Colnago serial number database
12-19-08 | 08:08 PM
#1
Thread Starter
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 12,769
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From: Rocket City, No'ala
Bikes: 2014 Trek Domane 5.2, 1985 Pinarello Treviso, 1990 Gardin Shred, 2006 Bianchi San Jose
Colnago serial number database
I need help finding out what year my Colnago Master was made. I can't seem to find a serial number database anywhere. serial number OH 265
Obligatory pics of what I think is late 80's, early 90's frame. Seller was no help.
https://gallery.mac.com/bbattle#10021...lack&view=grid
Obligatory pics of what I think is late 80's, early 90's frame. Seller was no help.
https://gallery.mac.com/bbattle#10021...lack&view=grid
12-19-08 | 10:23 PM
#3
juneeaa memba!
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 5,631
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From: boogled up in...Idaho!
Bikes: Crap. The box is not big enough...
yum. Gilco. Very nice. Checkout the mail archives at Classic Rendezvous. They have posted a couple of threads about Colnago age characteristics and serial numbers. This is beyond their timeline, but they may have collateral information about the bike, or at least an expert that you could email.
12-20-08 | 12:37 AM
#5
NFL Owner
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,496
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From: Irving Heritage District
Bikes: 7-Eleven Eddy Merckx, Vitus Futural, Catamount FRS, Colnago SL, SS MTB
From my research to learn about my own Colnago, there isn't a database, because there's neither rhyme nor reason behind Colnago's serial numbers.
I've discovered on my own that my Colnago is a Super, but I have no idea what year it is.
I've discovered on my own that my Colnago is a Super, but I have no idea what year it is.
12-20-08 | 07:37 AM
#6
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 5,045
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From: Lancaster County, PA
Bikes: '39 Hobbs, '58 Marastoni, '73 Italian custom, '75 Wizard, '76 Wilier, '78 Tom Kellogg, '79 Colnago Super, '79 Sachs, '81 Masi Prestige, '82 Cuevas, '83 Picchio Special, '84 Murray-Serotta, '85 Trek 170, '89 Bianchi, '90 Bill Holland, '94 Grandis
Those probably aren't even serial numbers. No one has been able to figure out what they are exactly.
OTOH, at some point in the 80's (if memory serves) Colnago did begin using serial numbers, so a late 80's, early 90's frame may have one. I just don't know where there's a data base that would make sense of it. Note that those numbers start appearing on dropouts by the early 70's at least. At that time, it was common for Italian frames to dispense with SN's - De Rosa and Masi, to name two, didn't use them either.
OTOH, at some point in the 80's (if memory serves) Colnago did begin using serial numbers, so a late 80's, early 90's frame may have one. I just don't know where there's a data base that would make sense of it. Note that those numbers start appearing on dropouts by the early 70's at least. At that time, it was common for Italian frames to dispense with SN's - De Rosa and Masi, to name two, didn't use them either.
12-20-08 | 09:56 AM
#7
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Joined: Mar 2008
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An on topic photo contribution...
Here's my Colnago Master Piu (acquired recently...likely from a reader of this forum)...patiently waiting its turn in line to get built up. The rear deraileur side dropout is stamped "Colnago" and "1D041".
FWIW, weeks ago, I located a post on the net (not sure if it was this site or not...but I copied it to my computer files as reference material) showing a Colnago rear deraileur side dropout with serial number 8E791. A reader guessed it was a 1988 model, stating "That serial number format is fairly common in the bicycle industry. Typically the first number represents the year, the letter represents the month and the remaining numbers are the sequence. So, the 79th frame of May 1988 would be my educated guess."
So, is it possible that the oringinal poster's serial number starts with a zero, not the letter "Oh". In that case, it might be dated 1990. Compare the style to mine...could they be one year apart? Though I can provide additional close up photos to help a fellow aficionado of classic era Italian bicycles, I can let you know right now that my bottom bracket cut out is quite different from that on the original post...mine is a cut out shaped like the Colnago logo.
Then, to pose a question in exchange for my entertaining photo post, can anyone confirm that Colnago manufactured Master Piu frames in 1991? Also, I recall reading on the Internet that the Piu frames might have been a European model, not imported to the U.S. Can anyone confirm this point as well?
FWIW, weeks ago, I located a post on the net (not sure if it was this site or not...but I copied it to my computer files as reference material) showing a Colnago rear deraileur side dropout with serial number 8E791. A reader guessed it was a 1988 model, stating "That serial number format is fairly common in the bicycle industry. Typically the first number represents the year, the letter represents the month and the remaining numbers are the sequence. So, the 79th frame of May 1988 would be my educated guess."
