Ok folks here is my dilemma. I recently was given a Schwinn Le Tour. Here is the Thread. I am having trouble pinning down the month and year of manufacture. The serial number I have is 4I00xxx. The number is located on the left rear drop out. The Head badge has no numbers stamped into it. The head tube also no numbers stamped same with bottom bracket. The only numbers stamped into the frame are on the rear left drop out. Bike was made in Japan. Last night when I looked at the serial number I thought it was started with AF which would indicate January of 1970. Today under better light and with my glasses it is 4I and everywhere I look there is no reference to this serial number. The total number of didgets in the serial number is 7. Also there is no letter s to indicate it is a Le Tour. But all the components and badges are branded Le Tour. Any help is greatly appreciated.

Sites referenced to research serial number;

Re-Cycle.com

bunchobikes.com

Don't know why but can't edit previous post.

Here is a pic of the serial number. Don't worry I did not include the whole serial number in the picture just what is pertinent.

How about a picture of the whole bike. For what its worth they didn't make Le Tours until 1974. I would guess because the number starts with 4 it could be a 1974 but a picture would answer that question. Roger

I have pics of the bike in another thread but here ya go. What you are suggesting makes sense. I am just kind of befuddled due to the fact that the serial number does not match any of the formats on the serial number listing sites. By the way the link to the other thread with more pictures is HERE

I know next to nothing about old Schwinns but if I were following the Panasonic serial number system that I am familiar with on later bikes I'd say it was a September of '74 build. I am sure someone will know the Schwinn side of the history and help you out.

I've been trying for two days to post this reply...

I've been getting "Posting Quick Reply - Please Wait" with the hourglass going forever. Hope this works.

It's almost certainly a 1974 because the decals match the '74 Le Tour and the "4" in the serial number. Schwinn had a policy of not using "I" or "O" in the serial number because they could be confused with "1" and "0", but since '74 was the first year of the Le Tour, the Japanese manufacturer (probably National Panasonic) may not have gotten the word about the use of I and O.

From Schwinn Bulletin 23, "Schwinn Bicycle Identification Numbers":

Bicycles from Japan have a production month letter in either the first or second position and a production year number in the other (first or second) position. Examples J677123 = September, 1976, 6J77123 = September, 1976.

I hear you on your pain about the replies. I have been having a tough time as well.

Yea the I is what was throwing me. I read the same about Schwinn not using I and O due to possible confusion.

So I am assuming it is a September 1974 model.

Thanks for the replies.