Slimline Reynolds date code stamp

The frame was made in June 1967. Any other takers?

George 

Hi. I have EXACTLY the same digits arranged the same way on my 1960 Dommie 99. I can’t guarantee that the frame is original but it seems a real coincidence that our frames, seemingly several years apart, have identical stamping. The frame number on my bike looks original, not ‘re-stamped’.

The mystery deepens!

Regards

Tony

Reading it the other way up, you have 06, followed by a line, then a 7. From this, 06 = June, and the 7 is for 67? Thats how I see it anyway. 

Do a search on here. Anna Dixon alone has mentioned the date stamp in loads of posts. Many others have too.

Regards,

George. 

From my point of view, the ‘7’ is ‘July’ and ‘60’ is ‘1960’. That fits in perfectly for my 1960 Dommie 99. Or maybe it’s not a date code at all - it just seems too much of a coincidence that two bikes that are seven years apart in manufacturing date should have identical number stamps on the head steady lug - perhaps it’s some other sort of code that Renolds used - for example a tube type.

Regards

Tony

I think that stamp has been altered .  perhaps an earlier frame with a later engine . a close up photo of the frame number and the area around may give up more clues.

I have 4 slimlines.

I just checked 3.

Standing on the right side of the bike looking down, they are all from left to right Month/ space/ year (2 digit)  My 63 atlas is 5.. 63,

The 66 atlas I had to sand blast get a good clear view and reads 1..66..M the 6"s are sloppy but clear enough to make out.

The 68 atlas is 1..68 with a A upside down partially over the 8

My model year -68 650SS is stamped, looking from the right side, probably 5 and then 67. Sounds plausible as it was first registered in october -67.

The -59 99 is also read from the right side, probable 4 and then59.

The -59 Manx.is built in March -59 and hard to read. Guess it's 1 59. If read from right side.

Hi William. My number reads:

<Renolds letters> - 7 - 60 

(photo below) which to me reads ‘7-60’ - others may read it as ‘06 -7‘’. I guess it all depends on the direction in which it is read. I prefer to think that they’d use two numbers for the year as that seems to follow convention.

Regards

Tony

Just picking up on a comment above that two frames had identical numbers stamped on the  Headstock but were seven years apart in manufacture.

This would clearly show up in specific features of each frame. The earlier frame would probably have a bolted-in-place gearbox top mounting whereas the later frames had this section welded to the main tubes. The front engine frame lugs (post-1963) were reversed after some early Atlas frames fractured their downtubes.

Here's mine from a 1959 99.

The number stamping is secondary to the punch press manufacture of the gusset. Being schooled and owner of 3 stamping punch presses, I see the metals edge texture normal to punch press sheering action.  It results in only fair results on the punched  number clarity. If a gusset is dressed or filed the edge becomes smooth and broader.It also looses the expected sheer pattern. It can be restamped and looses the feeling of factory originality. Based on my 3 frames the factory did not seem to bother dressing the gusset for number clarity purposes.

Many Slimline Owners think that the 'M' found on the headstock refers to the Manxman 650 connection with the Slimline frames. This is not likely as the term Manxman came about well after the first Slimline frame drawings were completed. These were started in 1957 and it is more likely that the 'M' came from the Factory letter year designator as found on the engine crankcases up until 1961. 'M' standing for production year 1957.

Hi William....I got your email regarding Featherbed frame lugs. Perhaps if you repeat the questions on this thread somebody could offer a better / clearer explanation. I have attached a section of the Dominator Service Notes which I noted mentioned some of the same points.