Warbird Information Exchange

Hi, I've been trying to find out if it's possible to match a Pre-WWII tail number from a USAAC aircraft (a Curtiss A-12 in this case) to its serial number with no luck. It's easy of course for about 1941 and beyond but for the mid-30's there doesn't seem to be a relationship unless I'm just making a newby error. I am pretty new at all this so I wouldn't be surprised if that's the situation.

In this case the tail number is in the 100's but the serial numbers for these planes start at 212 (33-212 for example was the first one). Only 46 of these were made and less than half of those ended up in Hawaii where this photo was taken. I've seen the serial number list and that doesn't help. I'd like to be able to attach a serial number to the plane if possible. The photo was taken from the "wrong" side to try and read the block of information by the pilot's cockpit that contains the serial number. If there's no relationship between the two, does anyone know how the tail number was chosen or what Air Corps regulations were used at that time? Thanks in Advance, John