cranky old dude

O.K. This isn't exactly a Vinyage bike, but I expect the serial number knowledge base in this group is quite vast. I'm building a data base of my modest collection of bikes and one of the data points I'm including is serial #'s.

I own a Raleigh C-40 Hybrid which I purchased new in 2001. I believe it was a left over bike from a previous year, maybe 2000. It appears to have two different serial #'s. The owners manual is no help as it indicates that the serial# will be in either one of two locations.

One number is boldly stamped block style letter and numbers on the under side of the BB (A000285697). The second number is punched onto the under side Down Tube very near to the BB (R026303469). These numbers are barely an inch away from each other.

Can anyone tell me which is the serial number? What is the other number?

markk900

Are they both of the same font style, depth of punch etc? Do they both look equally filled with paint (as in, from the factory)?

My suggestion is you add a field to your database for "Other identifying features", then pick one of the numbers as the s/n, and record the other in the new field.

Hopefully you can find someone else with the same bike who either also has 2 numbers, or can give you an idea of the correct format.

Mark

cranky old dude

Different fonts. I'll try to take a usable picture within a few days and post it.

I actually wonder if there wasn't a mixup of some kind and the bike actually recieved two serial numbers.

There is also another number stamped across the center of the BB, partially hidden by a plastic cable guide. I suspect that the partially covered number is a plant ID ?!?!

The pictures will help show what I'm trying to explain.

T-Mar

Generally, two serial numbers indicate a subcontracted frame. One is the manufacturer's serial number. The other is applied by the bicycle brand owner. This provides the brand owner with traceability for warranty and quality issues, which they may not have based on the manufacturer's serial number. It's not a common practice but it's also not unknown.