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The "HOLY GRAIL" of Schwinn MTB frames!
- Thread starter Xlobsterman
- Start date
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Xlobsterman
Cruisin' on my Bluebird
The nos ishiwata fork stamp indicates 1983 date which is consistent with 1983 schwinn literature as posted. So makes sense frame is 1983. My guess is BB stamp BS3xxxxx stands for Built (for) Schwinn 1983
View attachment 1714726
LOL.............that is a good one!
Maybe someday we will find some documentation to confirm a date code in the serial numbers on these frames? But until then, one can only speculate as to the correct way to decipher these serial numbers? OR...........if there is even any date code at all?
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Arthur Roy Brown
Look Ma, No Hands!
Some of the early literature posted in this thread indicates they were being or going to be including Tange forks. I haven't seen any with Tange forks. It's all a huge guessing game and will probably remain so.
This frameset was purchased in 1985, so I'm only speculating that the first 4 in the SN indicates it was fabbed in 1984. The rest is mumbo-jumbo to me.
Yes, it has an Ishiwata fork.
Xlobsterman
Cruisin' on my Bluebird
Thanks for those pics!
And I would be inclined to believe that the 3 on my F&F and the 4 on yours would indicate the production year!
Can you post pics of the complete F&F?
kingsting
Finally riding a big boys bike
When I broke my Sidewinder at the BB in 1985 (Those heavy things were great jumpers, just not so hot at soft landings) the dealership replaced my frame with one of these framesets (only it had gold decals instead of white) and of course they had to swap out some other things as well (Crank, seatpost, BB, brakes and pedals). I ended up with a nice riding bastard bike that was lighter than what it replaced. It looked good with the blue Sidewinder wheels and brake levers too. Should have kept the thing but after starting my job at a bike shop, the temptation of all the shiny new iron in the showroom led me to sell it to get something newer.
Balloontyre
Riding a '38 Autocycle Deluxe
This thread has my curiosity so I looked at my Takara serial number, it starts with BS. Not sure this helps into the "S" as being a Schwinn designator.
Good point. The Google has posts and pics indicating takara, bianchi, other frames of the 1980s with alpha-S-number-xxxxx made by unknown mfg. Eg, B = February, S = unknown mfg, number = year. Eg BS3xxxxx = Feb 1983 with S representing as yet unknown Japanese frame mfg.
Xlobsterman
Cruisin' on my Bluebird
Is that serial number in the same spot on the underside of the bottom bracket? Any pics?
Xlobsterman,
In my searching the BSnnnnnn and others similar is in the same location, underside of the BB. J-wagon comment is correct and indicates the Asian Serial Number Guide but I consider the ASNG not to be the same as the Schwinn Chicago guide as I have seen a Bianche SN with IS513786 and that is confirmed as a August 1985. ASNG have stated they do not know what USA based manufacturers use as SN. I contacted Bianche and they could not confirm their SN format who made their Asian frames.
With Schwinn they have said the SN is placed on the frame at the beginning of production that can be years before the final completion date indicated by the head badge stamping. Your frame does indicate the number definitely originated in Japan and was not added in the USA when BMX factory imported the frames in 1981as Jim Hurd stated in the Schwinn book but I was having doubt about his statement.
Given all this exact dating problem there is no doubt the Frames came to Schwinn as your find shows. This does prove that Schwinn did have an interest in MTB bikes at least in 1982 by the Schwinn Reporter Fall/Winter 1982 that indicated the MTB would be in the 1983 Catalogue. Schwinn did use ATB from 1980. Therefore the frames could have been made earlier so they could be photographed for the 1983 catalogue. Therefore the SN BS3nnnnn is likely to be the Schwinn Chicago format not an Japanese one. Certainly not Bridgestone nor Panasonic by what is said in their description of their SN.
I attach photos of SN including the Bianche IS513786 to compare,
Les
In my searching the BSnnnnnn and others similar is in the same location, underside of the BB. J-wagon comment is correct and indicates the Asian Serial Number Guide but I consider the ASNG not to be the same as the Schwinn Chicago guide as I have seen a Bianche SN with IS513786 and that is confirmed as a August 1985. ASNG have stated they do not know what USA based manufacturers use as SN. I contacted Bianche and they could not confirm their SN format who made their Asian frames.
With Schwinn they have said the SN is placed on the frame at the beginning of production that can be years before the final completion date indicated by the head badge stamping. Your frame does indicate the number definitely originated in Japan and was not added in the USA when BMX factory imported the frames in 1981as Jim Hurd stated in the Schwinn book but I was having doubt about his statement.
Given all this exact dating problem there is no doubt the Frames came to Schwinn as your find shows. This does prove that Schwinn did have an interest in MTB bikes at least in 1982 by the Schwinn Reporter Fall/Winter 1982 that indicated the MTB would be in the 1983 Catalogue. Schwinn did use ATB from 1980. Therefore the frames could have been made earlier so they could be photographed for the 1983 catalogue. Therefore the SN BS3nnnnn is likely to be the Schwinn Chicago format not an Japanese one. Certainly not Bridgestone nor Panasonic by what is said in their description of their SN.
I attach photos of SN including the Bianche IS513786 to compare,
Les
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