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Serial # decode tutorial requested
My unrestored survivor vintage CCM is badged Zenith, sold by Marshall Wells Stores. It is maroon with white pin stripes on the fenders exactly like one i've seen posted elsewhere on this forum.
It is an E series, as is stamped on the top of the vertical pipe. The bike has a post WWll patina to it, but its history prior to my buying it from an antique store is lost to the mists of time. Can anyone definitively say what year this might denote, or could this be a stamp indicating its Zenith destiny. Is there a CCM serial # decode page I haven't found yet?
If the "E " is at the beginning of the serial # it would be a 1925. If it is the second digit, it would be a 1941. Here's a link to a serial # chart. http://www.ccmflyte.com/frame.htm
may be a 1953 if the letter is at the end of the numbers
Thanks for posting the ser # year codes.
my Zenith has Ser #12723
E.
The E is positioned below the number, so I presume its the 12,723rd bike made in 1953, since the coaster brake hub was patented in '37, thereby ruling out the earlier 1920's E production run.
Speaking of hubs, how are you supposed to inject oil in the weird brass hub nipple-there is no apparrent hinged lid as any other I've seen-is there a ball/spring like a zerk fitting? special tool needed or is a pump oil can supposed to work? 10w-30 ok, or non detergent oil better?
TIA,
Z.
The best is: put some pictures... we will know what you have ZENITH... thanks
Has anyone cracked the code for 61 to 67 stuff yet? I found a couple other charts and those years still seem to be a mystery.
Interesting discussion on serial numbers here.
http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/CCMMUSTANG/message/700
I have serious reservations about the above referenced Yahoo Groups chart being 100% correct. I sold and serviced CCM during the 1970s boom and have a 1969-1974 sales log. In it are 646 CCM sales, recording the models, dates and serial numbers. While it corroborates the sequence for 1969-1974, it suggests theYahoo sequence is incorrect for at least 1967 and 1968.
As is typical, the log indicates sales of some leftover models. Sales for 1969 include 31 K-series serial numbers and 11 L-series numbers. The Yahoo group does not recognize L-series serial numbers, but they clearly existed and based on the models, they weren't leftovers from 1956!
CCM's letter sequence did not vary from 1921-1960, with the exception of dropping W, X and Z after the first round. Given that the evidence indicates the sequence refreshed at A for the 5th round in 1969 and that K & L were the last two letters in the 4th round, it would seem logical that, for the 4th round, CCM simply shortened the existing sequence again, using the first eight letters to represent 1961-1968 (i.e A =1961, B = 1962, C = 1963, D = 1964, E = 1965, H = 1966, K = 1967 and L = 1968). Pending further evidence, this is the sequence I'm adopting.
I have insufficient data to be confident in the period 1975-1982.
Hi T-Mar
I'm the guy that initiated the conversation in the Yahoo group.
I posted my findings after checking my 50+ bikes from after 1960 and conparing with the various catalogs and posters that I have. I'm missing a few catalogs,....got any for sale?
It was an attempt ot start further conversation, not claim 100% correctness.
In the conversations that followed, one of our members confirmed that he had an "L" serial number.....probably another 1968.
"A" was chosen as 1969, because of the the known Cobras that exist and a few of my other suspected 1969 models.
I propose that CCM was becoming less stringent with their serial number useage at this time, because there are some definite overlapping of years and a few odd letters recognized. Maybe the increased sales during this period made it difficult.
An apparent "I" was seen also. I cannot confirm that though. I'd welcome seeing a picture of that one.
I'm more than willing to continue to collect as much input from all collectors and previous CCM dealers. Not much has been discussed about this range of years, until now. Perhaps in time, we will have a more accurate list.
Or maybe it will be as confusing as all of the 70's Raleigh chatter that appears on the Chopper sites. :-)
I have seen some claimed I-series serial numbers too. Given that CCM didn't use it in the first three rounds, my current view is that any samples are incompletely stamped versions of another letter.
My catalogies are primarily from the 1970s. I have a few from other decades. What years are you looking for?
I would like to have some pictures of my CCM concorde purple 1972 or 1973 because I bought one but I suspect that the bike isn't all original. So with the pictures I could see what pieces are not original and I'll do the necessary.If anyone has some pictures i will be happy.. Thanks
Bikedenis,
The Concorde did not debut unitl 1973, so it's definitely not a 1972 model. CCM catalogues of the era are very poor in terms of pictures and specifications. With the notable exception of the derailleurs, they rarely list the brands and models for components. It would be far easier for you to post a pictures of your Concorde and allow me to tell you what parts are not OEM.
Excuse my poor pictures, I take them by my web-cam...
http://i43.servimg.com/u/f43/16/33/39/84/image412.jpg
http://i43.servimg.com/u/f43/16/33/39/84/image411.jpg
these are the best I can do sorry
Thanks ;)
oups sorry one of my pictures was bad...
http://i43.servimg.com/u/f43/16/33/39/84/image413.jpg
on this site, it is so hard to put a picture ...
so I have a question !...which is the year of my CCM concorde ??...because my serial number begin by a " D "and the numbers.......that's why I said that's a 72 or 73 !! but if you have another response.... I twill take it anyway.
okay sorry I sold the bike this afternoon. ;)
Bikedenis,
Even though you sold the bicycle, I'll respond for future reference. That's definitely a 1973 model. The Concorde was only produced for two years, 1973 and 1974. The main difference was the crankset and yours has the steel, cottered model found on the 1973 version.
The only non-OEM component that I can identify is the rear derailleur.This is made very obvious by the fact that It still has the OEM Simplex shifters and front derailleur. The spec'd Simplex Prestige rear derailleur was made from a plastic called Delrin. It was tough, light and inexpensive, which made it very popular. However, it was also very flexible and unfortunately can become brittle with age and consequently break. The cage pulleys in particular are notoriously fragile. Their mounting hole uses a diameter that is only common with SunTour, and since both brands are defunct, replacements are difficult to obtain. Finally, the Delrin wears relatively quickly, resulting in sloppy pivots and deterioration of shifting performance. Replacements for Simplex Prestige derailleurs is a very common experience with vintage bicycles.
As for the serial number, the data suggests that CCM's format was based on a calendar year. However, like most manufacturers, they started building the new models ln the last quarter of the previous year. This allowed them to build up the necessary inventory for the big spring shipments. It also allowed them to have the new models available for the lucrative Christmas season. Your Concorde would have been a 1973 model built in late 1972. I trust this helps.
oh thanks very much for your informations about this model of CCM, I will keep them for the future...