Is it possible to determine the manufacturer of a bicycle by using the serial number? I have an MTB frame that has no decals on it and i'd like to know who made that frame. Is there any other way of identifying a frame's maker?

Thanks and cheers

If you post some close-up pictures of the frame in question, someone may recognize some details and be able to make an educated guess. Unless it has a common sequence from one of the well known makers, the serial number isn't going to help much.

Doubtful. If you could actually find out who manufactured the bike, that does not mean it was the brand as sold. Most brands outsourced a portion of their production, many outsourced all of it.

As examples, Giant and Panasonic serial numbers are very recognizable. Both made bikes for others. So knowing it was "made by Giant" doesn't mean it was a Giant model. Also, even if you somehow figured out the brand, you are not going to know the particular model.

Mountain bikes in particular were often outsourced to Asia manufacturers.

This series of images is somewhere in the MTB Dropbar Conversions thread. I hope the few closeup images help. I'm not concerned about the exact model of bike but would just like to know who made the frame.

Thanks for any help. Cheers

IMG_3366 by Miele Man, on Flickr

IMG_3368 by Miele Man, on Flickr

IMG_3369 by Miele Man, on Flickr

IMG_3370 by Miele Man, on FlickrIMG_3369 by Miele Man, on Flickr

IMG_3371 by Miele Man, on Flickr

IMG_3372 by Miele Man, on Flickr

IMG_3373 by Miele Man, on Flickr

IMG_3374 by Miele Man, on Flickr

IMG_3376 by Miele Man, on Flickr

My first guess is 1987 Mongoose Alta.

Rear cable stop doesn't look quite right, though. Catalog one looks like it's made from round stock:


https://www.vintagemongoose.com/pdfs/mongoose_cat87.pdf

The answer to the serial number question is: sometimes yes. Some manufactures have identifiable serial number formats and locations. If you can post the serial number and a picture of the serial number on the frame I will try to identify the manufacturer.

Also thanks for posting the flickr albums. Some of these were quite instructive.

S/N F501A001, S5 07

Does anyone know the year and/or model of Parkpre here?
Thanks,
Ted in Niagara Region of Ontario, Canada

The serial number format is almost identical to Fairly's, the known manufacturer of Parkpre, though this one is atypical with the alpha character in the middle. Normally, F = Fairly, 5 = 1985, 1995, etc. and 01 = January. Parkpre wasn't in business in 1985, so it should be 1995 but those chainstays look really long for a 1995 model and V-brakes weren't introduced until 1996. It's hard to identify any components from the pictures

[MENTION=20650]T-Mar[/MENTION]

Thanks for your feedback, at least now I know it's from 1995 :-).
The components in the photos are those currently on the bike.

It also came to me derailleur-less, so it now has a Shimano Altus groupset.

The crankset was Shimano FC-MC18 ...

Vintage Shimano Fc-mc18 Triple Crankset 3x8 Speed 7 Mountain Bike Mtb 175mm 6 | What's it worth

It had only 2 Blackspire chainrings (Canadian).
It now has the Shimano FC-M171 triple 42-34-24 crankset that is shown.

Wish I could ascertain its model (but thanks for its model year :-).
Ted

Some more info. Based on the colour and size of the TIG welds, the frame material appears to be aluminum. In 1995 Parkpre only offered two aluminum models, the AL-U-Max and the Pro Image. The frames appear to be identical except for the material. Normally, the better material would use a larger diameter seat post but in this case both used 27.0mm posts in 35.0mm seat tubes. The AL-U-Max used Alcoa 7005, while the Pro Image used Easton Pro Gram Elite. I don't suppose the tubing decal is still on the frame? Barring that, if you stripped it down to the bare frame and weighed it, we might be able to determine which one it is, as we have a known reference point from an old road test which states that the 1995 Pro Image frame weighed 3 lb 4 oz. for the 19" version.

I just had another thought. I wonder if the extra 'A' in the serial number simply designates an aluminum frame?

@T-Mar
Thanks again, mate!

I've attached 2 more photos ...
(one on the Head Tube has a large P and Max, the other on the Top Tube is a RaceFace Performance Parts sticker - it did have a PFR sticker on the chain stay, but it peeled off)

Looking like it might be an AL-U MAX (based on the Top Tube decal?).
Also, it has DuoTrack 7007 forks.

Well, we're much getting closer to ID'ing this beast.
The "A" in the serial suggesting "Aluminium" makes sense (or AL-U MAX?).

I wonder, in the "5S 07", maybe 5 for "7005", S for "eaSton" or "Sceptre", 07 for "7007" forks?
With the "001" after the "A" in F501A001, might it suggest a "first off the press" run?

Ted in Canada's Niagara Region

Yes, that confirms it is an AL-U-Max. The "AL-U'" portion of the name would have been printed above the "P" on the head decal (see pic). The "001" in the serial number indicates it's the first frame built for the period, so you've got the first aluminum frame built in January 1995 by Fairly. Please not this this would not be the first of the 1995 models, as Fairly would have started building these around September 1994, to build up stock and allow for trans-oceanic shipping, distribution, etc. Sorry, I don't know the meaning of the other characters..

BTW, where do you live in the Niagara region? I'll be in Welland for November 4-5.

Funny that ...

I'm originally from T.O., but my wife convinced me that her homesickness would be cured if we moved to her home town, so 12+ years ago we packed up in Aurora, and moved to ... WELLAND!

How does one PM in here?
(Just tried, but haven't posted 10 times yet, so got my answer)

Love to meet up at any 1 of 9 Timmies in the area :-).
We aren't veering far from here once end of October hits :-).

Thanks for all your feedback, btw, it's been very helpful!

Cheers!
Ted