Brilhart serial number question - 5 digits!!

Hey, all:

I'm currently using a 1972 Brilhart 5* steel tenor piece, but recently bought a rehabbed vintage piece off Ebay (as a backup).

However, the NEW piece does not have a standard serial number like 022572 (birthdate February 25, 1972), but is instead stamped with:

10994 - 5 digits.

Any ideas on this? Does this predate a certain year, say, when they started stamping the serial numbers with the manufactured date?

Thanks for any any remarks...

Brian