The funny thing is that most of the M20s that are fitted with Vokes filters (or replicas) shouldn't have them...
The 'cut off' tanks were fitted for the last three M20 contracts of the war only...and the filter assembly itself for only the last two contacts....
They never saw action in the period of the desert war, the M20s seen in period photographs have filters from other vehicles fitted usually and are fixed in a variety of non standard ways and locations...
To my knowledge only one wartime picture taken in the European theatre has turned up with a Vokes fitted and that was taken in Italy either late in the war or just after...
I had an original Vokes fitted to my own M20 but removed it when I realised that it didn't match the markings or period that my M20 represented...
Pricewise...It's more than I think is sensible..but then everyone has their own limits...I just hope the person who bought it isn't congratulating himself for getting the filter the M20s had in the desert war...Ian
email (option): ian@wright52.plus.com
The Talflow is rarer as well...Ian
email (option): ian@wright52.plus.com
That's an interesting snippet!...It's clear to see minds were at work on the filter problem...
That looks quite ingenious but I can see a couple of potential problems that would need to be considered......
The centre of gravity of any pillion would be pretty high which wouldn't help handling and the pressed steel construction mentioned might not be up to the loads exerted on it by a pillion rider bouncing about on a bumpy desert road...Ian
email (option): ian@wright52.plus.com
So how come pre war Nortons had a Vokes filter and not a Talflow?....It is clear Talflow were after military motorcycle contracts, they can be found in photos of both M20 and WB30 prototypes..and perhaps others?...Ian
email (option): ian@wright52.plus.com
I don't know, Ian. Perhaps because the rear-wheel mounted Vokes Protectomotor came out best in the pre-war tests and the Talboys tank top filter was Shelley's answer to it.
'Norton' or perhaps Talboys if Nortons were known to the MoS as the main contractor supplied tens of thousands of air filters.
Here they are on the same page as Vokes contracts :-
They weren't supplying simply for motorcycles - not a large contract but for "Cleaner, Air No.3 Mark 1 for engine of No.1 Mechanical Cable Layer" ! I'm not sure that I've ever seen one of those...
I can't see the air filter though - but an early M20 appears, I think
https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/F05224/
I used to have one of those under seat filters years ago but it came fitted to a post war AJS that someone had been using for amateur trials. Didn't thing anything of it then and disposed of the bike soon after. What could I get for it now if I still had it!! 
There you go..
Why pay a kings ransom for a Vokes filter and all the associated hardware when you can make a more authentic filter from a modified toolbox... ..Ian
email (option): ian@wright52.plus.com
to DSC_0463-1_zps1deb44ab.jpg"/>
hi there,i am the one who sold this ''mad priced'' vokes filter(and parts of it)..
well i have to say that yes the world go mad and you know why? first of all the need of surviving produced via global banking system,that created the crisis of my country greece-to bought cheap every living sources exept air and breath!!and forced me to sell the filter.thats the first part.
part 1
well i bought the filter after 22 years of search/(i was 16 years old when i tried to restore a very badly damaged b.s.a wm20 ...) left in greece after the british occupation at december of 1944 ..the years passed and i spend my poor life to restore the bike cause that damn bike was the one who carried my grandfather and mother in a try for a new life after 9 continuus years of german occupation,british occupation,civil war etc.i was very sentimentally bonded with her.finally i tried to make an 100% original wm 20 plus 2 military b.s.a bicycles 1916 and 1944 plus riders gear also 100% complete.when the crisis started here at 2011 i was left unemployed with no other source to feed my 2 years old boy.i started to struggled for survive via this MODERN WAR and the only solution was to LOOSE THE LUXURIORITY to have parts of history in my shed.
so i sold every bike every part that i had to make some funds. iam the sadest man on the planet,and the fact that the two bsa cycles are in museums now wont reduce my pain...(note that i was a simple worker with some 700e per month,so you can imagine how many years took me to find and buy parts cause i was not in a gang,so i have not much help from outside,or cheap parts
CAUSE HERE IS GREECE A CONTINUUS RUINED COUNTRY VIA THE LAST 2000 YEARS
a small population that has and have only the courage to FIGHT LIKE A GREEK as churchill said back then.
everythink here was always difficult,in my village not lathe machines not bsa experts not m20 specialists,not a production country.!!!we only produce brave mens and these also limited......
part 2
i found this and bought from a member IN HERE for 750 pounds.
other member sold me the repro canvas protector for 65p plus postage.
henk was the cheaper source ever sold me the ring for amal for a few euros!!
plus the hose for some 45-50 if i remember well.
