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Can you identify my bike? What year is my bike? These are the two most asked
questions I get.
Serial numbers are a good start to identifing the year of a Columbia bike. One of the drawbacks is the serial number charts for Westfield made bicycles only go from 1936 to 1972. On many older Pope/Westfield made bikes the head badge offers a clue. The model number is stamped into the badge and the model number is year specific. On this page I will include both the known serial number charts and model number/year lists for older bikes. I will also be adding information on serial number years and production numbers as I get it. There is no way to include all models in this list but my hope is this will help some in identifing their bikes. 1877 - 1878
1877...... The Pope Mfg. Co. founded in Boston Mass. 1878...... In January of 1878 Albert A. Pope starts importing bicycles from England 1878...... In September of 1878 Col. Pope approaches the Weed Sewing Machine Co. in Hartford Ct. about building bicycles. 1878...... November of 1878 the first bicycles are made in Hartford. These are a copy of an English bike the Bayliss Thomas Duplex Excelsior. 1879 - 1892
1879.….. Columbia Bicycle 1880.….. Special Columbia Standard Columbia Mustang Youth’s Mustang
1882.….. Expert Columbia Special Columbia Standard Columbia Mustang Youth’s Mustang Challenge Tricycle, No.2 44-inch wheels Folding Challenge Tricycle, No.2 44-inch wheels Challenge Tricycle, No.6, 48-inch wheels 1883.….. Expert Columbia Columbia Racer Standard Columbia Mustang Columbia Tricycle
1885.….. Expert Columbia Columbia Light Roadster Columbia Racer Standard Columbia Columbia Tricycle Columbia Two-Track Tricycle 1886.….. Expert Columbia Columbia Light Roadster Standard Columbia Columbia Safety (High Wheel) Columbia Semi-Roadster Columbia Racer Columbia Two-Track Tricycle Ladies’ Columbia Two-Track Tricycle Columbia
Racing Tricycle 1887.….. Expert Columbia Columbia Light Roadster Standard Columbia Columbia Safety (High Wheel) Columbia Semi-Roadster Columbia Racer Columbia Two-Track Tricycle Ladies’ Columbia Two-Track Tricycle Columbia Tandem Columbia Racing Tricycle 1888.….. Columbia Light Roadster Expert Columbia The Volunteer Columbia The Veloce Columbia (The first “Safety” style bicycle by Columbia) Columbia Safety (High Wheel) Columbia Semi-Roadster Standard Columbia Columbia Racer Columbia Racing Tricycle Columbia Light Roadster Tricycle Ladies’ Columbia Two-Track Tricycle The Surprise Columbia Tricycle Columbia Tandem 1889.….. Columbia Tandem The Surprise Columbia Tricycle Columbia Light Roadster Expert Columbia Volunteer Columbia Columbia Semi-Roadster Columbia Light Roadster Safety Columbia Tandem Safety 1890.….. Columbia Light Roadster Safety Columbia Ladies’ Safety Columbia Tandem Safety Columbia Light Roadster (High Wheel) Expert Columbia (High Wheel) Volunteer Columbia (High Wheel) Columbia Semi-Roadster (High Wheel) The Surprise Columbia Tricycle Columbia Tandem Tricycle Columbia Racer (High Wheel) 1891.….. Columbia Light Roadster Safety Columbia Light Roadster Safety with Cushion Tires Columbia Ladies’ Safety Columbia Light Roadster (High Wheel) Expert Columbia (High Wheel) Volunteer Columbia (High Wheel) Columbia Semi-Roadster (High Wheel) Columbia Tandem Tricycle Columbia Racing Safety Columbia Racer (High Wheel) 1892.….. The Century Columbia The Century Road Racer Columbia Light Roadster Safety Columbia Ladies’ Safety Columbia Racing Safety Columbia Light Roadster (High Wheel) Expert Columbia (High Wheel) Volunteer Columbia (High Wheel)
This style name plate used through 1894.
