WD Motorcycle forum

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Jul 11, 2012 - 11:02PM

Look who got himself a new BSA in 1942

Just looking through the BSA ledgers and found this, George Formby isn't that funny?

Machting engine and frame numbers WM20 3523.

Henk

email (option): ahum@quicknet.nl

jeff dennis

Jul 11, 2012 - 11:14PM

Re: Look who got himself a new BSA in 1942

WM20 3523 is a low number for a 1942 model,look`s more like a 1939 one?

email (option): fisherman322@yahoo.com

Henk WM21 2415

Jul 11, 2012 - 11:22PM

Re: Look who got himself a new BSA in 1942

You are right about that but if you look through these BSA ledgers, strange things happened there in the BSA factory.

Henk

email (option): ahum@quicknet.nl

Ian Wright

Jul 11, 2012 - 11:34PM

Re: Look who got himself a new BSA in 1942

'Turned out nice again...te he'...Ian

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

roger

Jul 12, 2012 - 7:32AM

Re: Look who got himself a new BSA in 1942

it had a sidecar box on it for his window cleaning round

email (option): roger.beck@node6.com

rob van Meel

Jul 12, 2012 - 8:02AM

Re: Look who got himself a new BSA in 1942

And the moment the war was over, and motorcycles were once more available for the civilian market, he did a part-ex deal on a cammy Norton!

Rob Miller

Jul 12, 2012 - 8:43AM

Re: Look who got himself a new BSA in 1942

Henk WM21 2415

Just looking through the BSA ledgers and found this, George Formby isn't that funny?

Machting engine and frame numbers WM20 3523.

Henk

Well spotted Henk.

He was in the Blackpool Home Guard for a while, I wonder if he obtained the bike for them or if he just used it himself as a wartime runabout?

http://www.georgeformby.org/biography/war-years/

Rob.

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

Ron Pier

Jul 12, 2012 - 8:43AM

Re: Look who got himself a new BSA in 1942

At least while he was riding a bike, he wasn't squeaking out one of his awfull songs with that bloody banjo thing!!! How he became one of the UK's richest entertainers I'll never understand? Ron

email (option): ronpier@talk21.com

Horror

Jul 12, 2012 - 12:32PM

Re: Look who got himself a new BSA in 1942

rob van Meel

And the moment the war was over, and motorcycles were once more available for the civilian market, he did a part-ex deal on a cammy Norton!

Yes Rob, and that sold sold £30,000 in 2007

http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/News/newsresults/mcn/2007/December/december-3-9/dec0407georgeformbysnortoninternationalsellsfor30000/

email (option): horror@blueyonder.co.uk

roger

Jul 12, 2012 - 4:06PM

Re: Look who got himself a new BSA in 1942

would BSA been allowed to sell one of their WD contract bikes to a private buyer for his own use

email (option): roger.beck@node6.com

John Harris

Jul 13, 2012 - 4:34AM

Re: Look who got himself a new BSA in 1942

. . . and would they have sold it/would he have bought it under his stage name?

email (option): jonny.rudge@verizon.net

Cycle Fred

Jul 13, 2012 - 3:35PM

Re: Look who got himself a new BSA in 1942

http://www.roganjosh.net/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2006/01/formbyrock.gif

L.A.kevin

Jul 15, 2012 - 5:59PM

Re: Look who got himself a new BSA in 1942

Being a Yank, I'd never heard of the guy, but I just saw a clip from "No Limit" after reading this thread, and I've gotta get a copy of that film.

Henri

Jul 16, 2012 - 12:07AM

Re: Look who got himself a new BSA in 1942

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9NAi6feAMOs&feature=related

Guess that was the Norton International.

email (option): unpob@yahoo.com

Horror

Jul 16, 2012 - 1:35PM

Re: Look who got himself a new BSA in 1942

Have you seen this bike at the shows..? A replica of the George Shuttleworth Speed Demon. I didn't get a picture of the bloke with the bike, but he dresses up like George Formby and plays the ukulele

email (option): horror@blueyonder.co.uk

Horror

Jul 16, 2012 - 2:03PM

Re: Look who got himself a new BSA in 1942

I've just found this on You tube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sn7gFmSyb4w&feature=related

email (option): horror@blueyonder.co.uk

Cycle Fred

Jul 16, 2012 - 2:40PM

Re: Look who got himself a new BSA in 1942

Horror, That link, ...BRILLIANT!!

Ron Pier

Jul 16, 2012 - 3:40PM

Re: Look who got himself a new BSA in 1942

The same bloke dresses up as Stan Laurel, and drive around at the 'Goodwood Revival' all day in a Black Model T Ford with his partner Oliver Hardy. However copyrights have forced them to call themselves 'Haurel and Lardy'. It never ceases to amaze me how easily he starts and rides that bike though and he seems to know how to fettle it. Ron

email (option): ronpier@talk21.com