I recently posted my 221 purchase of a lifetime and never even thought about wanting a date of birth as important to me. Twenty years of looking brought a beautiful 221 and me together. Good ones are scarce in my area at a reasonable price.
It would have been easy to just buy one from one of the many great places online that refurbish them but there would be no real attachment in that for me. Every yard sale, 2nd hand shop and auction I visited all became part of the history of my quest. I was more interested in the hunt and finding a clean, working model, with all the parts intact and the wait was worth it.
Enjoy the hunt and when you find the "one" for you, you will know.