1893.…..The first year Columbia used model numbers Model 32.…Men’s Century Columbia Model 32.…Men’s Road Racer Model 30.…Men’s Model 29.…Men’s Model 27.…Men’s Light Roadster Safety Model 28.…Ladies’ Safety Model 31.…Ladies’ Model ……Columbia Racing Safety 1894.….. Model 34.…Men’s Model 35.…Woman’s Model 36.…Men’s Model 37.…Semi-Racer Model 38.…Men’s Tall Model 39.…Men’s Model 33.…Men’s
1895 - 1908
Model 40.…Men’s Model 41.…Women’s Model 42.…Men’s Model 43.…Tandem (woman in front, man in back) Model 44.…Racer
Model 40.…Men’s Model 41.…Women’s Model 42.…Men’s Model 43.…Tandem (woman in front, man in back) Model 44.…Racer
Model 45.…Men’s Model 46.…Women’s Model 47.…Tandem (Diamond Frame) Model 48.…Tandem (woman in front, man in back)
Model 50.…Men’s Chainless Model 51.…Women’s Chainless Model 45.…Men’s Chain Model 46.…Women’s Chain Model 47.…Tandem (Diamond Frame) Model 48.…Tandem (woman in front, man in back) Model 49.…Racer
Model 59.…Men’s Chainless Model 60.…Women’s Chainless Model 57.…Men’s Chain Model 58.…Women’s Chain Model 61.…Men’s Chain with 30 inch Wheels Model 47.…Tandem (Diamond Frame) Model 48.…Tandem (woman in front, man in back)
Model 65.…Men’s Chainless Model 66.…Women’s Chainless Model 63.…Men’s Chain Model 64.…Women’s Chain
Model 74.…Men’s Chainless Model 75.…Women’s Chainless Model 72.…Men’s Chain Model 73.…Women’s Chain Model 27.…Men’s Hartford Model 28.…Women’s Hartford Model 29.…Men’s Vedette Model 30.…Women’s Vedette
Model 81.…Men’s Chainless Model 82.…Woman’s Chainless Model 84.…Men’s Roadster Model 85.…Women’s Roadster Model 83.…Men’s Racer or Light Roadster Model 86.…Men’s Cushion Frame Model 87.…Women’s Cushion Frame Model 31.…Men’s Hartford Model 32.…Women’s Hartford Model 33.…Men’s Vedette Model 34.…Women’s
Vedette 1903.….. Model 108...Men’s Two Speed and Spring Fork Chainless Model 109...Women’s Two Speed and Spring Fork Chainless Model 104...Men’s Chainless Model 105...Women’s Chainless Model 102...Men’s Cushion Frame Model 106...Men’s Cushion Chainless Model 101...Men’s Columbia Special Model 99.…Men’s Chain Columbia Model 100...Women’s Chain Columbia Model 97.…Men’s Hartford Model 98.…Women’s Hartford Model 95.…Men’s Vedette Model 96.…Women’s Vedette
1904.….. Model 138...Men’s Two Speed Chainless with Cushion Frame Model 139...Women’s Two Speed Chainless with Cushion Frame Model 134...Men’s Chainless Model 135...Women’s Chainless Model 132...Men’s Columbia Superb Model 130...Men’s Cushion Frame Model 131...Women’s Cushion Frame Model 128...Men’s Columbia Model 129...Women’s Columbia Model 126...Men’s Hartford Model 127...Women’s Hartford 1905.…. Model 154....Men’s Two Speed Chainless with Cushion Frame Model 155...Women’s Two Speed Chainless with Cushion Frame Model 150...Men’s Chainless Model 151...Women’s Chainless Model 148...Columbia Superb Model 146...Men’s Cushion Frame Model 147...Woman’s Cushion Frame Model 144...Men’s Light Roadster Model 145...Women’s Light Roadster Model 142...Men’s Hartford Model 143...Woman’s Hartford 1906.…. Model 154....Men’s Two Speed Chainless with Cushion Frame Model 155...Women’s Two Speed Chainless with Cushion Frame Model 150...Men’s Chainless Model 151...Women’s Chainless Model 156...Men’s Cushion Frame Model 157...Women’s Cushion Frame Model 158...Men’s Light Roadster Model 159...Women’s Light Roadster Model 160...Men’s Columbia Model 161...Women’s Columbia Model 162...Men’s Hartford Model 163...Women’s Hartford 1907.……. Model 700.…Men’s Cushion Frame Chainless Model 701.…Women’s Cushion Frame Chainless Model 704.…Men’s Standard Chainless Model 702.…Men’s Standard Chainless with Cushion Frame Model 705.…Women’s Standard Chainless Model 703.…Women’s Standard Chainless with Cushion Frame Model 706.…Men’s Cushion Frame Model 707.…Women’s Cushion Frame Model 710.…Men’s Light Roadster Model 711.…Women’s Light Roadster Model 712.…Men’s Columbia Chain Model 708.…Men’s Columbia Chain with Cushion Frame Model 713.…Women’s Columbia Chain Model 709.…Women’s Columbia Chain with Cushion Frame Model 714.…Men’s Hartford Chain Model 715.…Women’s Hartford Chain
