Bob, I'd like to pin down the date Waterford began using the "self-describing" serial numbers, too. The Waterford website isn't much help as it says the change was made "...during the mid-eighties."

My October, 1987 Paramount has the self-describing serial number: 620E WK 87077.

Self-Describing Serial Numbers

This system started in use during the mid-eighties to 1994. It consisted of six components:

Size Code: The size code represented the center to top seatmast measurement, rounded to the nearest 5mm. For example, a 55cm frame had a serial number starting with 550. Mountain bikes required rounding since they were built in one or two inch size increments. Occasionally, custom frames might not have the same size as indicated by the serial number.

Product Code: This was not applied consistently. Up to some point in the early 90's, it designated the fork length with forks short bikes getting an "A" progressing to large forks getting an "E". Later, it was used to designate the kind of frame: A=Road, B=Off-Road, C=650C Road, E=Track.

Company Code: In the 80's the code indicated the type of bike, where K=road bike. Later, especially after the formation of Waterford, this letter indicated the company. K was for Paramount and L was for Waterford.

Factory Code: A W followed to indicate a bike coming from the Waterford factory.

Month Code: This one letter code corresponds to the month with A=January, B=Febuary and so on. Because I is not used, September=J and December=M.

Year Code: This two digit code is the last two digits of the year - 96 is 1996.

Sequence Number: This three digit number represents the nth frame and/or fork scheduled during the month.

Example: 540AKWE91042 was a 54cm road racing Paramount built at the Waterford factory. It was the 42nd frame built in May of 1991.