Colson serial number help!

[Tuco]

I have this Colson bicycle. I found some numbers stamped under the BB, but I haven't had any luck finding out what they mean. Can anyone help? Thanks!!!! It reads "156 10" then in smaller letters "FBC" or possibly "EBC). Underneath that it reads "E" "0"

 

[Tuco]

I'm thinking the "E 0" are the date???? "E" being the 5th month May, 0 being 1940? That would mean it's having a birthday!

 

[Tuco]

Another thing that is confusing me (perhaps I'm just overthinking this) is that the only Colson's I've seen with this chainguard were from 1936. They were different frames and had different chainrings, but they had this chainguard.

 

[Toeslider]

The 0 in E0 probably makes it a '40, not sure if the E means anything or not. From this thread I used to identify mine, I found somewhere that pre '37 serial numbers started with the last digit of the year, and post '37 had a two digit (letter and number) code stamped separately, where the second digit was the last number of the year.

http://www.ratrodbikes.com/forum/index.php?threads/prewar-bike-find-what-is-it.56324/

So, long story short, 1940.

 

[Jpromo]

FBC was obviously stamped after the fact because it's a different font. It could have been done by a previous owner with that being their initials, or if it was a shop bicycle, the name of the shop in case it went missing.

 

[Tuco]

Thank you! That's what I was thinking. After reading your thread (cool bike by the way!), someone mentioned to check the stamp on the Morrow hub. Mine is stamped "36 13"

 

[Jpromo]

Thank you! That's what I was thinking. After reading your thread (cool bike by the way!), someone mentioned to check the stamp on the Morrow hub. Mine is stamped "36 13"

36 holes, 13 gauge.

There may be another stamping of a letter followed by a number 1-4. e.g: G2

 

[Tuco]

Ahh, yep, J-1

 

[Toeslider]

J is 1940, 1 could either stand for January or first quarter, depending on who you ask.

 

[Tuco]

Awesome! So, it all adds up...to 1940! Thanks folks!!!