The first motorcycles made at Meriden 1942,it lasted 41 years closing early 1983. "/>

Most of the 50 3TW batch were destroyed in the factory during the Coventry blitz,but did some survive and end up at meriden,the pillion seat and pannier bag set up point to 1942 or later,maybe they were still testing it for futher use?

Jan has found dated published Enfield photos showing panniers fitted as early as April 1941...it is perhaps not impossible that prototype sets were fitted at Coventry prior to November 1940...

Wehrmacht motorcycles had leather panniers prior to 1940 and the experiences in France and Flanders must have convinced the War Office that more carrying capacity was needed on WD machines...it's just a question of how quickly it occurred but it was clearly some time before they became a production fitment.

What's got me thinking these photos were taken much later than 1940 is the type of pillion seat fitted,and also the Webb type girder fork,pannier equipment was being fitted by at least November 1940 on some motorcycles l have a November 1940 dated Ariel book with a photo of panniers.

This full page advert from a March 1945 motorcycling gives a bit of info on wartime production,the parts for tanks is a new one to me?

Did they make generator or charging sets for armour as well as for aviation ?

Seen no evidence that they made generator sets for tanks,but looking at some other sites one mentions tank tracks and steering housings,the factory records for Triumph Engineering Co from 1936 to 1951 are held in Warwick university archives,so I suppose the answer might be there.

3HW engine assembly area 1943 in the recently open Meriden factory.

I don't know what year this was taken but it shows a 3TW on test in Cumbria, so some escaped from the factory bombing and could have ended up at Meriden...

There is another shot from the same series but showing a different bike...



I.ve posted this next picture previously but it may be of interest..A manual salvaged from the factory after the bombing..This belongs to a friend of mine...Ian

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

Here's the pic...Ian

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

The earlier 3TW had a small head lamp and bulb horn,the BSA B30 also had this as well.Experimental and never used on production models ??? The photo taken in Cumbria also appears in a june 1943 issue of MOTORCYCLING.

Another photo from the june 1943 MOTORCYCLING three page report. Two close ups of the early 3TW.Is there only one surviving 3TW ? it seems they were still trying it after the move to Meriden.

As far as I know there is only the one surviving 3TW at Beaulieu. Although I have it on very good authority that there is someone here in Dorset with an engine.

From memory it was just the first 50 WB30's with the small headlamp. They ran a direct lighting system from an alternator on top of the mag in place of the usual dynamo, to save the weight of a battery. It wasn't very successful so the next contract came with a standard headlamp, battery and dynamo, they also upgraded the 5" front brake to 7"

Here is the Beaulieu 3TW. Ron

email (option): ronpier@talk21.com

The 3TW came in different prototype versions as well...Some engines have the alternator on the timing side..Others on the drive side...

These were the first alternator systems and produced very little power...No regulator system existed for them either. They were unsuccessful at this early stage...

The WB30 shown in the previous post was one of the 'pre production' batch but I also have a photo of the same bike with magdyno electrics and other more standard parts 'retro fitted'...

Early versions of the WB30 displayed various differences in the specifications until the pre production batch of 50 machines were built for 'troop trials'...

Later 'production' WB30s had many detail differences to the pre production batch apart from the brakes (both brakes were originaly 5" diameter) and the electrical system. These were made as a result of the 'trials'......Ian

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

Here's another 3TW that sold at Bonhams.

Rob

https://www.bonhams.com/auctions/15321/lot/439/

email (option): robmiller11(a)yahoo.co.uk

Ah Rob, I wonder if this is the engine that I've heard about. I was told that the owner was going to build a replica. The frame that it's in TL33302 is actually a 3HW frame.

Ron

email (option): ronpier@talk21.com

Are we talking about one of these engines?


Jan

email (option): wd.register@gmail.com

Common as muck these Triumph engines Jan! Not like the Royal Enfield 350 lightweight. Ron

email (option): ronpier@talk21.com