Bob,
I cannot cite a specific reference as to the break-up. One of those things which has appeared in numerous books, and is now taken as the truth. It IS known that large quantities of the special parts, showing signs of use, were once on the market. There are virtually NO contemporary serial number records, but we are close. I KNOW mine is a reassembly, because I did it.

You would have to look VERY carefully at yours to see if it "looks to have been together a long time". Is the metal all the same color, and degree of wear? Is the bar below the surface of the wood, with crud banked up at the edges? If so, I'd DEFINITELY NOT disturb it!!! Is the lockplate dated 1873? How is it relieved on the inside - perfect quality work, or crudely done? Of course, that would require disturbing the lock, which, if a really old fit, should ALSO be left alone!

I'm intrigued by your number - IF, by some slim chance (the odds are GREATLY against it) yours IS original, I guess I chose mine very luckily. I'd like to see some pictures of yours. The block dimensions are in the books by both Frasca and Waite/Ernst. They are 5" x 1.75" x 11/16", but the smaller cuts, and the holes are not dimensioned. Somehow, I could make a drawing and email it to you, with the missing data scaled from mine, but - in all honesty - it will be awhile.