Estes change their date codes ?

[jef955]

I just found some posts here and some other info on the net about the date coding but all the motors I have bought recently seem to have a different date code system. At least thats what I think I'm looking at ! Any idea if the number in the circular area is indeed a date code or something else ? They all seem to start with the letter "A" Anybody know or am I getting dumber as I get older All the 24MM D/E motors seem to have an actual production date on them. Thanks for any help

 

[shreadvector]

If it is a rounded-end rectangle, then I was once told that the letter represents a casing manufacturer. They had at least two sources at one time.