We are happy to answer technical questions by email but please:
Do not write or phone us to ask the age or value of your bike.
All of the information we have on that is on this Web page or on SheldonBrown.com/raleigh.htmlAlso see information at Kurt Kaminer's Headbadge site.
Denmark's Bicycle VIN/dating system
Note that the serial number information below is fragmentary and incomplete, and many bikes have proven to be much newer than the serial numbers would suggest. It appears that Raleigh recycled many of the older serial numbers in later years, so there are lots of bikes from the 60s and 70s that have serial numbers that would suggest much greater age.
Note that the serial number information below is fragmentary and incomplete, and many bikes have proven to be much newer than the serial numbers would suggest. It appears that Raleigh recycled many of the older serial numbers in later years, so there are lots of bikes from the 60s and 70s that have serial numbers that would suggest much greater age.
| Sturmey-Archer Hubs | 1988 - 1925 | 1925 - WWII | WWII - 1955 | 1955 - 1966 | 1967 - 1973 | 1972 - 1980's | 1980's - Present |
Sturmey-Archer Hubs
Most older Sturmey-Archer hubs have two or three-letter model codes, which are usually stamped onto the hub shell. Conveniently, they also usually have the month and the last two digits of the year of manufacture stamped onto the shell. This is the easiest way to date a 3-speed bicycle, if it has its original rear wheel.
1888-1925
Prior to 1925, genuine Raleighs (not necessarily brand names made by Raleigh) had a straightforward numerical frame number. Early years have been estimated by the Company. (Info from the Nottinghamshire Archives)
Note that the serial number information below is fragmentary and incomplete, and many bikes have proven to be much newer than the serial numbers would suggest. It appears that Raleigh recycled many of the older serial numbers in later years, so there are lots of bikes from the 60s and 70s that have serial numbers that would suggest much greater age.
| 1888: 1500 1889: 3200 1890: 5200 1891: 7600 1892: 10500 1893: 13900 1894: 19100 1895: 25300 1896: 32100 1897: 39913 |
1898: 45981 1899: 54032 1900: 65152 1900: 69868 1901: 77342 1902: 89622 1903: 102954 1904: 112673 1905: 129228 1906: 154917 |
1907: 183073 1908: 215650 1909: 249081 1910: 285669 1911: 328748 1912: 375693 1913: 427829 1914: 482851 1915: 517198 1916: 545198 |
1917: 569737 1918: 592473 1919: 621678 1920: 654502 1921: 688291 1922: 738447 1923: 809184 1924: 899465 1925: 998077 |
1925-Second World War
Between 1925 and the cessation of cycle production during the Second World War, letters prefixed or suffixed the running frame number although no indication is given of the starting point of the numbers. They seem to reflect only the number of machines produced whilst each letter was in use. All dating would therefore be approximate. (Info from the Nottinghamshire Archives)
| 1925: A1 1925: B34181 1926/27: B56536 1929: E15693 1930: G94785 1933: L84682 |
1934: T93945 1934: U14540 1935: W71147 1936: W93161 1937: Y184552 |
Post Second World War - 1955
After the war, Raleigh began adding letters after the running number series which restarted when a new letter was used. (Info from the Nottinghamshire Archives)
| 1947: 437689 P 1948: 556894 P 1949: 695051 P 1951: 151179 T 1952: 236530 T |
1953: 367369 T 1954: 566722 T 1955: 747951 T 1956: 852312 T 1957: 872584 T |
1955 - 1966
A new numbering system was introduced in 1955, though this ran concurrently with the old one for two years. The new system involved a second running letter, added to the first, which began at the start of the alphabet.
| 1956: 23839 A 1957: 27227 AB 1958: 17910 AD 1960: 27273 AE |
1961: 13126 AF 1965/6: 40814 FD 1966: 64521 FE |
Note: Some of the mid-60's straight gauge 531 frames had serial numbers starting with a single letter which was towards the end of the alphabet.
1967 - 1973
Yet another number system was introduced in 1966. This new system applied to the high-end (i.e. Reynolds 531) frames, and involved the placing of a character at the beginning of the serial number. The character began at the start of the alphabet, and indicated year of manufacture. Detail about the numerals that follow the alphabet are sketchy, and are presumably sequential serial numbers of some kind.
|
1966: A, followed by four numerals |
1970: E, followed by four numerals |
Note: While this numbering scheme is generally true, there may have been some crossover use of letters at the beginning/end of each year (e.g. a "G" serial number may have been built into a bike in 1973, but the frame may have been built in 1972).
1974 - 1980's
In 1974, an entirely different numbering system was introduced for the higher end (531 and subsequently 753) Raleighs. Serial numbers should begin with a "W", which stands for Worksop, the facility that produced these frames. This is followed by another alphabet. This alphabet indicates the fortnight in which the frame was built (i.e. A = 1st fortnight, B = 2nd, etc.). The third character is always a numeral. It indicates the year of manufacture, the decade being assumed (i.e. "4" could be '74 or '84; it is up to the interpreter to know enough to tell if the frame is from the 70's or 80's). What then follows is a series of numbers. At this point, these appear to be some sort of sequence, but this has not been substantiated.
American made Raleighs manufactured in Kent, Washington, By Derby Cycle
Sample number: R 003310123 A
- R (all)
- Digits 1 & 5 are year. Sample is from 2001
- Digits 2,3,4 are day (001-365). Sample is from February 2
- Digits 6-9 are sequential. Sample is the 123rd bike built that shift.
- A = morning shift B= evening shift. Sample is morning shift.
Letter code may or may not be present, depending on production schedule.
- The 531DB Gran Sports built in the early 70's did not have letters in the serial number.
- Frames built at the Ilkeston facility have serial numbers that begin with "SB".
- The 1973 track frames begin with an "A".
- There are several documented cases of '73 and '74 Professionals, Internationals, Competitions and RRAs with "A" serial numbers. Let the color scheme, decals and components be your guide.
We are happy to answer technical questions by email but please:
