I picked up a couple of M20 riders handbooks recently..One is straight forward, being marked for the 1940 contract C6126. The other has no contract mark but has a stencil 'CODE' on the front cover but with no numbers. However, handwritten at the top of the cover is Code No.- 76448. This number might be 16448 as the first digit is not entirely clear. There are no contract number or frame and engine number sequences on the cover...
The book can be used for either early bikes or ones fitted with the later electrical system and notes some of the differences. For example it mentions the lack of a steering damper on 'later' bikes.
The damper was only omitted for one year I believe and was then reinstated..was that 1943 or 44?....If so it might date the book to that year. It also details the electrical system on the later bikes with the dynamo 'test' set up and relocated light switch...
Can anyone shed any light on this type of handbook?....Ian
email (option): ian@wright52.plus.com
Here's a picture...Ian
The middle line of the inked over panel reads 23? NOV 1950..
email (option): ian@wright52.plus.com
Hi Ian
This is the standard handbook for the later war contracts after contract C12424, they were made with blue or yellow covers, and then there was this postwar reprint.
The Maintenance manual was also reprinted after the war, there used to be a heap of these at the big army surplus shop in Gloucester called "MASH".
The code number is probably the postwar part number for the book, your book is wartime production but with a code added so it can be filed/issued after the war.
Rob
email (option): robmiller11@yahoo.co.uk
Hi Rob,
Is your maintenance manual an original one? If so, then this must be the mother of all copies in de world
Henk
email (option): ahum@quicknet.nl
Thanks Rob, very informative....Both this and the 1940 book (contract C6126) will be on the 'for sale' page shortly....Ian
email (option): ian@wright52.plus.com