Does anyone have W/NG parts books for late 1944 and for 1945? The last one I have is for November 1944, but it is missing the Handlebar and Control Group page.
The March 1944 parts book still lists the 1" to 7/8" tapered handlebar. What I really want to know is the date that W/NG switched to universal 7/8 straight bars.
Thanks, Wade

email (option): iron_ariel@yahoo.ca

I presume that your November 1944 dated parts list Wade is Contract S.5514, covering frame numbers XG 44251 to 47250, engine numbers BH 42001 to 45000 and C-numbers (actually listed in the book) C 5363012 to 5366020........?

I have one for March 1945, Contract S.6287, listing frame numbers XG 51856 to 55355, engine numbers BH 45701 to 49200 and C-numbers C 6193966 to 6197465........

Both books are complete and list the "universal" 7/8ths 'bars and controls..........as well as the "universal" saddle and the simplified headlight and wiring arrangement with the switch beneath the saddle........the later book additionally lists the Vokes filter.........

By November 1944 all new W/NGs were being fitted with pressed steel primary chaincases and timing covers, no steering damper, and a revised front mudguard with shortened fitted brackets to increase mud-clearance between the 'guard and the tyre..........

Some other interesting details.......from engine number BH 13717 onward the oil pressure regulator on the timing cover was deleted and the oil-feed and breather system revised........

The steering damper was deleted from engine number BH 35001 onward..........

The rubber-mounted handlebars were deleted from engine number BH 23936 onward, although the 1" to 7/8ths tapered 'bars continued in use but now in a rigid clamp........mine still has the original rubber arrangement fitted.........

My own Ariel, frame number XG 24366, contract C.11103, was built on 10th April 1942 according to the Ariel works ledgers...........the parts list and Ministry of Supply order books reveal that this was the first W/NG contract where pannier and pillion equipment was specified (at additional cost to the contract) and that, common with many other contracts, additional spare engines, frames, forks and gearboxes were supplied on top of complete machines..........interestingly, I've seen several period photos of bikes from this particular contract for 3500 W/NG's, some close to mine, and they all show bikes still fitted with knee-grip rubbers on the fuel tank whereas the parts book does not list them.........revealing perhaps that Ariel continued to use up and fit existing stocks of parts..........also noted some bikes in this contract not fitted with pannier equipment, despite the "official" paperwork stating the contrary....!

Norton first listed the universal 7/8" (BSA) handlebar from contract S5161,scheduled for delivery from August 1944 onwards which is pretty much contemporary with the Ariel contract S5514 mentioned by Steve (delivery from September 1944).

However, it is evident that many wartime production changes were implemented as soon as practicable so I would be hesitant to say that no machines from S4554 had the 7/8" bars.

My impression is that parts books were generally typeset prior to production (this would be logical) and therefore if anything, they regularly failed to mention changes that are clearly visible in period photographs.

Unless additional documentation turns up, we shall never be certain but if I had a late S4554 machine fitted with 7/8" controls, I don't think that I would change them.

Great answers Steve and Rik. Now printed and saved for the files!

Yes, Steve, Contract S.5514.

"The frame I am using, XG49657 cannot be found in the factory despatch books. There are various reasons why this could be, such as it being supplied as a spare part or the person recording in the Despatch Book writing down the wrong number. Frames with adjacent numbers went out about the 25/26th May 1944 so we can reasonably assume that the frame was manufactured in May 1944".

The above is word for word according to the Ariel Club archivist and what is written on the Dating Certificate.

I picked up a set of straight 7/8 bars from Armours when I was there last year thinking that was correct for this dating. Upon further investigation I am now convinced that May 1944 W/NGs still had the tapered bars.

That puts me in the market for a set of tapered bars

Thanks again,
Wade

email (option): iron_ariel@yahoo.ca

I doubt that Armours will know anything about late war WM20 handlebars for any WD bikes. More likely they will just sell their universal 7/8" bars..... Wrong shape!!

Ron

email (option): ronpier@talk21.com

Frame XG 49657 falls within Contract S.4554 for 4,000 W/NG's.........according to the records, Ariel allocated 4,000 "tab" numbers to this contract, this being a works identifiyer number for each bike............contract despatch dates from the works were from 31 Dec 1943 to 7th September 1944.............

