Orange Clockwork Prototype

[FluffyChicken]

Seatpost is often near the max insertion,.usually a short date


Two letters are stamped, but don't know where on that mech, it used to be on the jockey cage somewhere. I'll see if I can see where on my XT version, if I can find that.

 

[adyifauk]

Hi all, work has started on the bike. Chap seems to think it is in good condition already

 

[adyifauk]

Below are the pics he's sent me.

 

[FluffyChicken]

Really nice.

Is he a member on here?

 

[adyifauk]

He is aware of the website but not sure whether he is a member. I'll ask when I next see him. I did pop down this afternoon and said 'that's come up nice'. He said 'we havent cleaned it yet, just wiped it down with a cloth before we started taking parts off it!'

I quizzed him about the rear mech. Below is a photo of the rear mech. He said it is quite normal for (as an example) 2025 components to be supplied to bike companies year or so before, so they can integrate them onto their 2025 models, otherwise the 2025 bike would have 2024 components and be less desirable.

He's stripped the bike down and put the components into individual bags. He plans to clean everything (including each individual nut and bolt) and re-grease etc, but pointed out the markings on the 1st picture below. He explained he is the first person to remove the parts because of the markings in the paint. Apparently, if you remove and refit - it creates another set of markings. I kinda understand what he's saying...

He asked me about a tiny dent on the left side of the frame and I told him not to worry about it because it was dented when it was given to me (but I could hardly complain about it and it's tiny and you only see it when the light catches it - so I'm not fussed).

He smiled and said 'that adds to the intrigue because I can tell that was done before the bike was painted, which backs up what you are saying about it being a gift from someone who worked at Orange because they wouldn't have sold it'.

He is going to clean every single component of the bike and is planning to make it look like a brand new bike, but using modern lubricants etc.

We've agreed he wont put the crud catchers and lights etc back on, but said I should keep hold of the crud catchers as they are 'in keeping with the era'.

Cant wait to get it back!!! Will put more photos on when it's done.

 

[adyifauk]

Forgot to mention, now the bike is stripped down to bare frame and had a wipe - we've had a look for the serial number and I've run this through ChatGPT (which I realise might be complete b&llocks, but I've only just started using AI a few weeks ago so I'm putting everything thought it ).

It says the following (I've removed the middle numbers of the serial number because I've seen other photos on this website where people have obscured this) :

How Orange serial numbers work (90s era)​

• First character ("A") → denotes the frame model batch or factory code. "A" has been linked to the Clockwork line on Retrobike forum threads.
• First digit(s) after the letter ("5") → usually indicates the year of production.
  
  • A “5” at the start often means 1995, but sometimes production ran into the following model year (so it could be sold as a 1996 bike).
• The rest ("XXXX") → is the sequential production number.

So A5.......9 most likely means:
Orange Clockwork frame, built in 1995 (possibly retailed in 1996 depending on spec).

---

How to confirm if it’s a 1995/96 Clockwork​

Look for these identifiers on your frame:

• Tubing: Butted Tange chromoly (Clockwork spec at that time).
• Cable routing: Fully external, with top tube guides.
• Brake mounts: Cantilever bosses (pre-V-brake boom).
• Dropouts: Forged steel, often with rack/pannier eyelets.
• Decals: Mid-90s Clockworks usually had blocky “Clockwork” decals on the downtube, with contrasting outlines.

ChatGPT is indicating the bike is a 1995/96 Clockwork, but I was definitely given this bike after 1st August 1997 and before autumn 1998 (I rode it in the nice weather, before putting it away when the crap weather started in autumn 1998, then moved to Suffolk in Feb 1999).

I also completely agree with FluffyChicken re the rear mech being from 2000. I used to watch 'Quantum Leap' in the 90's, so maybe that explains it??

