Serial location:
Serials stamped on side of seat lug (men's), front of seat lug (ladies', not shown), or bottom bracket (men's and ladies,' not shown), positioning of serial has no relation to serial system - there does not appear to be rhyme or reason relating to positioning. Samples shown above.

Serial convention:
Three serial conventions are used during this period:

Convention #1 (1947-1955):
6 digits followed by the letter 'P' or 'T.' 'P' serials used until and during 1950. 'T' serials replaced 'P' serials sometime mid-year 1950. Digits or letters in serial do NOT relate to month/year/day codes; only the serial in whole determines the year.

NOTE: This numbering system apparently ran until 1955, possibly longer, and concurrently with the newer serial system that debuted in 1948 (shown below). Raleighs of any model may be seen with either serial number type during this era.

Convention #2 (1948-195?):
4-5 digits followed by two letters (or, for the 28'-wheel models, two letters followed by 4-5 digits). e.g.: '12345AB,' or 'AB12345.' Serial 'rolls over' when numerals are used up - without rhyme or reason relating to month or year - in the same fashion as an odometer. This convention might have been used in 1947 as well, however, we have not found any Raleigh examples from 1947 so far that exhibit this serial system.

Convention #3 (1954-?):
This convention remains still largely unidentified, though it appears to follow an identical format to convention #2; e.g., '12345RA.' However, the first letter in the serial, 'R,' appears to remain for the entire run of this system. The exact specifics of this system remain a mystery.

NOTE:
Some of the following information regarding Serial Convention #1 is derived from the Nottinghamshire Archive papers, and may therefore be approximated.

The entirety of the second serial chart is of our own research and are estimates - as accurate we can practically make them - of the serial numbers from the year and serial in question.

Convention #1 (1947-1955):

Convention #2 (1948-1955):

Serial convention:

This serial system replaced the 'RA' series that preceeded it and was the first major system to use numerals exclusively.

The system consists of a seven-digit serial - beginning with #1000000 in 1963 - running up to the #4600000-#4800000 range by 1969, at which point, it was discontinued.

EXCEPTION: This system is NOT to be confused with the seat-tube system which replaced it in 1970; which ran until 1973. Numbers will be duplicated between each system.

Serial location:

These serials will be located on the bottom bracket on both ladies' and men's Superbes, Sprites, and Sports. The extent of this system's use on other models is unknown.

BB photo courtesy 'w1gfh' - Bikeforums.net

Serial convention:

At present, I have insufficent information about the serial numbers from this era to construct a definite chart of every example used during this time period. At least 4 or 5 different systems were used. I have uncovered two of them to a reasonable extent; both of which ran concurrently to each other during this time period:

'System 1970:'
The first system consists of 7 digits, beginning with 1000000. This system showed its face in 1970 (I have named it accordingly), and was phased out in mid-1973.

EXCEPTIONS: Evidence indicates that a handful of '70-'71 frames - or their lugs, depending on when the stamping was done - may not have been released from the factory until 1973, and were consequently decaled as 1973 models. This is the only explanation I can suggest regarding this issue.

'System 1972:'
A second 5-6 digit serial system was introduced in 1972, overlapped onto some early 1973 models with NO rhyme or reason, and died a quick death before 1973 was out. This system never exeeded 6 digits, and the reason for its introduction remains a mystery. Regardless, it is here, and it will stay.

This system INCLUDES the Grand Prix and Super Course, despite the seven-digit serials (as mentioned in the next system, below) running concurrently on these models.

Serial location:

The serials from this era, specifically for general production machines (Sports, Superbe, Sprite), will be located on the seat lug. Twenty/Folders will have the serial marked on the outside of the left dropout, and some Grand Prix models have it in this location as well. Unknown where they are located on DL-1s.

Keep in mind that the serials used for Raleigh Choppers - while apparently a nearly identical 7-digit system - do not corrispond well with those of the larger bicycles. For now, it should be assumed that the Choppers' serial system is separate (until proven otherwise).

Men's models will have the stamping on the top of the lug, ladies' frames will have the serial stamped to the front of the lug.

Addendums and warnings:

Both of these systems are often covered deep in paint - do not be surprised if you only find 5 or 6 digits!

Given the obvious duplication of serials with bikes produced prior to 1970, we suggest that you use the frame's decals as a supplimentary era guide - please visit our Raleigh Sports Visual ID page for this purpose.

Please understand that this particular chart is a rough draft. Use in conjunction with Sturmey-Archer rear hubs and frameset decals as additional guides.

All of the serial cutoffs are approximated. Please allow for overlap.

System '1972':

Serial convention:

An additional 7-digit serial system was used in 1973, appearing only on the Grand Prix (including Gazelle production), Super Course, and Grand Sports.

These serials are instantly recognizable, as the first digit is always zero, and low-number serials (i.e., '9181') will have a prefix of as many zeros required to make the serial seven digits - in other words, '0009181' - such as the example Grand Sports shown above. Scooter workshop manual.

Keep in mind that this serial system - though used on these three models in 1973 - are not unique to them during this year. Some examples may use one of the two systems listed above, or the later 1973+ variant.

Serial location:

Outside of left dropout.

Grand Prix dropout photo courtesy 'ianbrettcooper' - Bikeforums.net
Grand Sports dropout photo courtesy 'thumpic' - Bikeforums.net

Serial location:
Serials stamped on rear of seatpost (both men's and ladies' models) near top on most models; sample shown at left. Some examples may be stamped on the bottom bracket as on the right.

Serial convention:

Two letters, followed by a series of six digits:

Example:

A cycle manufactured in Nottingham, in the month of March of the year 1975, would feature the serial 'ND5------.'

For instance, the photo shown above, to the left, bears the serial 'NL9------,' indicating a machine made in August 1979, at the Nottingham factory. The example to the left is 'WR0------,' which would indicate Worksop manufacture in November of 1980 (and most likely a 1981 model due to the late month).

Serial location:
Serial stamped on bottom bracket (both men's and ladies' models); sample shown above.

Note:
Due to advance production for next-year models, some serials may indicate a production year backdated one year prior to the actual model year of the bike in question.

Detailed identification pages for steel Raleigh USA racing-series models are planned.

Alternately, a photo registry of SBDU Team Professionals can be found at the TI Raleigh Team Professional Yahoo! Group, which may help to narrow down a given frame's era:

Serial Location:
Stamped on bottom bracket.

SBDU serial photo courtesy Hilary Stone

'SB' followed by four numbers, sequential to production order.