All Schwinn serial numbers before August 17, 1948 were lost in an office fire. Serial numbers were under the bottom hanger bracket until 1952 when they were moved to the left rear dropout. They were moved again in 1972 to the head tube. Several different numbering systems were used and sometimes the same numbers were reused in different years.
THIS CHART APPLIES TO CHICAGO SCHWINN`S ONLY. During the 1980s, Greenville used the old letter-digit (e.g. F8 = June 1988)system which Chicago abandoned in 1965, when it changed to the two-letter system. ON NEWER BIKES: you can find a 4 digit serial number lightly stamped onto the headbadge. The first three digits are the numerical day of the year. Schwinn brings back the amazing Schwinn Krates in three versions. The Coal Krate: 2020 Schwinn Coal Krate The Grape Krate: 2020 Schwinn Grape Krate The Orange Krate: 2020 Schwinn Orange Krate. 2019 Sting-rays are available from Schwinn exclusively at Amazon. Schwinn brings back a classic and here is what they look like in red: 2019 Red Stingray. THIS CHART APPLIES TO CHICAGO SCHWINN`S ONLY. During the 1980s, Greenville used the old letter-digit (e.g. F8 = June 1988)system which Chicago abandoned in 1965, when it changed to the two-letter system. ON NEWER BIKES: you can find a 4 digit serial number lightly stamped onto the headbadge. The first three digits are the numerical day of the year.
New numbering system: First letter is the month; first digit is the year.
- D836694 = April 1958
- 1959 - A900000…
- 1960 - A000000…
- 1961 - A100000…
- 1962 - A200000…
- 1963 - A300000…
- 1964 - A400000…
New numbering system: First letter = month; second letter = year. I and O skipped to avoid confusion with one and zero.
Schwinn Year By Serial Number
- 1965 - AA00000…
- 1966 -AB00000…
- 1967 -AC00000…
- 1968 - AD00000…
- 1969 -AE00000…
- 1970 - AF00000…
- 1971 - AG00000…
Serial Number moved to Head Tube
Schwinn Serial Numbers 1980's
- 1972 - AH00000…
- 1973 - AJ00000…
- 1974 - AK00000…
- 1975 - AL00000…
- 1976 - AM00000…
- 1977 - AN00000…
- 1978 - AP00000…
- 1979 - AQ00000…
- 1980 - AR00000…
- 1981 - AS00000…
- 1982 - AT00000…
Schwinn Serial Numbers After 2000
This information was taken from The Bicycle Trader August 1996, The West Coaster May/June 1991, and Collectable Schwinn-Built Bicycles by James L. Hurd.