The image shows an inspection prior to QVR departing for their last pre-war TA camp in August 1939.
Do you remember, young Nathan paid over £700 for one of these? :face_with_thermometer: Ron
email (option): ronpier@talk21.com
They are definitely brass Henri. The one in my post above which is the one on the left here is an original, the one on the right is one I made from a standard "brass" 1130 car lamp. I've seen them also made from pressed steel and cast monkey metal (depending on period I guess)
For the number plate window, I simply used the flexiglass panel from one of the cheap repro MT110 lamps that I had knocking around.
I think I might still have the details for making them which I found on an Ariel site....They were also fitted for one year only to Ariel's 1939 or 40? Ron
email (option): ronpier@talk21.com
Thank you Ron,
Was trying to identify mine.
Good tip on using the repop plex. Got some of those and will get at it.
Last question, are those plate numbers current for road travel or are they vintage numbers used in WW2 recreations?
email (option): unpob@yahoo.com
As Ian said we can use period number plates and the old B&W format on "historic" vehicles. We can also claim an age related number when registering an Historic vehicle that has lost it's original number by being parked in a barn for 30-40-50 years. Also unlike a lot of other European countries, we can purchase/transfer what is called a "Cherished" number. Ron
email (option): ronpier@talk21.com
To be clear, the sidecar lights on the Big 4's are not the same as the BSA taillamps (MT1130) they are the normal car ones, with a white lense, no number plate aperature, and no red plastic Lucas badge, but a bigger plated brass one.
And then these lamps were only used on early bikes, later ones had a special one, that sits higher.
This is what happens as your sidecar falls over! not a happy camper here!
Lex
email (option): welbike@welbike.net
The 1130 side-lamps appear to have been used up to and including contract C5333 - June 1940 at S1561.
The style had certainly changed by early in contract V3849, delivered from July 1940. This will be S1567.
Yes, exactly, was trying to find more pictures, of the later lamp, but guess I have to go and make some! The make is Powell & Hanmer.
Maybe from this contract on, the Lucas diff lamp was also used? (never a Butler, that's postwar)
Cheers,
Lex
email (option): welbike@welbike.net
My Big 4 is from a later contract and I hunted down one of those lamps. Ron
email (option): ronpier@talk21.com
The 1130 may well have been the standard Norton pre-war lamp. The appropriate page is included in some WD16H Spare Parts Lists...Odd really as there were almost no Army WD 16H sidecar outfits.
The RAF used them, of course.
Maybe from this contract on, the Lucas diff lamp was also used? (never a Butler, that's postwar)
Cheers,
Lex
What early colour would the big4 outfits in the forum picture be and does it differ to the headlamp rims? I feel it does.
Rob
email (option): robmiller11(a)yahoo.co.uk
I'm pretty sure that they are in the early 1939 'Dull Green' referred to in the Norton records. It may well be that the headlamp rim is KG3....The rim on my December '39 16H had a more satin finish than the other parts. Lucas parts were clearly supplied in paint by them. I suspect that mixes of colour components occurred every time that there was a change of basic colour.