1908.……. Model 800.…Men’s Cushion Frame Chainless Model 801.…Women’s Cushion Frame Chainless Model 804.…Men’s Standard Chainless Model 802.…Men’s Standard Chainless with Cushion Frame Model 805.…Women’s Standard Chainless Model 803.…Women’s Standard Chainless with Cushion Frame Model 810.…Men’s Light Roadster Model 811.…Women’s Light Roadster Model 808.…Men’s Cushion Frame Model 809.…Women’s Cushion Frame Model 812.…Men’s Columbia Chain Model 813.…Women’s Columbia Chain Model 814.…Men’s Hartford Chain Model 815.…Women’s
Hartford Chain
1909 - 1913 (Pope Mfg. Co, Hartford on badge)
Stamped with model no. First digit of model number is last digit of year. 1909.…… Model 900.…Men’s Chainless Two-Speed Cushion Frame Model 901.…Women’s Chainless Two-Speed Cushion Frame Model 904.…Men’s Chainless Model 905.…Women’s Chainless Model 910.…Men’s Columbia Special Model 908.…Men’s Cushion Frame Roadster Model 912.…Men’s Roadster Model 913.…Women’s Roadster Model 914.…Hartford Men’s Roadster Model 915.…Hartford Women’s Roadster
Model 00.…Men’s Chainless Model 01.…Women’s Chainless Model 04.…Men’s Chainless with Cushion Frame Model 05.…Women’s Chainless with Cushion Frame Model 010...Men’s Columbia Special Model 011...Columbia Racer Model 012...Men’s Roadster Model 013...Women’s Roadster Model 08.…Men’s Cushion Frame Roadster Model 014...Hartford Men’s Roadster Model 015...Hartford Women’s Roadster
Model 200...Men’s Two-Speed Chainless Model 201...Women’s Two-Speed Chainless Model 204...Men’s Chainless with Cushion Frame Model 205...Women’s Chainless with Cushion Frame Model 210...Men’s Columbia Special Model 211...Columbia Racer Model 212...Men’s Roadster Model 213...Women’s Roadster Model 208...Men’s Cushion Frame Roadster Model 214...Hartford Men’s Roadster Model 215...Hartford Women’s Roadster
Model 300...Men’s Two-Speed Chainless with Cushion Frame Model 301...Women’s Two-Speed Chainless with Cushion Frame Model 304...Men’s Chainless Model 305...Women’s Chainless Model 310...Men’s Columbia Special Model 311...Columbia Racer Model 312...Men’s Roadster Model 313...Women’s Roadster Model 308...Men’s Cushion Frame Roadster Model 314...Hartford Men’s Roadster Model 315...Hartford Women’s Roadster
1914 - 1915 (Pope Mfg. Co , Westfield Mass)
Stamped with model number. First digit of model number is last digit of year. 1914.……First year to show Westfield Ma. Model 400...Men’s Two-Speed Chainless with Cushion Frame Model 401...Women’s Two-Speed Chainless with Cushion Frame Model 404... Men’s Chainless Model 405...Women’s Chainless Model 410...Men’s Columbia Special Model 411...Columbia Racer Model 412...Men’s Roadster Model 413...Women’s Roadster Model 408...Men’s Cushion Frame Roadster Model 413...Hartford Men’s Roadster Model 415...Hartford Women’s Roadster 1915.…… Model 500...Men’s Two-Speed Chainless with Cushion Frame Model 504...Men’s Chainless Model 505...Women’s Chainless Model 510...Men’s Columbia Special Model 511...Columbia Racer Model 512...Men’s Roadster Model 513...Women’s Roadster Model 508...Men’s Cushion Frame Model 514...Hartford Men’s Roadster Model 515...Hartford Women’s Roadster
1916 - 1936 (Westfield Mfg. Co, Westfield Mass)
Model no. stamped on early models until mid 20’s. First digit of model number is last digit of year up to 1920. 1916.…… Model 604...Men’s Chainless Model 605...Women’s Chainless Model 608...Men’s Cushion Frame Model 612...Men’s Roadster Model 613...Women’s Roadster Model 611...Columbia Racer Model 614...Hartford Men’s Roadster Model 615...Hartford Woman’s Roadster
Model 704...Men’s Chainless Model 705...Women’s Chainless Model 711...Columbia Racer Model 706...Columbia Motobike Model 712...Men’s Columbia Superb Model 713...Women’s Columbia Superb Model 716...Men’s Roadster Model 716-W…Women’s Roadster Model 71A…Arch Bar Model 710...Service Model
