After having made CAD drawings of the typical Royal Enfield and Ariel census number fonts, I have now done the same job for the font that was used by BSA for the WM20.
The font that is (up until) now often used for BSA census number is ARIAL Bold. This font was developed for Microsoft in 1982. Not really correct for WW2 motorcycles… That is why I studied the original font from old photos and made CAD drawings of each character. In contrast to Ariel and Enfield, BSA did not use stencils (Ariel) or transfers (Enfield), but everything was applied by hand by a signwriter. That's why some small differences may occur, but the style is quite consistent.
I have sent this font to Axholme, low tack stencils are now available from them. In the pictures below you can see the comparison between BSA font (top) and ARIAL Bold font (bottom), as well as some WW2 examples.
email (option): wd.register@gmail.com
Good stuff, Jan. Your work is now being advertised all over FB Groups !:smile:
This standardised font presumably applies after the BSA factory took over applying the serials during the early part of 1940...Presumably around the changeover from contract C5610 to C6126 - i.e. WM20 18000.
Prior to that, we see the characteristic RAOC Chilwell signwriter's style.
pic a pix book