 

[FluffyChicken]

The A5 is 1995, but the next important bit are the two digits after, they give the month.
This is the manufacture date usually with A-Pro frames.
If it's a late month, it'll be 1996 or getting ready for 1996. If it January then it'll be a 1995 model frame.

 

[adyifauk]

The A5 is 1995, but the next important bit are the two digits after, they give the month.
This is the manufacture date usually with A-Pro frames.
If it's a late month, it'll be 1996 or getting ready for 1996. If it January then it'll be a 1995 model frame.

Hi, does the attached seem correct to you??

 

[FluffyChicken]

No as it's not handmade in Halifax. Hand built bike not a handmade from.
1. Model Decal – The top tube clearly displays 'Clockwork' in the original Orange factory decal style
From 1998 (late 1997) it is...

2. Tubing & Construction – Slim, butted Tange chromoly steel tubing with external top-routed cables.
4. Seat Tube Slot – Front-facing seat tube slot with separate clamp.
If anyone can identify that as Tange tubing when they used their own generic branding, they are better than me.
Yellow was a late 90s colour iirc. The slot does help, but I forgot dates for these.

5. Paint & Decals – Bright yellow finish, likely a respray or special run. Mid-90s originals often came in orange/white fade, slime green, or nickel.
Bright yellow was used on another model from around 98+, check catalogues.

Catalogue Match
See above, they're talking when it was still called a C-16R.
1998 is when the name changed back. These are also 1998 era decals, hence the series 7.5 series decal you mentioned.


Personal opinion so far:
Best guess it it might have been a frame they had from 1995, it was then sprayed and built up in 1998 colours and decals, and then later had a 2000 rear mech fitted.
How, I don't know, but the new recent series of Quantum Leap was a nice watch and your mum was a time-traveller and could build a bike up?

"Prototype", Either a 1995 made test frame from the coming 1996 season being the prototype OR the colour and decals and setup for 1998 being the prototype using an old 1995/6 frame they had lying around to see what it looked like when built. Either way it looks really nice. Ignore the rear mech, maybe your mum fitted it in 2000 and everyone forgot.

 

[adyifauk]

No as it's not handmade in Halifax. Hand built bike not a handmade from.
1. Model Decal – The top tube clearly displays 'Clockwork' in the original Orange factory decal style
From 1998 (late 1997) it is...

2. Tubing & Construction – Slim, butted Tange chromoly steel tubing with external top-routed cables.
4. Seat Tube Slot – Front-facing seat tube slot with separate clamp.
If anyone can identify that as Tange tubing when they used their own generic branding, they are better than me.
Yellow was a late 90s colour iirc. The slot does help, but I forgot dates for these.

5. Paint & Decals – Bright yellow finish, likely a respray or special run. Mid-90s originals often came in orange/white fade, slime green, or nickel.
Bright yellow was used on another model from around 98+, check catalogues.

Catalogue Match
See above, they're talking when it was still called a C-16R.
1998 is when the name changed back. These are also 1998 era decals, hence the series 7.5 series decal you mentioned.


Personal opinion so far:
Best guess it it might have been a frame they had from 1995, it was then sprayed and built up in 1998 colours and decals, and then later had a 2000 rear mech fitted.
How, I don't know, but the new recent series of Quantum Leap was a nice watch and your mum was a time-traveller and could build a bike up?

prototype, Either a 1995 made test frame from the comping 1996 season OR the colour and decals setup for 1998 using an old 1995/6 frame they had lying around to see what it looked like when built. Either way it looks really nice. Ignore the rear mech, maybe your mum fitted it in 2000 and everyone forgot.

Thanks for this, I really appreciate it. I tend to agree with you with your best guess. He definitely gave me the bike after 1st April 1997 (as I loaded it into my P reg company car) but it could have been early 1998 also. I just remember it being a sunny day outside the Fleece Inn, Elland. I definitely rode it in the summer of 1998, before garaging it at the end of 1998 when the weather was crap, because I didnt want to get it wet and have to clean it.