Had an email from Ron asking if I knew anything about these brackets fitted to some saddles fitted to the Triumph 3SW,this is what I have come up with.
below,one of the photos from Ron showing the mystery brackets.

below,another photo from Ron showing a close up of one of the brackets
below,the only info these three 3SW parts books give is.F1728 saddle complete lycett.

Now you're making us curious Steve! 😊 What is the purpose of these brackets?

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

below,this 1939 parts book also covers the military 3SW model,at the rear are three pages that show parts for competition models,the saddle listed here is what I think was fitted to some of the 3SWs.

below,F1794 saddle extension bridge,is what I think the mystery brackets are for.

below,Triumph brochure shot showing standard saddle.

below,brochure shot showing competition model,saddle is raised at rear.

below, another photo from Ron showing 3SWs one of which has the competition type saddle and the others the standard saddle,Triumph must have used up saddles that had the extension bridge on a certain number of bikes.

below,although this saddle is for a 1936 Triumph ,the saddle extension bridge could be similar.

The original saddle with the brackets in Rons photo has the curved angle facing upwards,you would probably need to find an original saddle with the extension bridge still bolted in situ to be 100% sure.

I assumed these brackets were to bolt on the knee pads to protect the pillion rider?

Rob

Hi Rob,no pillion on these earlier models,presumably the raised extension bridge was to stop the rider slipping backwards off road,the saddle cover must have been different as well to fit over the extension.

Ah! Yes! Capito! Now I understand!

💡

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

Was this Lycette saddle also used on the 3HW?

Rob

No I don't think so,the saddle extension bridge was an optional extra on the single cylinder tiger competition models, it's most likely they had some of these saddles with the riveted brackets and they bolted any spare extension bridges onto them and used up the saddle covers which must have been slightly larger to fit over the extension,and fitted them on a limited number of bikes to use them up,when it comes to saddles and pillion seats the Triumph 3HW parts books weren't very accurate,the parts book show Lycetts and Terrys used as riders saddle, no makers name is given on the pillion seats used but they used Lycetts and Mansfield as seen on original photos, pictures of late 3HWs also show that riders saddles were also Mansfield, but it's not shown in parts books.

The (very) early BSA and Ariel Lycett saddles also have these brackets, and an upwards facing angle iron. Would these also have been ex civilian saddles with the possibility of mounting an extension? Has anybody got pictures of late 1930's BSAs or Ariels where this is visible?

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

The first photo with the saddle cover partially removed is an original photo from a ww2 issue of motorcycling about maintenance of WD models, it's a 3SW model that's been fitted with a Lycetts saddle with brackets,but no saddle extension bridge is bolted to it,could that mean it was never fitted,or has it been removed as its a machine that been in use for a while and another (standard) saddle cover been fitted that wouldn't fit over the extension, hence its removal, only a guess though but never say never.

Ho... Bingo! Steve, you've nailed it!!!

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

These 3HWs have the pillion knee protectors, what saddle is this and how are the knee protectors fitted?

Rob

Great research Steve.
Rob, Lex has pictures of saddles with slotted holes for the knee protector to bolt to. He also has pictures of the protectors themselves. I'm sure he'll be along soon. Ron

email (option): ronpier@talk21.com

Yes, interesting! and good find! you can read and see other pictures on HMVF.

https://hmvf.co.uk/topic/44660-the-saddle-thread-a-rivet-counter%E2%80%99s-guide-to-the-wd-motorcycle-saddles/page/6/#comment-519269

Cheers,

Lex

email (option): welbike@outlook.com

Hi Steve,
I started a discussion on the HMVF forum about Lycett Aero saddles with two mystery brackets.
I thought your idea of ​​mounting the curved angle bracket upwards made sense.

But I found a photo of the saddle with this additional extension bridge. Unfortunately, it's riveted directly to the L-shaped seat frame.
There must be another explanation for these two mystery brackets.

Don't know how to attach photos?

Best regards,
Paweł

email (option): p.cendrowicz@pawotex.pl

Just send them to me Pawel, and I will post them for you. Or is this the saddle you mean?

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

Pawel just sent me these pictures:

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

So if that is the case? It looks like the brackets could be for the Triumph version of the knee protectors after all? Ron

email (option): ronpier@talk21.com

I'm getting closer to this theory too, Ron.
Maybe someone can find a photo explaining what those mystery brackets were for.
Best regards, Pawel

email (option): p.cendrowicz@pawotex.pl