how do i read my schwinn bicycle serial number

#HOW DO I READ MY SCHWINN BICYCLE SERIAL NUMBER SERIAL NUMBER#

Not all catalogs are posted online so you would do well to buy some of the books available if you plan on collecting Schwinns. There are also sites that have many of the yearly Schwinn catalogs which are helpful to identify the model and year of a bike-Google “Schwinn Catalog” and you will get several sites listing these catalogs.

#HOW DO I READ MY SCHWINN BICYCLE SERIAL NUMBER SERIAL NUMBER#

A few of the books published also contain the Aug 1948 and up serial number lists. Personally if I do an online lookup I use the Angelfire site. Schwinn duplicated numbers through the years so you really need to know the differences between models/equipment to accurately date a bike. The site has a place where you enter your serial and supposedly it gives you the year. Schwinn only released total annual production numbers as did most other manufacturers.Ī few words regarding the online lists. There are also no breakouts on exact production figures of models. Also keep in mind a serial number will not tell you what model, options, colors or any other specific information like an automobile vehicle identification number (VIN) will. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been asked “what year is my Schwinn” when, in fact, the bike was another make. Other things such as how the bike was equipped and who sold it can also provide clues to when the bike was built.īefore using this information make sure you have a Schwinn. Enough bikes have positively been dated by records such as invoices, build sheets, dealer ledgers, and dated photographs that a decent idea of serial number ranges can at least get us in the ball park. You will read in many places that no serial number lists exist prior to the fire at the Schwinn factory in August of 1948. Rather than replicate what can be found on the internet in a variety of places I’m just going to offer some prewar information along with some other observations to help locate and approximately date a bike.

How do i read my schwinn bicycle serial number