As many will know, the standard brass WD-type rectangular contract plates fitted to most WD bikes (and some other vehicles too) were replaced by a thin pressed-steel version probably from late-1942/early 1943 onward.............

Does anybody know if these steel plates had the rectangular "boxes" surrounding "Chassis Contract Number" and "Catalogue Ref No." in-filled in black paint ? Or were they just left plain pressed steel........? Can't find any period photos showing an example so does anyone have an original providing a clue ?

I think they were cad plated but I don't know if this was before or after having the contract number engraved.

Never seen one with paint on it though.

Rob

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

I would guess this one has some of the original finish left.

Rob

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

I think you're right there Rob.......the one I have here (from a 1943 James ML contract S.1972) has what appears to be cadmium plating still present on the rear............

The 2 rectangular boxes were in-filled in black paint.

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Regards,
Peter

Only on the brass ones!

Cheers,

Lex

email (option): welbike@sameagain.net

Hello Peter

Is that a late war steel plate or an earlier brass plate which were painted.

Rob

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

Hello Rob,

IWM B7020 picture taken in Normandy on 12 July 1944, the complete picture shows two Matchless motorcycles with both ,what I thought were, cadmium plated steel contract plates.
But after having a closer look at the picture I think I recognise the first two digits of the census number as C49 on one of the bikes.
If that is the case the bike is from contract C14499 and did have a brass contract plate.
However if the colour of the plate is compared with the cadmium plated nuts and bolts and to the brass buckles on the pannier bags it looks like a steel plate to me.

Regards,
Peter

I didn't realize that WD machines have this plate. Only knew about the rebuild plates. Were they fitted from the factory? Is it a good idea to fit one to a machine that is being assembled from various donor parts? Are the plates available and are the plates the same for all the models?

email (option): iron_ariel@yahoo.ca

Hi Wade...Rob Miller from this forum makes good replicas of the brass ones, though I don't know what his current stock situation is..

I'm unsure whether they were factory (or REME) fitted, but all the bikes had them....

There are also some on e bay at the moment...Ian

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

As a rule of thumb we can say that the C contracts had Copper (Brass in fact...) contract plates, and the S contracts had Steel plates. The Welbike S contracts are the exception to the rule...

Per contract all plates had the same information stamped (or etched...?) on them, but this information varied between contracts. So if you want to get your plate correct, you will have to find a picture of an original plate for that contract...

Jan

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

I've had a couple of NOS BSA and Norton tail sections over the years, and both types were pre-drilled for the fitting of the relevant contract plate.........

I would assume that they were factory-fitted building bikes to particular contracts....? Same with Jeeps, WD vehicles, etc.........? One exception may be lend-lease stuff that may just have had the plates added following delivery to the relevant ordnance depot but not sure........

I have had a couple of bikes in my time that had brass contract plates bearing the full contract number (eg "294/23/S.5209") but most just carry the abbreviated "C" or "S" prefix followed by the 3, 4 or 5 digit contract number and catalogue reference number.............

Most BSA's and Nortons had these plates fitted from as early as 1940, some early examples having them affixed to the top of the rear numberplate, latterly the tail-section of the rear mudguard..........as for Matchless, most G3's don't seem to have them fitted but G3L's do, almost always on the toolbox lid........Ariel W/NG's have them on the lower-portion of the rear mudguard tail, as do James ML's.....Welbike's have the plate affixed to the left side of the frame bridge plate below the saddle tube..........early WD RE/Flea's have the tag bent around the left-rear frame tube above the chainguard and secured by a rivet....this was later moved to the rear mudguard tail on subsequent contracts..........not sure however, about other Royal Enfield's, Triumph's not Velocette's.......

Always seemed an odd idea to me to fit the plate to a detachable (and interchangeable) mudguard tail piece..or any other piece come to that.

The frame front section would be the correct spot I would have thought...Ian

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

Always seemed an odd idea to me to fit the plate to a detachable (and interchangeable) mudguard tail piece..or any other piece come to that.

The frame front section would be the correct spot I would have thought...Ian

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

I have a photo of a Norton example from the pre-war contract C9681 which commenced delivery in March 1937 and they are sometimes visible on other pre-war photos. My rear bracket from C5109 was not drilled and the plates are not visible in photographs of this contract. It was however, the first wartime contract and increased from 2000 to 6000 machines so presumably they didn't delay production if no plates were available.

got one from an Austin Utility, in brass with black painted boxes

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

Jan, that is most probably a "V" contract!!

Then there are SM brass plates, and that stands for Supply Mechanical.

And how about the Enfield DDS1638 plate that is brass?

As Steve says, never ever seen a Matchless G3WO plate fitted!

Cheers,

Lex

email (option): welbike@sameagain.net

I know, I know... This was only meant as "a rule of thumb", not as the Holy Bible!

There are indeed some exceptions... V contracts are very rare for motorcycles, and the DDS plates were issued before the contract was "signed" (hence they still used the "Demands" number instead of the "Contract" number...).

Cheers,
Jan

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

Most 4 wheeled vehicles had V number plates, have several (pictures)

Thanks for the DDS info, didn't know that!

Cheers,

Lex

email (option): welbike@sameagain.net

Great information. Thanks Ian.
Steve, thanks for letting us know where the various models located the plates.
Do you have a picture of your W/NG contract plate in it's originally installed tail section position that you would be willing to post? The 1944 W/NG I am building is assembled from a non contract related engine and frame.
I presume that the frame number or part of it is stamped under the CHASSIS heading? What goes under the CATALOGUE REF. side?
Thanks,
Wade

email (option): iron_ariel@yahoo.ca

Hello Wade,

Here you can see the Ariel tail section with contract plate.

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Jan

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

Jan, thanks for posting the Ariel photo.......

Wade, if you could quote your W/NG frame and engine number we could take it from there ? There are a number of experts on here regarding Ariel's......

Mick may be able to help as his access to W/NG records is slightly better than mine......

Here's another one;



Don't have a picture of a real plate yet for Ariels, if anyone can do one please for my growing collection?

Wade, no frame numbers etc. on the contract plates, just contract info, hence the name.

Cheers,

Lex

ps, I do have a picture of the Ariel/Matchless Hybrid plate, also a DDS number, figures!

email (option): welbike@sameagain.net

Hi Jan,
Very nice picture of the tail section. Thank you for posting. Funny how I've never been aware of this plate til now.

Thanks Lex. Makes sense to have the contract number under the CONTRACT side. What was I thinking :-)? Still don't know about the CATALOGUE REF. side.

Steve, from your book I know a fair bit about the engine and frame. Frame XG49657 and engine BH23903. Also have frame XG49500 (currently under restoration).
Yes the engine and frame were released a year apart but that is what I have. Years ago bought the empty crank cases on eBay and went from there. Anyone have 44 cases available or does it matter?
Cheers,
Wade

email (option): iron_ariel@yahoo.ca

Hi Lex

That is on Ted Cottons Ariel shown in the 1978 "Moose Brain Smith" book the "First Military Machine Scene" but I suspect it wasn't always on the tool box, it may have been moved when the rear number plate was retro fitted.

Rob

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

Here is a contract plate from a "V" contract, this one is RAF so instead of the catalogue reference number it has the vehicle model, I've often wondered if RAF motorcycles ever used this system?

Rob

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