So, is it possible that the oringinal poster's serial number starts with a zero, not the letter "Oh". In that case, it might be dated 1990. Compare the style to mine...could they be one year apart? Though I can provide additional close up photos to help a fellow aficionado of classic era Italian bicycles, I can let you know right now that my bottom bracket cut out is quite different from that on the original post...mine is a cut out shaped like the Colnago logo.
Then, to pose a question in exchange for my entertaining photo post, can anyone confirm that Colnago manufactured Master Piu frames in 1991? Also, I recall reading on the Internet that the Piu frames might have been a European model, not imported to the U.S. Can anyone confirm this point as well?
12-20-08 | 03:25 PM
#8
Thread Starter
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 12,769
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From: Rocket City, No'ala
Bikes: 2014 Trek Domane 5.2, 1985 Pinarello Treviso, 1990 Gardin Shred, 2006 Bianchi San Jose
Here's my Colnago Master Piu (acquired recently...likely from a reader of this forum)...patiently waiting its turn in line to get built up. The rear deraileur side dropout is stamped "Colnago" and "1D041".
FWIW, weeks ago, I located a post on the net (not sure if it was this site or not...but I copied it to my computer files as reference material) showing a Colnago rear deraileur side dropout with serial number 8E791. A reader guessed it was a 1988 model, stating "That serial number format is fairly common in the bicycle industry. Typically the first number represents the year, the letter represents the month and the remaining numbers are the sequence. So, the 79th frame of May 1988 would be my educated guess."
So, is it possible that the oringinal poster's serial number starts with a zero, not the letter "Oh". In that case, it might be dated 1990. Compare the style to mine...could they be one year apart?
FWIW, weeks ago, I located a post on the net (not sure if it was this site or not...but I copied it to my computer files as reference material) showing a Colnago rear deraileur side dropout with serial number 8E791. A reader guessed it was a 1988 model, stating "That serial number format is fairly common in the bicycle industry. Typically the first number represents the year, the letter represents the month and the remaining numbers are the sequence. So, the 79th frame of May 1988 would be my educated guess."
So, is it possible that the oringinal poster's serial number starts with a zero, not the letter "Oh". In that case, it might be dated 1990. Compare the style to mine...could they be one year apart?
Thanks, I've not received the frame yet but when it comes in I'll be able to tell if it's a zero or an 'o'.
12-22-08 | 08:10 PM
#9
Junior Member
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 180
Likes: 132
Colnago Serial Number System...Conventional Logic Fails
Looks like the numbering system that I passed on doesn't hold up according to this e-bay post regarding the pictured Master Piu frame:
Q: Please tell me what year Colnago made this? Thank you Dec-15-08
A: Hello, who sold me this frame is sure that it is before first model of Olympic frame ( Olympic was made on 1988 for the firs time ) so this MASTER PIU' is around 1986-1987. This is what he told me, and he is a great expert of Colnago and knows Ernesto personally. Thanks for asking, Alessandro
So, per the quotes shown above from the e-bay listing, a potential buyer "Q:" asks the year of manufacture and the seller "A:" says that a great expert of Colnago dates it to 1986-1987. The look of the graphics is the same as my Master Piu, though mine is not the "Decor" style paint scheme. I'd guess from this evidence, mine would also date to 1986-1987. Case closed? Frankly, not that it matters to me, I'm surprised mine is so old, I really thought it was a 1991 vintage simply because it looks so new. It's amazing that such beautiful frames could last so long in NOS condition without being built up and ridden.
Q: Please tell me what year Colnago made this? Thank you Dec-15-08
A: Hello, who sold me this frame is sure that it is before first model of Olympic frame ( Olympic was made on 1988 for the firs time ) so this MASTER PIU' is around 1986-1987. This is what he told me, and he is a great expert of Colnago and knows Ernesto personally. Thanks for asking, Alessandro
So, per the quotes shown above from the e-bay listing, a potential buyer "Q:" asks the year of manufacture and the seller "A:" says that a great expert of Colnago dates it to 1986-1987. The look of the graphics is the same as my Master Piu, though mine is not the "Decor" style paint scheme. I'd guess from this evidence, mine would also date to 1986-1987. Case closed? Frankly, not that it matters to me, I'm surprised mine is so old, I really thought it was a 1991 vintage simply because it looks so new. It's amazing that such beautiful frames could last so long in NOS condition without being built up and ridden.
