Bridgestone650T

Hi, just bought a Bridgestone Diamond Formula road bike in almost unused condition recently.

I guess it is from early 80s, maybe from 1981. In Sheldon's catalogues I could not find this model.
It has shimano componente called "ALTUS AX" (Shinano Industry... VIA code "FK") which I could not find anywhere else on the internet so far.
Serial # starts with L111...

Can anyone explain to me the shimano history of these components?
What is the year of the components and bike?



Thx in advance

Hummer

The best decoding of Bridgestone serial numbers I have seen is at:

Cyclofiend: RBW: Bridgestone FAQ

I agree with this decoding for the month and year. Not so sure about the week and day part.

From this decoding your frame was made in late 1981.

The Shimano date code is also late 1981.

Your bicycle was probably a 1981 or 1982 model year.

The stylized "ax" on the shimano components is for Aero components. Aero components were usually on Aero style frames. This were product lines from the early 1980s. Shimano catalogs from this period will give you a better idea of what that was all about.