But it doesn't necessarily mean that 4,000 were constructed and with my own contract, C.11103 for 3,500 W/NG's, the contract included 210 engines, 158 frames and 140 gearboxes............did these spares, substantial "lumps" indeed, be in addition to the contract for 3,500 machines ? Or, were less complete bikes supplied and the balance up to the 3,500 total made up of these spares ? I'm not certain if Ariel sent out any blank-numbered engines and frames from the works, therefore it may be possible that each frame and/or engine were numbered (as part of the contract) and a "C" number allocated for use if/when the frame/engine was utilised ? Just a theory though and the answer remains unknown............this may possibly have affected other Ariel contracts too.....

James also supplied many spare ML frames, all being numbered from what I have seen, those frame numbers falling into a large "gap" between the first and second contracts.......

As for the tapered handlebars, I did have the originals fitted to my machine when first acquired, but they were slightly bent and had corrosion so I elected not to use them.......however, they provided a pattern for a new set..........I used a 7/8ths tube, with 1/16th steel tightly wrapped around the centre portion of the 'bars........this was then welded and ground down at each end and then blasted.....they are now an excellent replica of the impossible-to-get originals.........

The idea that "a C number allocated for use if/when the frame/engine was utilised", makes for a logical explanation.

Think I'll use your idea of creating a 1" center by splitting a piece of 1/16 wall, 1" mild steel tube in half and then TIG welding it shut again.
Cheers

email (option): iron_ariel@yahoo.ca

Here is the handlebar page from the parts book for contract S6287 March 1945 Frames XG 51856-55355. It clearly shows the universal 7/8" WM20 bars and levers. Ron

email (option): ronpier@talk21.com

I'm pretty certain it was contract S.5514 of November 1944 in the case of Ariel.......

Interestingly, this, and subsequent contract(s) note that many machines were supplied "without tyres" and/or "preserved against rust and tropicalised"..........I've noted the "without tyres" remarks before, mainly affecting late Triumph 3HW's.......no doubt these machines were intended for the Far East had the war not ended............

Very few late Army W/NG's are noted in service in period images...........however, very late Royal Navy contract W/NG's can be seen in wartime images and mainly serving in the Far East..........Naval contracts for W/NG's were never large in comparison the the Army contracts and according to the factory and MoS lists these Naval contracts (and RAF) were built alongside the various Army ones..................

Note that some (not all) Naval contract W/NG's had a "N" prefixing the engine number......thus "NBH 12345"........also, some (not all) RAF contract W/NG's had the letter "R"......thus "RBH 12345".............

Hi Guys,
The latest parts book I have is dated September 1945 and covers contract S8520, 8049, 8574 and 9167. These all appear to be Navy contracts. It lists the last engine as NBH48100 and frame XG 57520. It also give a list of Navy tank numbers finishing with 58702RN.
Both this book and the one for S6287 lists the re-introduction of ally primary cases, the last steel ones being mentioned in the November 1944 list. Alas I have no lists between these to to narrow it down any further.
All these lists show the universal bars as shown by Rons picture.
Cheers, Mick.

email (option): mick@motorbikemike.org.uk

My original parts book for S.6287 still shows the steel primary cases Mick ! Perhaps this was amended later on ?

I'm now going to throw a spanner in the works.
I've just found a spares list for S4670 dated February 1944in the pile.
This lists alloy primaries but tapered handlebars with the combined levers, not the universal types.
Something else I have never noticed before, under petrol tank and fittings it states "if tank mounting rubbers are not avaiable use 5060-42 leather washer 1/8" thick x 24.
Mick.

email (option): mick@motorbikemike.org.uk

Naval contract Mick ! For 250 machines, early 1944.......no doubt built alongside larger Army contracts.........

Naval and RAF contracts sometimes varied in fittings from those specified for the Army, sometimes lacking pannier and/or pillion kit and using the old pre-1942 carrier and fittings.........it is also possible that they used up older, surplus stocks of parts remaining in the works ?

I've seen those leather washers, NOS recently on Ebay ! You need a ton of them compared to 8 rubbers........