Bob Jackson date?
03-22-19 | 10:42 PM
#1
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Bob Jackson date?
I’ve been trying to narrow down the manufacture date of this Bob Jackson. The serial number is 18264, which puts it somewhere in the early to mid 1980’s.
I’ve read in other threads that Bob Jackson cycles isn’t being very forthcoming with that kind of info, or are charging quite a bit for that if they are willing to look it up. I can’t seem to find a serial number timeline anywhere online, just a few individual data points. Can anyone point me to a resource?
Photo of the bike and it’s slightly hodge-podge build:
I’ve read in other threads that Bob Jackson cycles isn’t being very forthcoming with that kind of info, or are charging quite a bit for that if they are willing to look it up. I can’t seem to find a serial number timeline anywhere online, just a few individual data points. Can anyone point me to a resource?
Photo of the bike and it’s slightly hodge-podge build:
03-23-19 | 12:07 AM
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That looks like the Sebastopol bike, nice. You do a component search yet? Stones in Alameda sells them, maybe they can help.
03-23-19 | 04:01 AM
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03-23-19 | 07:27 AM
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Despite the paint chips, very cool bike!
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03-23-19 | 07:39 AM
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I think they are hit and miss for responding on these requests. In the past I saw lots of posts about them not responding or charging. I sent a simple email in March 2017 and got a response back.
I first complimented the bike and thanked them for building such a wonderful ride before asking for the build info. Maybe try that approach. I sent a couple of good pics of the bike along with a clear pic of the serial number on the BB
If it helps, here's what they said about mine. "17311 it was built in Sept 1983 for Bikeology in the USA"
If the numbers are sequential then at least you know your's was built after Sept 1983.
I first complimented the bike and thanked them for building such a wonderful ride before asking for the build info. Maybe try that approach. I sent a couple of good pics of the bike along with a clear pic of the serial number on the BB
If it helps, here's what they said about mine. "17311 it was built in Sept 1983 for Bikeology in the USA"
If the numbers are sequential then at least you know your's was built after Sept 1983.
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03-23-19 | 09:25 AM
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Yes- this was the Sebastopol bike. The first guy in line for it flaked out on her, and I was surprised that she reached out to me after a few days. Yes again- lots of paint chips, especially on the drive side chain stay. Not sure exactly what happened here, but I can’t say I’ve ever seen a chainstay as chipped up as this!
Thanks Jamesdak, for posting your serial number information. Guessing this one was built in 1984 based on your information. I’m planning to replace some components soon; I have a set of Suntour Cyclone derailleurs that would work nicely here. May be on the lookout for a TA crank as well...
Thanks Jamesdak, for posting your serial number information. Guessing this one was built in 1984 based on your information. I’m planning to replace some components soon; I have a set of Suntour Cyclone derailleurs that would work nicely here. May be on the lookout for a TA crank as well...
Last edited by orcas island; 03-23-19 at 03:42 PM.
03-23-19 | 01:53 PM
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From: Alta California
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Was thinking late seventies, partially based on lack of seat tube water bottle mounts.
1984 sounds slightly late for one without this feature. OTOH it is right on the edge timewise...
Front mech is hidden by crankarm & pedal. Is it clamp-on or braze-on?
Second the suggestion about checking with Stone's. Hours there are now limited so telephone first to confirm hours.
At me last check they were open only four days per week.
Most/many of the Bob Jackson/JRJ/Merlin badged machines were built by cottage industry shops nearby and sent to the Jackson facility in bare metal for paint and transfers.
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Was thinking late seventies, partially based on lack of seat tube water bottle mounts.
1984 sounds slightly late for one without this feature. OTOH it is right on the edge timewise...
Front mech is hidden by crankarm & pedal. Is it clamp-on or braze-on?
Second the suggestion about checking with Stone's. Hours there are now limited so telephone first to confirm hours.
At me last check they were open only four days per week.
Most/many of the Bob Jackson/JRJ/Merlin badged machines were built by cottage industry shops nearby and sent to the Jackson facility in bare metal for paint and transfers.
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03-24-19 | 01:14 AM
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That is a great bike!
It took me a while to figure out what you meant by 'hodge podge' but now I see it all.
It is still a great bike. You can easily un-hodge that podge any time you want.
Consider some touch up paint to protect that chain stay.
It took me a while to figure out what you meant by 'hodge podge' but now I see it all.
It is still a great bike. You can easily un-hodge that podge any time you want.
Consider some touch up paint to protect that chain stay.
10-05-23 | 10:57 AM
#12
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From: FL USA
Bikes: 1977 Tom Kellogg Nr. 27 - 1984 Bob Jackson - 1987 Alpineer - 1999 Bianchi - 2002 LeMond Buenos Aries- 2007 Specialized Tarmac Pro - 2024 Gravity 29er 2-Speed Rigid MTB
Reviving an OLD thread here and also trying to date a Bob Jackson. Serial #17594 (so I'm thinking 1983/84?). It's been re-painted and has the 'newer' style font as shown in the OP's photo. Anyone know when they started using these newer graphics. Pretty sure that was well after 1984.
Last edited by cegerer; 10-06-23 at 05:45 AM.
10-06-23 | 05:43 AM
#13
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From: FL USA
Bikes: 1977 Tom Kellogg Nr. 27 - 1984 Bob Jackson - 1987 Alpineer - 1999 Bianchi - 2002 LeMond Buenos Aries- 2007 Specialized Tarmac Pro - 2024 Gravity 29er 2-Speed Rigid MTB
I found a photo advertisement of a "1-owner hardly used" 1982 and it had the newer-style font. I also found pics of 2 1981s that had the older-style font. So 1982 looks like when the graphics changeover occurred.
Regarding serial numbers, mine is 17594. I found info from Bob Jackson that 17311 was built in September 1983. So I'm thinking mine was built late 1983 or early 1984.
Regarding serial numbers, mine is 17594. I found info from Bob Jackson that 17311 was built in September 1983. So I'm thinking mine was built late 1983 or early 1984.
10-06-23 | 07:31 AM
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I'm not sure what their policy is, but I had success about 12 years back asking them a generic, "bought this 2ndhand, serial number is #####, was hoping to find out when it was made". It takes someone 2 minutes to look that up and respond, so if you're nice, you might get the answer. Now if you go asking for other details that they have to go digging to find, unless it's pertinent to something you want them to make for you... probably not going to happen.
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