Refresh please on Suntour RD serial #
 

See the pics? Looking for year.
Suntour V GT Luxe 70s?
Later version, same name 80s?
Velobase: VeloBase.com - Component Listing

TIA.

I don't believe that is a serial number, but rather the part number for the 'claw'.

SunTour derailleurs will have a two-letter date code on the back of the parallelogram. That's as good as it gets.

http://velobase.com/ViewBrand.aspx?B...b-dac2d4abd9e6

So, without knowing the #, my guess is late 70s. Not 80s.

Trying to date a bike up for potential purchase.

Wait, do I see 10 77 ???

What's the reason behind the inquiry?

That number "4532" next to that circular Japanese symbol is common. I have it on some bike hubs and other things. Not sure what it means but not a serial #

SunTour uses a two alphabet series. See here.

The first letter represents the year. Larry Osborn and I believe O (Oh) is 1972, V is 1979 and A is 1984. As with Shimano, the second letter is the month code, where A is January and L is December.

SunTour Year Code

N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z
1971
1972
1973
1974
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979
1980
1981
1982
1983

A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
SunTour Month Code

A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
Jan
Feb
Mar
APR
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
DEC
The earliest Suntour derailleur I have found with a code is marked OF. A rear derailleur marked OD (corresponding to April of 72) was reported by Leighton Walter. I have a bike that dates from between 1970 to 1972 that has the original SunTour derailleurs. These derailleurs do not have date codes on them, so I believe the coding started sometime between 1970 and April of 1972.

Nope, that's 'alloy' upside down.

Well, darn. That's not what it looked like when I copied it. Vintage-Trek.com has components date section, so scroll down to SunTour.

Date code on rear SunTour derailleurs should be on back plate of parallelogram.

Trying to date a bike for potential purchase.
Only a few pics. Seller mostly enthralled with leather (non-Brooks/Ideale) saddle.

Maybe all will find out.
Not grail, or even on anyone's radar as a brand, much less a model with stamped DO's/no der hanger.

As an American rider, who has been riding for 30+years and likes a few vintage bikes, the out-of-the-ordinary has a certain appeal. Last framesets acquired have been Zeus, Batavus, Harding (Irish branded, UK brazed).

I believe the JIS logo and 4532 stamp was the JIS number for the steel alloy used in the claw.