I am struggling to understand some points on post war contract numbers and would like to know if anyone can help.

Contract Numbers for BSA WDB40s:

Who originates the contract numbers, was it the MoD or BSA? An example of a contract number for 50 RAF BSA B40GRs is WV/7334/AC5B(1)

Would the Contract 'Brass Plates' have been fitted at the factory and who produced them?

Where can I find information relating to these various contract numbers, should I be searching the factory records or MoD records? Surely some records must have been produced and correspondance between the MoD and the factories must have been raised relating to them?

Has anyone got any ideas or information please?

Dave

email (option): d.stapleton78@btinternet.com

Maybe this isn't the best place to look. Not that many people here interested in post war stuff.

I have just acquired a WDB40 and am about to start researching the same questions.

email (option): d.stapleton78@btinternet.com

email (option): d.stapleton78@btinternet.com

Interesting question though. Usually, I reckon it would have been the factory, as they would have put the price together, but once the order had been agreed, it would have had an order number somewhere along the line.

It's probable, that if the Government was working at its usual level of speed and effectiveness, it would have involved a few departments (or sub-departments), in order that a number could at least have been generated! It would have had about the same amount of cogwheels as a 12 speed gearbox, with at least one committee meeting every day!

However, at the end of the day, decent bikes were produced, used, and are still around. Therefore, I think it's a quandary that could apply to any bike purchased by the government, whether during war or not.

As we all know on this site, records still exist for a lot of the bikes produced when Hitler was trying to spoil our day to day operations. But, at some point, things may have changed. Possibly because no-one was trying to bomb us!

email (option): oldjunk@btinternet.com

('Maybe this isn't the best place to look. Not that many people here interested in post war stuff.')....

I think it's a shame there is such a fixation with wartime machines but I suppose that's inevitable really..

As well as post WW2 machines there are also the pre WW2 'inter war years' machines which are more or less totally forgotten...

If nothing else it's a very 'selective' view of the history of the WD motorcycle and I think it's a good thing that the GB40, TRW, Armstrong etc. are beginning to be appreciated for what they are, not just as a source of parts or the basis of another machine....

Personally I find Daves search quite interesting...I ownded a GB40 for a couple of years and ran it in its military spec. as intended...

It was a good machine and its existence is worth recording...Ian

email (option): ian@wright52.plus.com

I do have a lot of postwar bike info, on contracts and such, but not delved into it too much (yet)

There are various B40 contract pages MkI and II, and other strange stuff like Lambretta and Vespa scooters, Triumph Tigress scooter, Tiger 100 and T180, James Cadet and Captain and Autocycle, BSA A7, Norton B4 600cc and ES2, BSA C12, C10C and C15, Ariel 350, Matchless 350.

Strangely no Corgi's!!

Let me know what you exactly are looking for, and I'll have a look....

Cheers,

Lex

PS, I believe Deepcut has a complete set of B40 Keycards, but would have to check that, that info was offered to me a while ago.

email (option): welbike@welbi**.net (think about this!)

Thank you for all the comments. The Army BSA B40GB machines are very well covered by the bsawdb40.com website.

However, my particular interest lies with the RAF BSA B40GR motorcycles and it is these that I am currently researching however, information is pretty thin on the ground.

The RAF Museum at Hendon has all the RAF MT Vehicle Record Cards for these motorcycles, the equivalent of the Army Key Cards I guess, but these give only limited information. The BSA Owners Club has the factory Despatch Records but again information from these is limited to more or less frame numbers and despatch dates.

So far I have not been able to to find any information refering to the actual specifications and contract details for the RAF machines, which were different in a number of respects to the Army machines. I would therefore welcome any information or suggestions that anyone might have as to where to search for such information, and of course I would like to hear from anyone who might have one of these ex-RAF motorcycles.

Dave

email (option): d.stapleton78@btinternet.com

Talking about post war machines here's my latest acquisition...

It's a 1951 Mk1 Triumph TRW...Possibly ex RAF but I have yet to confirm that from the records....

The TRW engine is very smooth, being in a relatively low state of tune..

The Mk1 and Mk2 had a BTH magneto and alternator rather than the Lucas alternator and coil ignition of the later Mk2B and Mk3...

This one still has all its original electrics and the Solex carb but has sprouted a sprung hub somewhere along the way...That will go as soon as I source the correct back wheel to replace it....Ian

email (option): ian@wright52.plus.com

Very nice Ian, I have to say I wouldn't mind one of those TRWs myself, especially an ex-RAF one

email (option): d.stapleton78@btinternet.com