This basic scheme is summarized as follows:
(prefix)(type)-(chron. num.)(variant)-(production block)-(factory)
where “type” is a letter indicating basic category of aircraft (P for pursuit, B for bomber, C for transport, etc) and “chron. num” is thechronological number of the aircraft of that particular type. The “prefix” was not always used; it designated special features or roles (such as X for experimental). The “variant” was a letter in the sequence A, B, C,….which indicated the version of that particular aircraft in order of its entry into service.
The “production-block” number was introduced in 1942 to keep track of relatively minor modifications of aircraft not deemed to be sufficiently significant to merit a separate variant letter.
The “factory” code was an innovation also introduced at the beginning of World War 2 to keep track of the large numbers of aircraft manufacturers coming on line in support of the war effort. It was a two-letter code which indicated the plant where the aircraft was manufactured. Often, the same aircraft would be built by two or more different manufacturers.
From http://home.att.net/~jbaugher1/Fdesig.html
So we have:
T-33A-1-LO
Trainer type 33 first batch made at the Lockheed factory
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