They are worth their VFD's - which isn't saying much, because half of them are totally shot, the rest just passable. The ridiculous postal charges make them not even worth scrap. Seller insists on very expensive courier delivery.
I seriously doubt there is a "ringing" industry in T&M gear with serial numbers being swapped around
. I mean, yes with cars and motorbikes there is the government agencies that hold a chassis number to a registered vehicle - and people often used to sell a logbook or V60 registration document along with a "chassis" which consists of nothing but a piece of metal with a VIN plate on it as a whole vehicle - which thieves then steal a vehicle and swap the plates and numbers around. It was a big problem back in the day, but I don't hear of it now.
But on crappy old 34401's
lol... Nope! I think someone is pulling our legs.