Hello.

I am currently looking at a bike with matching numbers 105877. Can anybody tell me when this bike would have been built and the contract number it may have had?

Thanks,
Ben.

email (option): benjamincameron75@gmail.com

The actual factory despatch records for the later war WM20s no longer survive so an exact date is not possible.

WM20 105877 was ordered under contract no. S5209 dated December 1943 and with delivery scheduled at 2000 per month commencing July 1944. As the 1059th machine built under the contract, it would have displayed the WD census number C5546577 and probably been delivered to RAOC Chilwell around August / September 1944.

Hello Rik.

Thanks for the info. I went ahead and purchased the bike. it seems pretty original and with all the military fixings. It has, among other white stenciled markings, "LOT 61" in large block letters on the top of the tank. Could this be a surplus auction number maybe? It has as I mentioned matching numbers. Is this not unusual for WW2 bikes?

Regards,
Ben.

email (option): benjamincameron75@gmail.com

The lot number almost certainly relates to a disposal sale.

A number of published sources have pushed the idea that matching numbers are almost unknown on ex-WD bikes but in fact it doesn't seem that uncommon particularly on later machines. The majority don't match but quite a number still do.

The WD rebuild system used in the large workshops did mean that parts became separated but not all machines were rebuilt during their service life and small workshops seem to have kept parts together. I suspect that quite a lot of mismatching occurred during post-war civilian life and yours seems to have avoided that.

It may well be worth having a good look at the numbers, just to make sure that one or the other hasn't been altered to match.

Hey Rik.

Got some photos I can send you. How do you up load them?

email (option): benjamincameron75@gmail.com

Hey Rik.

Got some photos I can send you. How do you up load them?

email (option): benjamincameron75@gmail.com

Hey Rik.

Got some photos I can send you. How do you up load them?[/quote]

The easiest way to upload photos to set up an account on photobucket (web based photo hosting company if you haven't heard of it), upload the photos to photobucket and then it will give you a html link to the photo that you just paste into the text of your message.
This forum itself doesn't have the ability to directly upload photos into your post.

email (option): tmuir12@gmail.com

Finally got the bike home yesterday. The contract plate was intact and was stamped 294/23/S5209 CAT REF NO. 36.
The frame and engine numbers have not been messed with. It has a WD stamped Good Year tyre on the rear and a "MILITARY" stamp on the front tyre which is a Fire Stone. Stensiled on the top of the fuel tank in red is "drive on the right" and in white what looks like "676". Over top of this in large block is "LOT 161". Was a bit of an ordeal getting it to my garage but I think it was worth it!

"Drive on the right" makes it seem the Americans or Canadians must have used it.

Or some GI stole it and needed a reminder.

email (option): britool51@hotmail.com

Don't they drive on the right side in France and the rest of Europe?

Anywhere in Europe taken over by Bonaparte I think....Ian

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

Sounds about right!

This bike was from one of the last two wartime contracts that had the Vokes tank top filter fitted as standard....Ian

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

Thanks for the info Ian. That part was missing when I purchased it and the current going price on those bad boys is a little steep for me right now!