ok. KP unearthed an interesting find from Mark's #97 thread.
reply #673, from Sam Roberts, "Interestingly, I have straight vents on #836 and not on #410. Note sure why and I am sure both are original to the bikes. Perhaps another example of early sandcast randomness?"
assuming the straight vent type carbs on 836 came with the bike from the factory and did not come on 410, then the "early sandcast randomness" we see, does not allow us, at least in some cases, to make assumptions of how late in a vin range we can expect top see a certain distinctive part. at least from a consecutive numeric standpoint, we do not know how many vins between 410 and 836 the early brass vent carbs appear.
that being said, 836 having brass vents and 410 not having brass vents, for only the sake of example, we can say 836 was last vin for brass vents to be seen, but this is not accurate, because it leads one to assume, all vins before 836 had brass vents. in the case of Sam's two vins, we know this is not the case.
what would be interesting to know, consecutively beginning at vin #1, how many vins had brass vents and at what vin did the 90' elbow vent start being seen ? Then, after the 1st 90' vent seen, at what vin did a brass vent reappear ?
or i suppose one could ask how many angels can fit on a pinhead.......