The sign is for the 3rd Infantry Division and WM20 is from a contract in 1940. Going by the appearance of the bike, I would say the photo was taken in 1940.
regards, Richard

That BSA has frame number WM20.20458 and it left the factory 5-6-1940 and it went to the War Office.

Henk.

email (option): ahum@quicknet.nl

Would I be correct in thinking it had rubber mounted handlebars?

Yes Keith and rubber mounted bars were also fitted to subsequent contracts in 1940.....Perhaps Henk will know when it was changed to solid bars? Ron

email (option): ronpier@talk21.com

Nice picture!, you can clearly spot here that bend in the exhaust pipe of the early models are much more to the front than the later models, it almost hits the front mudguard.

Ron's handlebar picture also gives a good view of BSA's levers. I've been told there's a second ferrule piece that fits into the levers, with the cable ends fitted to them. But not on this one...

Not sure what you mean by a second ferrule Bob? Here's some close ups of mine, which is the only way I've seen them. The front brake has a parking brake button.....for side car use! Ron

email (option): ronpier@talk21.com

email (option): ronpier@talk21.com

What a great bike, this early m20.
This one seems to have a front brake cable instead of a rod (?)

Ron,

Your cable clamps are the pre war type, which don't have a bolt head for the bolt going through the sleeve in the lever. Later BSA used the small clamp bolt with a hexagon for that bolt.

Regards,
Leon

email (option): leonhop3_at_planet_dot_nl

I agree, great looking bike still with the big tank and 8" headlight but lost it's valance rear guard but still with the early rack. What year would this be late 1939 early 1940?
I had never noticed the latter bend on the exhaust pipe either.

Tim W

That BSA with tank number C4347367 has frame number WM20.30775 and it left the factory 9-1-1941.

Henk

email (option): ahum@quicknet.nl

email (option): ronpier@talk21.com

Yes Ron, the KM and early WM pipes seem to be about 20 mm more to the front than the later ones.

Quite a difference but you only see it when you know :relaxed:

Photographs of Nortons suggest that the change came at contract C11082 which was the subject of quite a number of variations...This puts the switch around March / April 1942 in terms of actual deliveries. C10217 which ran into early 1942 still had the larger lamp.

Thanks for those pictures Michiel. I guess the front pipe is nothing you could buy off the shelve? I have a good tube firm near me who could make them near exact, but they would need a bike on their bench and a good picture to work from. They've made a few pipes like that for me. Also Horror's Manx Norton and his WD model 18:relaxed:

The hex on the cable pinch bolt is a better idea, as the only way to hold the pin on the earlier version is by holding the cable. I wouldn't mind the hex version pins myself! Ron

email (option): ronpier@talk21.com