Please help me put a date to my Orange Prestige

[rwm1962]

One for the Orange Academics please!

I bought this last month. The guy I'd bought it off had it for less than a year so it's history isn't known.

It's been pinned as a 1990 but I'd like to confirm before I decide on the components for the build. Clockwork Davo started a thread about Orange frame numbers recently here: viewtopic.php?f=1&t=407956

On it I posted all my Orange frame numbers. They all fit with catalogues & known transitions pretty well except the Prestige. From what I have read on RB & elsewhere the numbers first 4 characters are key. The letter at the start relates to the factory, the first number the year & the 2nd & third numbers the month. I'm also aware bikes often don't appear in the form they were made until the following catalogue year.

Here's the chart I posted on Davo's thread. My Prestige has a frame number A309A0340. I understand that to be (9)3 09(Sept). Late September 93

Just seems too late to me. Mines got the chainstay bridge, early graphics, bb cable guide for FD & lower joint for the wishbone

A 89/90 owned from new, which is useful. Frame looks the same:
viewtopic.php?t=169384

A '92 - the wishbone joins the seat-tube higher than mine or the 89/90 linked above:
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=317160

Here my Prestige.













1991 Catalogue - shows the lower wishbone


1992 Catalogue - resolutions poor but seems to show both - lower on the black, higher on the 'fade' . The black has same graphics as mine

 

[rwm1962]

93/93 Catalogue
Wishbone too high & graphics changed

 

[Cheshire1980]

Its a late 90's 91 prestige simples.. Very nice, your just showing off now! hehe

 

[rwm1962]

Nah! I'm trying not to delude viewers or myself it's something that it isn't. It's going to be appreciated & restored either way. The frame number's just not adding up whereas every other one does!

 

[Cheshire1980]

Its definitely a a very early Prestige, probably a 91, should pushed m Johnson for the original saddle which he seems to pass from bike to bike, why?, more evidence to suggest 1990/91, plus groupset on it.. no way is it a 1993.. not cats in hells chance.

 

[Cheshire1980]

The saddle on the pic you've put up on the white orange fade, is a san marco corvo leather saddle , supplied on 90/91 oranges

 

[rwm1962]

Cheers - something to look out for. Classy! Mark sold it me with a Rolls - not had one of those before. Not complaining. I'd seen the pic of it when he got it with some crap sus forks.

 

[brocklanders023]

Re:

Agree with Calum, no chance it’s a 93. My 91 Prestige’s seat stay and top tube met at the same point so earlier than that. How about the 3 being the month and 0 the year, 1990? Would be about right.