Juan el Boricua

hello everyone. I've been somewhat a lurker around c&v, folders, fg&ss, rec. gravel forums for a while, and I've seen how the community can sometimes help out. I was wondering if anybody out there can help me decipher the following serial number:
W84023556SY
It is located at the rear ND side dropout, facing outwards. The bike was bought cheaply since it was an ecclectic collection of parts (and was destined to become a fixed gear training/errands bike), so no attention was paid to any of the components. In a previous attempt to Id. the bike, I was somewhat convinced that it was a 1968 Royce Union Ten Speed "Racer", but only clue were three pictures from a coop that specialized on refurbishing bikes as single speeds and flipping them. Did not posted pictures as the bike is a light blue color (sea foam, from Krylon I think), making it hard to capture the stamping details. It has "ornate" headtube and seattube lugs, but plain straight cut BB lug. The rear dropouts are stamped (I know, cheap and mass produced) but the seat and chain stays are rounded. I removed the brazed-on brake and derailers cable stops. The rear brake cable ran from the TT's underside (not centered; more to the DS) and the shofters went either side of the DT's underside. The FD cable guide was also removed from the top of the BB. No water bottle bosses, but have a pair of threaded eyelets on each rear dropout for fender and rack mounts. I went through the asian serial numbers sticky, but my serial number does not match any of the manufacturers there. Can anyone help?

dddd

Can you put up a link to a photo, at some host site like Flickr? Fork crown, head tube lugs and seat post clamp area are good clues.

Juan el Boricua

dddd, thanks for your interest; I'll see what I can do.

The fork appears to be original to the frame; no markings on steerer tube.


Seat post diam. is 25.4mm, but uses a "soda can" shim; maybe a 26 would be a better fit.



SN is right on top of the axle nut.

Juan el Boricua

and this is the bike in question; 57cm of all high tensile steel for your amusement!:

WGB 

Seatpost looks like an Sr Laprade. I'd only ever seen 26.8 and 27.2mm. Was yours sanded?

If not a Laprade, what is it?

Juan el Boricua

Thanks for helping out WGB; it is a La-Prade-style Kalloy unit, with 25.4mm engraved on it. I think the only original parts are the frame and fork.

T-Mar

I don't recognize the S/N format but it does look like a Royce Union Supreme, which was a mid-1980s model.

Juan el Boricua

Thanks for the info. Tmax Tmar. Looked it up and, although the lugs are similar, the rear dropouts of the Supreme series have only one threaded boss; but I looked through one of the links given and, it landed on an old 10 speed gallery and it appears that late 60's early 70's Royce Union had their "10 Speed" series with the double bosses. Thanks again for your help, and to those who read through.
👍
(Ooops, sorry for the misspelled name!)

T-Mar

Here are photos of two Royce Union Supremes, both with stamped dropouts having double eyelets and what appears to be identical outline to yours. Based on the components and graphics, these bicycles are mid-1980s.

Juan el Boricua

Well, it appears that my curiosity/inquiry can be put at ease! Thanks again for helping, and providing the pictures, Tmar! Guess that this is why I keep coming to the BF.N!

madpogue 

Indeed, our esteemed fellow member's extensive knowledge is more than just black and white.....