I have just got one of my Judges back from Chip and I am trying to decode the serial number. So far, I have worked out it is a genuine first series Judge as the brake bridge has "Hutch" stamped on it. It isnt an early run as it actually has a serial number. Its American, as it has the serial on the rear dropout, and there are no baseball symbols on it. The serial number is 0642863. Does anyone know how to get more info on the frame using the serial number?

1984 is my guess. I've seen the 3rd digit either be a 4 or a 5 on frames that would have been 1984-1985 american-made era. But I would like it if someone could confirm also.

#0642863 was made on may 11th of 1985.

pretty easy to see. just got look at it closely

I think all first era Judge frames are 85's. They all (in my experience) have the 1984, 1985 No. 1 Bicycle Nora Cup decal, not just the 1984 Nora Cup decal. It fits the time frame with all the ads in the magazines and the Timmy Judge interview in BMX Action (the one where he was talking to Hutchins about designing and testing his own frame while in Africa). Another thing is that I have never seen a first gen Judge frame with a baseball symbol, I believe they are all American made, but could be wrong of course. It is in my experience too that the serial numbers on all Hutch frames kind of go down numerically the newer the frame is. Say a 123xxxx number is older than a 105xxxx or a 064xxxx number. Hutch serial numbers are a crap shoot. Sub, if I was placing a bet, I would say you have a late American made 85 frame. Also, all of what I just wrote is not in stone and definetly up for debate. I have no problem being proven wrong, for I love all this Hutch talk anyways.

lol Tone

None of mine have serial #'s. That's how I date them.

TONE is back to his funny ways - lol

I didn't think the Judge was available until 85 either.

As far as I'm aware Hutch did not start to use a logical serial number until late 1984 (the month/year thing).

However, that Judge S/N throws that out the window.

I always thought my Pro Racer was an 84 from the serial number.... hmmmm

My XL24 has no serial

USA frames never used a date code (anything that may seem like it is just coincidence).

Judge frames became available in spring-ish 1985, with production likely starting as early as late '84.

an "064" serial would fit into that timeframe, but "older" serials sometimes turn up on later frames as new batches of pre-stamped dropouts got mixed into the same bins as the previous ones. so you never know... it really is a crapshoot with Hutch numbers.

my serial# starts out 064 also

I've seen a Judge starting with 064.....number.
But it's a Tai made frame.
subwax do you have any pics of the serial number and the frame?

Here she is:



[ June 21, 2007, 12:57 PM: Message edited by: subwax ]

According to Bill Grove who was managing all Hutch production during that time there is no rhyme or reason to the serial number on any of the American-made Hutch frames. Here is his response to my question about serial numbers...

"There was a box, it had dropouts in it, when a welder needed dropouts he would grab one with a serial number and one without a serial number, and he would weld them onto the frame. There was also a box of 1/4" thick dropouts that were used on the Judge and Freestyle frames. They were made by welding two of the standard dropouts together which was a real pain in the a** but there was one welder that was really good at it and so he made all of the dropouts for those frames"

Nice frame set ... is that blue over chrome?

sub.........
that thing is beautiful!!!!!!!

Sub,

Is that the Judge that you got from me? If it is HOLY COW!!!!!!!!!

Old-skull

Old-skull - your frameset is 0642839, which has been restored to its original white.

I need to check with Chip, but I think he is using the same method that the Hutch factory used to use. It isnt chrome underneath, but I am unsure of what it is. What I do know is that it looks the mutt's nuts!!!

[ June 21, 2007, 07:35 PM: Message edited by: subwax ]

JJR, do you have a pic of your Tai made Judge? Sub, that is good looking! Is that the red one that you got off of the bay?

[ June 21, 2007, 07:33 PM: Message edited by: Apollo ]

No - the red one was not in a good way, so we had it restored, and it looked as good as the blue one, but there was a chemical reaction between the powder and the frame, so Chip is redoing it at the moment. If it is as good as the first time, which with Chip is almost a certainty, then it'll be another cracker.

Hutch originally used Zinc as a base and I was stoked to be able to have my plater base coat them for me, but many problems surfaced with any dent fillers we used. We ended up using Cadmium that looked and worked great untill a few months later when any minute contaminating oils would spread. I also found out working with Cadmium is very bad for your health. Now we only use Nickel at a consistancy which mimicks the original Zinc. Neil's blue frame was done this way. Thanks Neil for working with us through the other method's.
-Chip

Apollo, it's not mine.
What's your email and I send you some pics.

Pm sent.

That was an overseas Judge. I have never seen one before, what a trip. Thanks Johan.

B*E*A*U*T*I*F*U*L

Nice one Chip, that's great info, so are you saying the frame has been nickel plated then painted?

Thanks
Bren

Looks great,I wish I had one,TJ

You guys heard it! Tim Judge would like to have one.....someone step-up.


I'm giving Jeff Utterback a present after Rockford next year....SHHHHHH don't tell him!

TJ I have one of yours

so how do you tell a US judge from a tiawan one?

bump

any one come up with any more info???