Columbia Twoosome...

Looks to be one just sold off of Ebay that the seller ID'd as 60's to 70's model. Is is a single speed or does it have an automatic, two-speed rear hub?

Just a guess... Late early 60's. I've seen nearly identical tandems represented as "50s" and a mixte version represented as "early 60's".

http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/Downs/7153/mballoon.html

You may have conducted the same quick search and found the same info. Of course, they didn't change a lot of stuff on these so it's quite possible that the same model was sold from the late 50's to the late 60's.

Columbia's were one of the better quality bikes in its day, on par with Schwinn.

I'm curious, what is the serial number? It should start with a T, e.g. TS09049. If you have a good serial number your best bet would be to contact Columbia Bicycles. I would note that a lot of folks have had very similar year/model tandems (perhaps even this one) and have struggled with getting an exact dating, even after giving the serial number to Columbia.

THANKS! I will check for a serial # tomorrow...that link you provided is nearly the exact same bike! Older than I thought. needs to be painted...I will have to think that through.

The serial number should be on the bottom of the rear bottom bracket shell.

The serial number should be on the bottom of the rear bottom bracket shell.


Strangley it is stamped on the right dide drop out...T013691

Whoops. My bad. That's where it should have been. All of Columbia's bikes have the Serial Number stamped near the rear drop outs. Colson had them on the bottom brackets.

The number -- as I suspected -- doesn't appear on most Columbia SN tables. You can contact Columbia's Customer Service folks and ask them if they can peg the production year but I'm not sure if even their records are complete with regard to the tandems.

http://www.columbiabikes.com/custserv.html

This is a link to the most common Columbia serial numbers. http://oldroads.com/co_sn.asp

As you can see, no mention of T (which must = tandem since it appears in front of all of the tandem serial numbers) which suggests a different number system was used, e.g., the one I mentioned above is a TS....

If I was a betting man, I'd "guess" the period of manufacture as '63 to '65, assuming the second digit was an "O" and not a "Zero", but that's really a WAG.

Let us know what, if anything, Columbia can share regarding tandem Serial Numbers.

I get e-mail bounce backs when I try both cust service and info @ addresses...?????

I get e-mail bounce backs when I try both cust service and info @ addresses...?????

*******s... (just kidding).

You might try giving them a call.

The phone number does work but you need to call between 8am and 5pm EST. (413)562-3664

Thanks...while I have your welth of info available...I am considering painting it, would you know where I can get vintage decals?

CycleArt, KoolBikes (Formerly Pffiefer Pframes), and a few others offer the services. Let's see... is there a list?

http://www.1bike.com/Links/Other_Links/Restoration_links/restoration_links.html

Scroll about 1/2 way down the page.

Only other comment is, if it has the original paint and you're interested in collecting you'd want to leave the original finish on the bike, regardless of condition.