It is stamped in the leather on bottom side 678 sooo is it from 1978 ? Thanks

And how in the heck do I get the pictures bigger ?!!!!

when i click on the thumbnail it is big enough.

Pic assist.

When you are editing the post click the image thumbnail and it gives you a pop up box that allows you to increase the size.

The year of manufacture was usually stamped on to the steel cantle plate at the rear of the saddle, between the saddle rails.....
Usually two numbers and a letter.

The most common date code was stamped into the cantle...



but... I have several with the number imprinted in the underside of the leather in 3/4" numbers.




verktyg

Chas.

Thanks for the replies

I don't think those letter (not number) stamps are date codes. The best I've been able to find about them is stated here: Date of Manufacture of Bicycle Components can be used to date a bike: component dating
I have several '70s vintage Brooks B15 saddles with these stamps and so far there is no discernable rhyme or reason. If you have the decoder for these, please let us know! Here is an example from the early '70s I'd love to see decoded:

That looks much newer than '78 to me, but I could be wrong.

+ 1 Looks pretty new. I think even the earlier large hammered rivets were smoother. The badge will tell you The Evolution of Brooks Saddle Badges

A pic of the badge would help. I have a '78 Team Pro and the leather on its nose does not seem to come down quite as much as on this one. But it's hard to tell. Also, did they even offer this saddle in brown in the late 70's? Maybe so. But I thought they only came in black until later.

Yeah, the rivets look new and I believe in the late 70's the leather was stubbier around the nose. I think this was made in the last 10 years or so.

as a data point, I've got a 1973 Brooks Pro that has B73 stamped into the cantle plate by the Made In England, but also large letters LHP stamped into leather. I don't think the letters have anything to do with the date.
FWIW, this is the saddle that came on my shiny '74 International.





Steve K.

Except for the rare oiled Brooks Team Pro saddles with large copper rivets that came on some early 70s Raleigh Pros most vintage Brooks Pros were a very dark brown color. The rivets were polished on Brooks Team Pro saddles not sanded or hammered like on the later model plus the oiled black colour didn't rub off like the Ideal 90s and similar oiled models did.

Black oiled Brooks Team Pro



After some use and Proofide the standard Brooks Pros started turning darker but many older ones still have the brown color. This was way before all of the various colour affectations were offered.


I have at least 20 Brooks Pros dating from 1965 though 2010.

Part of my collection for your entertainment and edification.

1965 Books Pro on my 1965 Tigra - small rivets and squared off nose.



1967 Brooks Pro on my 1967 PX-10. Notice the cut back nose with small rivets.



1971 Brooks Pro on my touring bike - 44 years of riding and Proofide - still brown.



1972-3 Brooks Pro on my early 70s PX-10. This one was probably never treated with Proofide or any other leather treatment.



Another early 70s brown Brooks Pro with small rivets and a squared off nose.



NOS mid 70s Brooks Team Pro - the Team Pro modes had the large rivets which are rough sanded on this one.



1981 Brooks Team Pro with smooth sanded rivets.



Rare Brooks Pro with medium sized rivets marketed by Sturmey Archer (Part of the Raleigh Conglomerate).



Another very rare model, a 1979 Brooks Pro Select with black painted rails and a black oiled finish.



verktyg


Chas.

The Brooks Pros with large rivets were originally called Team Pros.

At some point all Brooks Pros came with large rivets and the model was changed to plain Brooks Pro saddles.

1970s Brooks Team Pro with rough hammered rivets.



1981 NOS Brooks Pro with very large nose rivets compared to standard rivets.



Modern black dyed Brooks Pro with rough hammered rivets and rounded nose.



Modern honey Brooks Pro with rough hammered rivets and rounded nose.



Ringer #1 - I had a Brooks Pro with broken rails and an Ideale 90 with alloy rails and bad leather. I merged the two.



Ringer #2 - an NOS Ideale 88 Daniel Rebour model which was a Brooks Pro knockoff.



verktyg

Chas.