Don,
I'd read somewhere that the 2nd letter actually represented the fortnight in which the frame was built. I have no way of knowing which of these is more accurate, but I have heard of serial codes containing other letters than those given as examples, so there might be something to the fortnight explanation (and that's such an anachronistic British thing that would just seem more "right").
Regards,
John Barry
Mechanicsburg, PA
> For Your Information: Frame Serial Numbering System
> -------------------- -----------------------------
>
> The location of our frame serial numbers will
> be on the tip of the
> seat tube facing to the rear of the bicycle. This
> does not apply to
> models with 531 seat tubes which will be numbered
> under the bottom bracket.
> Markings show the source of manufacture,
> approximate date of
> manufacture and unique number of each frame
> manufactured in any 10 year
> cycle.
> Size of letters and numbers 9/16" high, to
> match diameter of tubes.
> The complete stamp contains nine digits.
>
> FIRST SYMBOL
> SECOND SYMBOL
> Denotes Location of Manufacture Denotes
> Month of Manufacture
> -------------------------------
> ----------------------------
>
> Nottingham - N A - January
> K - July
> Worksop (Carlton) - W B -
> February L - August
> Enid (USA) - K D - March
> M - September
> Gazelle (Holland) - G E - April
> N - October
> Malaysia - M G - May
> R - November
> Canada - A H - June
> S - December
> Irish Raleigh - D
> Handsworth (UK) - E
>
> THIRD SYMBOL - denotes year of manufacture. Digits
> 0 to 9
>
> 3 for 1973 2 for 1972 5 for 1975
> 5 for 1985
>
> This system accepts that duplication after ten years
> will occur.
>
> Up to 6 digits remaining:
>
> 000000 to 999999 depending on xxxxxxxx manufactured
> per month at any
> particular location.
>
>
======================================================================
>
http://www.ece.ubc.ca/
>
======================================================================
>
> This is my precise transcript of a page included in
> an Ebay auction of
> a raleigh bicycle a few months ago. I saw the page
> and when I
> realized what it was, I snarfed it for my collection
> of Raleigh
> Pictures. Sadly, today I have noticed that there is
> one or two
> letters that I am unsure about. Can someone could
> help me confirm 3
> possible errors in my reading of this page ??
>
> Enid (USA) - K - did raleigh really make
> bikes in Enid, OK ??
>
> R - November - the "R" is barely visible - anyone
> have an "R" frame?
> S - December - the "S" is barely visible - anyone
> have an "S" frame?
>
> - Don Gillies
> San Diego, CA
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