -
- Japan sticker on bottom plate.
- Hong Kong sticker on bottom plate.
- If sticker has been lost there is no way to determine origin either externally or internally. However, if the sticker has been removed but residue remains origin can be reasonably assumed by the size of the remaining residue. Short 'JAPAN' or much longer 'ASSEMBLED IN HONG KONG'.
* Series IV - HK assembly only. No AOCo logo on top prism.
- Metal top & bottom plates but no AOCo logo
* Series V - HK & China production (plastic top & botttom plates)
IF you have a K1000 SE it was manufactured in HK & would have been identified by a sticker on the base (Series I -> Series IV) as no SE's have been verified as manufactured in Japan.