Model 804...Men’s Chainless Model 805...Women’s Chainless Model 812...Men’s Superb Model 813...Women’s Superb Model 816...Men’s Roadster Model 816W…Women’s Roadster Model 806...Motobike Model 811...Racer Model 81A…Arch-Bar Model 810...Service
Model 912...Men’s Columbia Superb Model 913...Women’s Columbia Superb Model 91 A…Arch Bar Model 916...Men’s Roadster Model 916-W…Women’s Roadster Model 904...Men’s Chainless Model 905...Women’s Chainless Model 906...Motobike Model 910...Service Model Model 911...Racer
Model 04...Men’s Chainless Model 05...Women’s Chainless Model 012...Columbia Superb Model 013...Women’s Columbia Superb Model 016...Men’s Roadster Model 016-W…Women’s Roadster Model 006...Motobike Model 011...Racer Model 01-A…Arch Bar Model 010...Service Model 06-H…Camelback Model B…Military
Model M2...Men’s Superb Model M1...Men’s Chainless Model M5...Women’s Roadster Model M4...Men’s Roadster Model M8...Motobike Model M7...Junior Roadster Model MB…Military Model M6...Arch Bar Model M3...Racer
Model N5.…Women’s Roadster Model N4.…Men’s Roadster Model N8.…Motobike Model N7.…Junior Roadster Model N3.…Racer Model N6.…Men’s Archbar Model N2-LR….Men’s Light Roadster Model NJ3...Boy’s Juvenile 17” Frame Model NJ1...Boy’s Juvenile 15” Frame Model NJ4...Girls Juvenile 17” Frame Model NJ2...Girls Juvenile 15” Frame
1923.……A 1924.……B Model B6.…Men’s Roadster Model B10...Women’s Model B7.…Junior Roadster Model B3.…Archbar Superb Model B8.…Archbar Roadster Model B9.…Motobike Model BJ11...Boy’s Juvenile Model BJ12...Girl’s Juvenile Model B5.…Road Racer Model B4.…Special Racer
1926.……D 1927.…..E Model E-6.…Men’s Roadster Model E-8.…Archbar Roadster Model E-7.…Junior Roadster Model E-9T…Motobike Model E-9.….Same as Motobike but no tank, lamp, horn, and lock Model EJ-11...Boy’s Juvenile Model E-10...Women’s Model EJ-12...Girls Juvenile Model E-4.…Special Racer Model E-5.…Road Racer Model E8-SD…Special Delivery
1936 - 1946 (Westfield Mfg. Co. Westfield Mass) Some 1936 models
still used the old style badge.
This starts serial numbers being stamped on frame under crank hanger.
The letter preceding the serial number indicates year of manufacture. Often there will be a separate letter with 1 number
near the serial number. This letter is one higher than the one preceding the serial number. This indicates the Model year.
By the end of the year the next year models were already being produced. 1936.……A5429 - A266083 1937.……B5000 - B195407 1938.……C5000 - C130896 1939.……D5000 - D156044 1940.……E5000 - E168879 1941.……F5000 - F213132 and G5000 - G17433 1942.……G17434 - G112858 1943.……G112859 - G195135 1944.……G195136 - G200000 1945.……J5000 - J114781 1946.……K5000
- K256116
Postwar badge used from 1947 until 1960. (Westfield Mfg. Co. Westfield MASS) 1947.……L5001 - L313474 1948.……M - 5001 - M345445 1949.……M345446 - M525640 1950.……N5000 - N59606 and R5000 - R182877 1951.……R200000 - R539588 1952.……R659514 - R804246 1953.……R804247 - R855423 and W5000 - W217999 1954.……W21800 - W376443 1955.……A5000 - A197956 1956.……B500 - B95332 And C5001 - ? 1957.……C105021 - C288230 1958.……D5125 - D199613 1959.……E5000 - E273125 1960.……H5000 - H259120
1961 Until 1975 (Columbia Mfg. Co. Westfield Mass) 1961.……K5000 - K205465 1962.……L205466 - L425743 1963.……M425744 - M617828 and N617829 - N624001 and N5000 - N26183 1964.……N26184 - N370693 1965.……N375000 - N817898 1966.……R100000 - R464982 1967.……R464982 - R842814 1968.……R842814 - R987209 and S5000 - S331191 1969.……S331193 - S767191 1970.……S767191 - S950093 and W500 - W242733 1971.……W242733 - W752146 1972.……W752146 - W803303 1974
Starting in 1976 stickers used for most headbadges.
Vista was a brand name used by Columbia in the 70's for a cheaper line of bikes they sold.
Goldcrest was a name Columbia use from the late 70's to the mid 80's. The early ones used the aluminum badge and later ones the sticker type.
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