We need more data. This limited data makes it sound like they started back at about 3000 and went up into the high 4000's instead of going backwards from about 5000.
Yes.
(some early 5000’ish serial numbers) and a few others were accepted in October, 1895. Mass shipping started in Feb, 1896. In general, shipping seems to have gone from 5,000 to 8200 - then from low 3,156 up to 4,999. If I have that wrong, Joe or Rick will correct me.
Rick, Joe, BillR, and others have been collecting 1895 dates for a very long time and have quite a number of them.
