Elswick-Hopper Frame Dating System

One of the purposes of the site is to collect data on frame numbers in order to verify the dating system used at the works. All frames appear to be numbered sequentially with a letter either above or below and this letter is the key to the year of manufacture. Numbers are either at the top of the seat tube, under the bottom bracket, or on a rear drop-out. The table shown below is the best fit, given the currently available data. I have used a combination of original invoices, hub dates and ex-owners’ recollections as verifiers. However, there are possible inaccuracies with all these indicators. Hubs can be retrofitted, or exchanged; memories are notoriously unreliable and invoices are for the date of sale, not necessarily in the same year as manufacture (but never earlier!)

There seems to be much interest in being able to place a manufacturing date on old bicycles and to improve accuracy I need help in adding to my database. Information required includes full frame number; full description; hub number (if fitted with a S/A hub); transfer and head badge details.

I have no idea how far back the letter date was used, or why it goes backwards. The earliest record I have is for a 1927 roadster and the latest for a 1969 Lincoln Imp. Over 40 frame numbers are currently in the database. It is also possible that the letter changed in October, for the new model year, following the Earl’s Court Show. At the moment this is speculation. I have discovered that frame stamping was the job of one man and was the final job before painting.

I should also mention that E-H made many bicycles for own name dealers, so if your obscure make bicycle has a letter and number combination, it may be an Elswick-Hopper – I have a list of some such customers.

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