pcb 

Just got in a BG road frame, looks to be late-'70s to early-'80s, serial number G020278. I'm pretty sure the "G" is a G, not a mis-stamped 6 or 8, and the following "0" is a zero, not a capital O. I'm wondering if anybody has cracked BG's code, if there is a code. I'm familiar with all the "BG is a curmudgeon," "ask him, he might tell you" and "for $90 he'll look it up for you" comments, at this point I'm only mildly curious about the mfr date and was just wondering if anybody has cracked the code.

The frame looks like a solid-but-not-deluxe custom build, has BG's fastback stays/seat cluster but doesn't have the cool asymmetrically drilled lug holes, no bridge or bottle boss reinforcements. Lugs are thinned longish-point, french-style stay ends, over-bb cable guides, two bottle cage mounts, pump peg, no rack/fender eyelets/mounts. Heart-shaped bb shell cutout. Recessed brake mounts, 10-o'clock brake casing stops on top tube. Relatively short 41cm chainstays for a tallish 61cm c-c frame with clearance for at least 32mm tires. 73/74.5-deg ST/HT, haven't measured drop or trail yet.

Steer tube is rifled Columbus with visible Columbus stamp, no seat tube rifling, no identifying frame tubing sticker.

The combo of over-bb cable guides, recessed brake mounts and dual cage mounts strikes me as '78-'82ish, and the "78" in the serial number fits that, but if it was custom it could have been a later build, the "78" could be unrelated to prod yr. I don't think BG was building stock frames at this point.

Don't think this will be a quick build, I'm thinking either Spb Pro or Dura-Ace, with fat rubber.

ColonelJLloyd 

Why not email the man himself?

due ruote 

Very pretty frame, whenever it was crafted.

pcb 

I kinda know Bruce and I don't think digging into his old build records is something he enjoys doing, so I figured I'd shout out here to see if anybody knew the code. If it's as simple as "the last two digits are the build yr," or some other known code, I don't need to bother The Man hisself.

pcb 

Thanks, I've always liked his work, never had a lugged BG before. I think his lugged frames have a nice understated but identifiable style, even his fancier builds don't usually shout "fancy." Around '90 he introduced a tig-welded production road frame that rode great and was more affordable than his lugged frames, but less identifiable. Surrounded by Marin MTB tig builders, he's offered a few tigged production frames over the years. Bought one of the '90 tigged road frames a while back from an email buddy in Tejas, traded it back to him after a bit when he realized he really wanted/needed it back.

bikingshearer 

As for the numbers, I am 99.9% certain that "020278" means it the second frame started (or finished) in February 1978. This is the same numbering system Albert Eisentraut, from whom Bruce Gordon learned his craft and for whom he worked in the mid-70s, used. I think the first two digits are frame number and the second two are the month, but I am not positive it isn't vice-versa. I've been told several times which it is (including by Bruce Gordon himself at NAHBS) and can never remember. In your case, it doesn't matter - it's the second frame from February 1978.

I am much less certain about the "G", but my somewhat-educated guess is it simply stands for "Gordon." Eisentraut used no lead-in letter on his "A" frames and an "L" lead-in letter on his "Limited" frames, which Gordon helped build. So I surmise that using the "G" lead-in letter was to distinguish his frames from Eisentraut's while keeping the same serial number system. It makes sense, but as I said, I am not certain about that part of the serial number.

Is that the frame that was up on eBay a week or two ago? Regardless, it's a beauty.

pcb 

Yay, the code is cracked---thanks! Makes sense that BG continued with Eisentraut's scheme. I had a '75 Eisentraut Limited, the ser# format was a little different; #75L493, so a '75 Limited (75L), frame #493. Don't know if that was #493 for '75 or #493 of all Limiteds. Evidently 'traut's custom/non-Limited frames were numbered differently. At any rate, you heard it from BG himself, so Feb '78 it is. That would be less than 2yrs after Bruce left Eisentraut and moved to Eugene to build under his own name, so a relatively early frame.

An active ebayer snagged this from Sultan on ebay, then decided not to keep it and listed it. I didn't see it on Sultan's listing, then somebody else got it on the first relisting, but decided it wouldn't fit and bailed. I outbid one other bidder on the third listing (third time's the charm) and triumphed. So it percolated through ebay a few times in less than a month. Looks like a keeper to me, I'll post some better pix once she's cleaned and built.

gomango

Pretty frameset!

Certainly high on my list.

bgcycles 

You cracked the code!!!
the G020278 means it was the 2nd bike built in February 1978. Some one said I charged $90 for that info - Wrong - I charge $100 to look up the Tubing Spec, Geometry, & Original Owner. That is because I need to spend over one hour looking through dusty, moldy boxes. I'm not that much of a grouch that I would not tell what the serial # means. Those who were told the $90 to $100 refers to looking up build info. I don't need to spend any time to decipher the serial # - I made them up and they are fairly logical.
Regards,
Bruce Gordon
www.bgcycles.com
brucegordoncycles.blogspot.com/

bikingshearer 

Well, I can't take too much credit for code-cracking skills, since you told me your serial numbering system at NAHBS in Sacto last March.

pcb 

Cheers, Bruce---thanks for confirming the code cracking! Since it's not obvious from my frame #, are the first 2 digits the sequential build no. for the month, and the second two digits the month? So the 15th frame built in Jan of '88 would be 150188? This is a lovely frame, I've been wanting to add a lugged BG to the herd for quite a while now.

Thanks again, and there's a PM heading your way...

JReade

So awesome that this happened.