A couple years ago, I dug my old GJS A Frame out of the rafters. After poking around a bit, I found out it was pretty rare. I knew it was an early model from this research, since I had bought it with no serial number, but, when did I really get it? 1977, 78, 79, 80?
Early searching around and fact gathering pointed to 1978, since it did not come with a serial number. But, the more I dug, and the more I learned, the more I've begun to believe that production GJS frames from 1978 don't exist.
You heard it here first. I'm not saying they can't or don't, but, by the end of this post, I believe that unless you have a frame directly from the Utterbacks, or, a LBS receipt, there is such a small possible window of manufacture to delivery, and no identifying characteristics that it's virtually impossible to prove existence of a production 1978 model. Based on that, early GJS frames should be identified as 1979 models. Here's my logic, and the research behind it.
Info Point #1: In 1979, there are at least 7 months of frames without SNs! How do I know this? First, when I got my frame, the LBS owner couldn't find the SN to record in his sales book. We all know that there are no SN frames. In fact, quite a few of them. Seems half the early A Frames are no SN bikes even. Well, the owner insisted it have a SN, so, we put one on it. Here's an important piece - we used the date. The SN is 730. July 30. Now, from everything that I've read, and it's been a LOT, GJS started to weld things up, such as early prototype frames perhaps right around July 1978. So, simple logic here states that my frame can't be 1978, it HAS to be a 1979 (it can't be later, but, that's another topic).
Info Point #2: The earliest GJS pictures show up in January, 1979, with Stu Thomsen riding one on the SE newsletter. Most folks know the picture. It's a non-stickered GJS. It's been reported that, "George Utterback still has that GJS that Stu is riding in that pic, hanging in his den according to JU" (Brian Hays). Now, that to me sounds like we've got ourselves a "final working copy". I'm going to suggest this is GJS #1 with the actual final dimensions. Allowing for 30-60 day lead time on picture to publication, that picture might be October/November 1978. So, at this point, frames may have entered manufacturing. This is admittedly a gray area, and does allow for a 1978 model, but, it can't be proven. The point here is they may have been welded up late 1978, but, there is no way to distinguish a Nov/Dec 1978 model from a Jan-July 1979 frame. So, it's more accurate to describe any frame as 1979.
Info Point #3: In 1979, there were 3 Serial number "versions". First: No serial number. Second: A 5 digit, 2 line serial number. Third: The beginning of sequential serial numbers that carried out throughout A Frame Production. I have 3 documented early A Frames with serial numbers, in addition to about a half dozen without serial numbers, and another dozen or more serial numbers within the A Frame line, in which there is no crossover. So, there is no date of manufacture info usable in the serial number to assist with manufacture date. The higher the number, the later in the run.
I've been diligent in my research, but, have had no contact with JU, or GU, so, admittedly, there might be some errors and omissions. But, just as much, I've tried to keep this short, and haven't shared all the info I've gone through. I'm more than willing to amend my thinking. And I'd love for folks to provide additional data that I've either missed, or not seen that allows me to adjust my thinking. In the end, all I'm really trying to do is put together an accurate timeline of GJS manufacture, and, an ID guide to help folks ID their frame accurately. What would be really cool would be if someone had a GJS frame with non-standard dimensions! That would HAVE to be a 1978 model I'd suggest, and be among the rarest of frames.