I am happy to answer technical questions by email or phone but please:

Do not write or phone me to ask the age or value of your bike.
All of the information I have on that is on this Web page or on SheldonBrown.com/raleigh.html

Determining the Age of a Raleigh

Note that the serial number information below is fragmentary and incomplete, and many bikes have proven to be much newer than the serial numbers would suggest. It appears that Raleigh recycled many of the older serial numbers in later years, so there are lots of bikes from the 60s and 70s that have serial numbers that would suggest much greater age.

1988 - 1925

1925 - WWII

WWII - 1955

1955 - 1966

1967 - 1973

1972 - 1980's

1980's - Present

1888-1925

Prior to 1925, genuine Raleighs (not necessarily brand names made by Raleigh) had a straightforward numerical frame number.  Early years have been estimated by the Company.  (Info from the Nottinghamshire Archives)

Note that the serial number information below is fragmentary and incomplete, and many bikes have proven to be much newer than the serial numbers would suggest. It appears that Raleigh recycled many of the older serial numbers in later years, so there are lots of bikes from the 60s and 70s that have serial numbers that would suggest much greater age.

1925-Second World War

Between 1925 and the cessation of cycle production during the Second World War, letters prefixed or suffixed the running frame number although no indication is given of the starting point of the numbers. They seem to reflect only the number of machines produced whilst each letter was in use. All dating would therefore be approximate.    (Info from the Nottinghamshire Archives)

Post Second World War - 1955

After the war, Raleigh began adding letters after the running number series which restarted when a new letter was used.   (Info from the Nottinghamshire Archives)

1955 - 1966

A new numbering system was introduced in 1955, though this ran concurrently with the old one for two years. The new system involved a second running letter, added to the first, which began at the start of the alphabet.

Note:  Some of the mid-60's straight guage 531 frames had serial numbers starting with a single letter which was towards the end of the alphabet.

1967 - 1973

Yet another number system was introduced in 1966.  This new system applied to the high-end (i.e. Reynolds 531) frames, and involved the placing of a character at the beginning of the serial number.  The character began at the start of the alphabet, and indicated year of manufacture.  Detail about the numerals that follow the alphabet are sketchy, and are presumably sequential serial numbers of some kind.

Note:  While this numbering scheme is generally true, there may have been some crossover use of letters at the beginning/end of each year (e.g. a "G" serial number may have been built into a bike in 1973, but the frame may have been built in 1972).

1974 - 1980's

In 1974, an entirely different numbering system was introduced for the higher end (531 and subsequently 753) Raleighs.  Serial numbers should begin with a "W", which stands for Worksop, the facility that produced theses frames.   This is followed by another alphabet.  This alphabet indicates the fortnight in which the frame was built (i.e. A = 1st fortnight, B = 2nd, etc.).  The third character is always a numeral.  It indicates the year of manufacture, the decade being assumed (i.e. "4" could be '74 or '84; it is up to the interpretor to know enough to tell if the frame is from the 70's or 80's).  What then follows is a series of numbers.  At this point, these appear to be some sort of sequence, but this has not been substantiated.
 

American made Raleighs manufactured in Kent, Washington, By Derby Cycle

Sample number: R 003310123 A

R (all) Digits 1 & 5 are year. Sample is from 2001 Digits 2,3,4 are day (001-365). Sample is from February 2 digits 5-9 are sequential. Sample is the 123rd bike built that shift. A = morning shift B= evening shift. Sample is morning shift. Letter code may or may not be present, depending on production schedule.

Notes:
1.	The 531DB Gran Sports built in the early 70's did not have letters in the serial number.
2.	Frames built at the Ilkeston facility have serial numbers that begin with "SB".
3.	The 1973 track frames begin with an "A".
4.	There are several documented cases of  '73 and '74 Professionals, Internationals, Competitions and RRAs with "A" serial numbers. Let the color scheme, decals and components be your guide.

I am happy to answer technical questions by email or phone but please:

Do not write or phone me to ask the age or value of your bike.
All of the information I have on that is on this Web page or on SheldonBrown.com/raleigh.html

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Retro Raleighs was originated by Ray Chong, who passed the Torch to Sheldon Brown in March, 2003

URL: http://sheldonbrown.com/retroraleighs/dating.html