How to read your Circle Y serial number

1990s to April 2006

Bikes catalogs parts history serial numbers # The Schwinn Collegiate. This page provides year by year images and info quoted from Schwinn catalogs for the Collegiate from 1954 to 1987. Saddle: Mesinger S1-1 spring cushioned tourist saddle,exclusive design on Collegiate Tourist Mesinger R1 racing style vinyle top on Collegiate Sport. Collegiate 17 gp Saddle. 1992, 16 inch, NO.3 Fit Brown County Turnout Saddle. Made in England, serial number indicates man. Make: County: Style.

The first four numbers represent the model # of the saddle. (1551)
The next number describes the tree width of the saddle. (5)
The following two numbers describe the seat size of the saddle. (55)
The last single number depicts the color of the saddle. (4)
The next four digits tell the month and year made. (1100)
The last two digits are unique manufacturer numbers. (78)
Simply enter the 10 digit number (top number on sample plate to the left) without spaces or dashes into our program above to learn more about your saddle.
Please leave out the month and year numbers, in this example your number would be 1151555478.
This period of serial numbers are much like the above. Use the chart to determine tree sizes, seat sizes, and colors. There may be an extra number at the end (represented by CD). This just means that more than one of this type of saddle was made that day, so it got a unique number at the end.

1234: Saddle Model #
5: Tree size
67: Seat size
8: Saddle color
90: Month made
AB: Year made
CD: Unique number

A Tote Gote Model 780 with worm gear drive shaft

The Tote Gote is an off-roadmotorcycle that was produced from 1958 to 1970. It was developed by Ralph Bonham.

History[edit]

The advertisement for the 'Trail Skeeter'

Bonham created the Tote Gote to relieve the exhaustion of walking through the Utah mountains while hunting. First called the 'Mechanical Goat', it was renamed to refer to its ability to 'tote' (carry) deer out of the woods while climbing inclines with the skill of a mountain goat.

The first Tote Gotes could reach speeds of only 5 mph (8 km/h), too slow for functional use, and the front wheel rose off the ground when too much throttle was applied. The design was eventually perfected in November 1957. The first Tote Gote was sold on 1 June 1958. After entering mass production, 3,700 Tote Gotes were sold in 1960. The second version of the Tote Gote entered the market in 1959, called the Model A or the 'Scamp'.

Ralph Bonham's father, Bond Bonham, became president of the Bonham Corporation while Ralph focused on research and development. Improvements were introduced, such as rear and side screens to protect the wild game and drivers, and lighting systems. New variants were also created, such as the Loadstar III, a three-wheeled Tote Gote for use in warehouses and plant nurseries; a street-based model called the Collegiate for use on college campuses; a minibike called the Mini Gote; and a shaft driven series call the NOVA.

After producing Tote Gotes for thirteen years, the Bonham Company closed in 1970 and sold its remaining stock of parts. A community of Tote Gote enthusiasts is still active.

Manufacture[edit]

Tote Gotes were painted with a low pressure flow of paint. The frames were placed over a large tub of paint with hoses on either side. The paint was pumped through the hoses while workers directed the flow of paint over the frame. Excess paint ran off the bottom and back into the tub. The frames were rotated while drying to minimize runs. Most were red, fewer yellow, and some green (mostly for the Forest Service). Novas were aquamarine. The paint used was lead-basedSherwin-Williams.

Models[edit]

B: Chain drive. The original model, also called the model A, the 'Scamp,' and the 'Trail Skeeter'. The Trail Skeeter included louvered sheet metal sides instead of side screens and a 3 horsepower (2.2 kW) Briggs & Stratton engine. The first models used the 'Duster' clutch and continuously variable transmission made by Deepco, originally for snowmobiles. Later models used a similar clutch, by Salisbury.
P: Chain-drive. As for the later Model B, except with a larger frame, a 5 horsepower (3.7 kW) engine, and an arch design above the clutch mount.

The first digit in each model number is typically the horsepower of that particular model; for example, Model 600 has six (6) horsepower.

Collegiate Saddle Serial Number