2 more filter straps for 12
postage cost for filter = 30pounds.
the only way to sell it directly and fast cause i have needs was e bay.
that overcharges a 10% of final value fees
10% for postage insurance!!!!!!!!(the craziest fee ever-cause a tracked item is always responibility of the sender and offices)!so some less money from my pocket!!
plus that they keep the money and gave me these after 21 days....when they like the currency!!!forgot to say and approx 4% for paypal!
i will be clear. my profit for find it keep it for years,source all the parts
was around 128-130/
and iam not apologies to anyone.i just feel very sad looking this post cause i think its somethink like a game for everyone who has a normal life to find cheap parts and expose them with friends,and have fun..when someone who doeshn like a price simply wont buy......market has rules./
anyway,i sended double thanks to the buyer
CAUSE REAL LIFE AND HISTORY ALWAYS HAS DARK BACKROUND
and this man helped my family to survive some days with these 130 profit.
all the others was othersmoney simply returned to me.
the buyer of the filter and also the previous seller all they are members in here
so ''B'' and ''K'' you have my luminus salutation,cause you gave me help and hope by letting me keep the vokes for 4 years ( K)and complete my dream just before collapse,and ''B'' by choose to buy it from my and gave it a new home swaping AIR FOR ME AND MY SMALL BOY/
he will not have the luck to ride a B.S.A of his grand grand father when will be a man,but ok we are greeks,its just a detail......
part 3
iam a father now and my view was changed in one day.some memorandums and 2 years of unemployemend in a country with 12.000 deads in 5 years from hunger(you never heards in the news somethink hey?)367.000 people mostly scientists emigrated to other countries to give again the greek light(we kept in mainland the dark),plus some 1.200.000 emigrades refugees from WARS AROUND
(maybe after 75 years in a similar tread someguy will sell a tank filter like me and make some others keeping the stomach from laughs and the insanity of world)!!
THE WORLD WAS ALWAYS MAD.DONT FORGET THAT THESE MACHINES MADED FOR ARMY USE.
ARMY=KILLING OTHER PEOPLE=WAR=INSANITY
PS forgot to say that i payed some 25 for a book that gaven as a gift to the man(also in here as a member) that helped me in that search of the filter before 4 years.he gave me the info ''who and approx how much ''$$$ -plus 11 for postage.i can call him ''J''and thank him again!!!!
no i didthn charged them in the filters expences
was a greek gift to a friend-told just for the story////
well! that all.
MEMORIES BELONGS TO THE ELDERS LIFE TO YOUTH
greek phrase
have a nice day and happy miles.............iam in WW3 so i left the ww2 back.its just a faded memory..so dont be suprised soon when i will list some nos heavy parts (complete girder fork) still in army box for crazy amount.wait to see if will sell.after that i can tell you it really crazy story.(founded abandoned in a ww2 bunker at north pelloponese)............
email (option): stafis3@gmail.com
I'd put in for that as well...How much to get it from the States to Greece?...Ian
email (option): ian@wright52.plus.com
Hi all,
i'm a poor french , i'm living in a very small town i loose my workshop due to the crisis ( chineses are here also), just divorced ( at a big cost) with a little boy, he live with me ( very good!), i'm now working for 1400 euros per month ( equivalent to the 700 euros in greece or not too far) and need money too finalise my 6 enfields, if someone have a WD/D to offer to me please i really need one!! for a better life!!, i could pay it on 20 years plant!!!...
no seriously, firstly, accept to pay 750 pounds for a filter box, totally crazy!!! a Royal Enfield G rear stand just sold for £410!!!! i stop my bid at 110!! maybe more useful than the filter box, and far better than a wood block.
also on the bay, i just bought a flea/james carb for £5 and many others parts in last year,never high price the right price is what you want to pay for,....
world is crazy, yes, we also, with our military motorcycles
many thanks too all on this Forum, lots of informations and lot of big laught!!
Arnaud
email (option): leger-arnaud@wanadoo.fr
Ebay is a mad place to sell, sometime the prices goes mad and sometime you get a bargain. Here's a couple of items that went for a good price. I didn't buy them
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/WD-type-pillion-seat-genuine-/172149889516?_trksid=p2047675.l2557&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&nma=true&si=lpomCzpMKCd3C8ntAq3md0ZyK90%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc#ht_25wt_1323
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/301909275693?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT#ht_40wt_1353
email (option): horror@blueyonder.co.uk