rickpaulos

WING NUTS! Shimano, alloy.
Royce Union 5 speed Made in Japan. 27" wheels & tires.
Serial on bb is 3DE7534
I'm guessing 1970ish.
Very vivid flamboyant lime green. My camera doesn't do the color well.
Shimano Eagle or Eagle II derailleur.
Overall it looks like a Raleigh Sprite 5 knock off but much flashier.

Royce.Union.3DE7534 (11) by rickpaulos, on Flickr

some paper stuck on the head tube. Should clean off well.
Royce.Union.3DE7534 (12) by rickpaulos, on Flickr

The stem, pedals and grips look like they are from a Raleigh Sprite. But close up shows other brand names. The bike looks to be all original.

Nuts on the outboard side of pedals. Better to tear flesh that way.
Royce.Union.3DE7534 (14) by rickpaulos, on Flickr

Raleigh looking grips. OGK made in Japan.
Royce.Union.3DE7534 (15) by rickpaulos, on Flickr

rickpaulos

I would definitely NOT repaint it. Gloss black is the easiest color to touch up. I have a 1/2 pint of black gloss Rustoleum that I use on black bikes. I start with some medium grit and finger sand the chips. Clean and brush the paint on thick to fill the chips and scratches, just 1 or 2 passes, and leave it alone. Let it dry for a few days then wet sand with 800 grit sand paper on a block to smooth the new paint level. Then wax the frame with car wax. Don't touch the decals, just wax over them. I get far better results than trying to touch up with spray paints. A total repaint is a lot of work and most decals are unobtainable.

Hondo6

Per @T-Mar 's OP at the beginning of this thread that serial number is indeed consistent with a Yamaguchi-manufactured frame as the sticker you found indicates. Unfortunately, Yamaguchi appears to have made frames for a fair number of bicycle companies - including Eddie Bauer, Sekine, Lotus, and Shogun (plus others).

ddclarke

Thanks to the group for all the info.
I have a 1984 Rocky Mountain Sherpa mtb bike that I was able to confirm is Toyo made. What threw me off was I also have a 1984 Rocky Mountain Sherpa Touring 2 bike but it was made by Miki based on decal but serial # also confirms it.
Once I get enough posts I’ll double back and add pictures.

3speedslow

Concord bicycle

Got a confusing one. Date codes put it around 74-75. All Japanese components and made with Araya seamless tubing.

serial number does not jibe with the possible manufacturers.

Who made this frame?



Model is the Freedom Deluxe

rickpaulos

1981 Panasonic Sport 1000.
Serial is 1A18512 (1=1981 A=January)
FYI, there is a 4 character code on the head badge Y140

Corto 2

Greetings -- I picked up an old Novara Strada the other day and thought I'd contribute its serial number to the database: S0P5240 (found on the underside of the bottom bracket). I believe the lugged, steel, 7 speed bike is a 1990 or '91 model: its Shimano 105 crankset and front derailleur are both stamped OJ, which I think corresponds with an October 1990 component manufacture date, and I found an old blog where a fellow posted pictures of his '91 Strada (same two color frame - red with dark grey fade applied - yellow cable housing; same graphics -- I'd post a picture, but I'm too new to the Forums to be able to do so). If T-Mar's "S-2" code system is at work here, my serial number may show frame manufacture in the August 13 - 20 fortnight of 1990, which would seem to make sense for a bike that was built in Japan (as the decal headbadge says) and shipped to the US to receive its October-dated Shimano parts before being sold here in 1991 (my understanding is that Novara - the REI house brand - was made in Japan and then shipped to US for finishing up and sale). Is there still a suspicion that H. Tano built these frames?

Incidentally, it rides beautifully.

Chicago Al 

Here are a few contributions along with my interpretations of the SNs:


1985 Univega Alpina Pro
M 552099 Univega used a lot of Miyata frames, and this SN would be consistent with Miyata's numbering system and the frame being made in 1984.







1986 Specialized Stumpjumper Sport
CS 625323 This lines up with the scheme for the mysterious Japanese factory S (1) and a March 1986 build. I bought the bike from its original owner, who had worked in a shop and ridden for a sponsored team. She had a 1985 bike, but she broke the frame in a race, and Specialized sent her a new one. Bike was pretty rough and I had the frame powdercoated; I'm not sure the Suntour roller-cam brake is salvageable.



