Just curious Brant about serial number breakdown by months? Do you have years as well?
I am not sure if a breakdown exists by months or years, this is a question that should be asked of: Judith Crown or Glenn Coleman, authors of
No Hands.
What is known:
-Schwinn's hiring E.C. Bode was a major coup for the firm. Bode was the sales arm of the fledging company and secured a significant number of pre-orders during October/November of 1895. On individual trips, it was reported orders in excess of 1,000 and 1,450 units were secured. Likely these number were exaggerated but regardless Schwinn needed to get wheels out the door.
-It was Schwinn's initial intention to start shipping product late October. Delays in setting up the manufacturing plant prevented this from occurring.
-Based on first hand accounts from bicycle industry trade publication writers who visited the Schwinn plant in person, the company was ready to build bicycles by the third or fourth week in November. Completed wheels were slated to start shipping in December of 1895.
-The first quarter of 1896 was extremely busy for Schwinn to fulfill the orders Bode secured in the fall of 1895. It was reported on Saturday night, April 18th, 1896 that Schwinn had a special "Dutch Lunch" meal for its employees in celebration of the 3,000th bicycle being produced in a "specified time."
Jeff's research of the theft reports is extremely valuable information, especially when serial numbers and model years are mentioned.