1992 Bridgestone BB-1
M 1 I (definitely the letter i) 5808 This doesn't fit either of the Bridgestone entries in T-Mar's list, but BB stood for 'Bridgestone Basic' according to Grant Peterson’s catalog text, and it may have had humbler origins than the rest of the line. The SN is consistent with Merida and a Sept 1991 build, which fits the 1992 model year. The frame has a Made in Taiwan sticker.

madpogue 

What's wrong with it?

Chicago Al 

Pretty corroded aluminum, steel parts rusted; might yield to vinegar and elbow grease. When I sell the Stumpjumper Sport frame I'll probably include the brake.

Chicago Al 

Here's another bike that I suspect has at least an Asian-produced frame: my 1987 Schwinn Cimarron.
These were said to have been made in Schwinn's Greeneville plant, but the SN doesn't line up with those shown in the long-running Cimarron thread, having only a single letter at the beginning. T-Mar's list suggests that a few different mfrs including Bridgestone produced bikes/frames for Schwinn, and this SN would line up with Bridgestone's system and a September 1986 build, very plausible.
I suspect the frames for these--at least at this date--were made in Asia then the bikes assembled in the US. They also have headbadge SNs, apparently recording the date the bike was finished, and the headbadge SN for this bike suggests it wasn't completed until mid 1987.

Pompiere

I forgot to post this back in February when I got the bike. The only name on it is Marukin Bicycle Co. LTD, there is no model name. Serial is JS24941. It doesn't quite line up to any of the formats. Tsunoda might be the closest. Date code on the Sun Tour Spirt derailleur points to 1974.


1970s Marukin


Seat tube decal

Smokinapankake

1984 Univega Gran Turismo
Serial number M384285
Miyata manufacture where M= 1984 and 384285= sequential frame number.

Smokinapankake

Also, can someone clarify this serial number on what I believe to be a 1985 Fisher MountainBikes Montare:



T5K90175
Doesn't seem to follow the format for Toyo wherein:
TOYO (Japan): ymxxx(xx) through at least 1984. Tyxxx(x) at least as early as 1988.
Exact year of crossover yet to be determined. Old format easily mistaken for Matsushiita/Panasonic.

I guess the K is what is throwing me off.

Here it is after all the spray bomb catastrophe was cleaned off:




Thanks!

BarryL

I have three frames in question. The first is a Ventura 24" 10 speed I picked up used in Alameda in the early 80's for my girlfriend. It had a thick layer of dust so maybe it's a 76 or 77?
W76 9 60130

The other two were hanging in a bike shop for years. The shop went under and they sent them to the junk shop here in Olongapo, Philippines. I bought all 7 frames I found there, these two were the only ones that weren't locally made.
The 27" Mixte serial number is IK87012072
The chrome frame made for wide 26" tires is A87111415.

There are no other markings on the frames. I don't see how to post pics.

rickpaulos

Posting photos of the red repainted mixti for Barry:

Chicago Al 

I've just had an exchange with an eBay seller who has what looks like a 1985 Univega Alpina Pro. It matches the 1985 catalog online, and has decals stating 'Made in Japan,' and also 'CTB Chromoly Triple Butted' which is pretty close to Miyata's 'STB' trademark. Sure enough, the SN on that bike's frame starts with NK, so 11th fortnight of 1985, late May or June of that year. Not that we needed more confirmation of Univega frames being built by Miyata!

rickpaulos

fresh find. 1988 Mangusta 3000 bonded aluminum road bike. Some bubbling at the bb joints. Serial hard to read but it may be M7C 05759. My guess is it was manufactured by Merida. rear der and crank codes are late 1987.

Mangusta 3000 bonded aluminum road bike 1988

hard to read serial number

hard to read serial number

Mangusta

Repaired by Lyle Theisen Della Crema Bicycles Dyersville Iowa. Made in Taiwan for BMX Products CO. Camarillo California 1988

Precision Aluminum Composite Engineering

some bubbling at the bb joints

seat stay bolted on.

WGB

Posted for the serial number collector...

Mid 80's Falcon 12 speed. Model unknown. Fork is really really bad and I don't think it's salvageable. I have a spare chrome fork...
However, Wobler rims are in very nice shape and with 600 tricolour hubs. Probably worth it for the $40 Canadian price.

Serial is LS569157