Hi everyone.

I know this may not be to everyone's taste but does anyone have an idea of what this colour may me. My M20 is slowly coming together and its not 100% original so I'm possibly deviating from the path and having hopefully this colour tank if I can find out what it may actually be. If the bike was more original I would be trying to get it back to how it started out but now I just want to get it on the road, look after it and ride it as much as possible.



Thanks

Tony

It looks like a much earlier model SV sloper to me. Like this 1935 M35. Ron

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email (option): ronpier@talk21.com

I think the colour on the Sloper catalogue bike is 'Brunswick Green'...a colour that was a feature of numerous early BSA models...

The tank colour on 1948-54 rigid and plunger model B31s is very similar...

However, if the bike isn't 'standard' I suppose you can choose any colour you like the look of...

'Civvy' Girder fork M20s had a silver tank with black lining and a black BSA logo up till 1947..Actually listed as 'semi matt silver' but I used gloss lacquer on the last one I did

I did the tank of my 51 rigid B33 in black with red panels and gold leaf lining...I lifted the colour scheme from an Excelsior Manxsman purely because I thought it was eye catching....

I'm not sure that the bike in your initial posting is in the correct colour green anyway... but I have to admit I'm not an expert on the numerous mid 30s BSA models...Ian

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

P.S....Looking again, with acetylene lamps still fitted that bike is probably late 20s...I think the acetylene 'option' was discontinued in 1928..

Though I'm sure if it wasn't someone will put me right... ...Ian

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

Appropriately enough, as it is photographed at Brooklands, 'PK' was a Surrey series and was issued MAY 1928 -> MAY 1929

Tony, are you showing this photo just to demonstrate the colour you want? Or is it your actual bike? - which in fairness doesn't look as if it needs much 'doing up'. Ron is right, it isn't an M20 so don't try and get it 'back' to M20 spec 'cos you won't make it mate :-)

The colour of the tank does not look anything like the Brunswick Green I was familiar with from a previous machine, but of course the action of the original light conditions and computer screen colours don't always give a true indication.

As Ian says, if it isn't original anyway then paint it what you like.

I suspect Tony has used the picture to show the colour...I can't imagine he thinks that bike is an M20....

That green certainly isn't Brunswick green!....Ian

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

Thanks everyone

Sadly it isn't my bike as it does look in fine fettle but I do really like the colour of the tank so I'm trying to find out what colour it is. The interesting part as pointed out is that it may not be a standard colour for that bike anyway but worth an ask. So is the general consensus that it isn't brunswick green as that will narrow it done a little

Cheers

Tony

BSA used 5 different Brunswick Greens and none are the same as the currently available Brunswick Greens which comes in Deep, Medium & Light.
Brunswick green, like Kakhi was a type of green rather than an actual shade.
It is a blue/black green .
Modern days with standardised colours they range from British racing green used pre depression (1927) through to light forrest green used on the smaller ( cheaper ) bikes.
Liquise the "cream" can vary from yellow off white through to yellow not far from this web page.
The yellow ground on the vintage clubs copies of BSA tank decals was just about the colour of the cream side pannels for that bike.
If you go to the BRitish Standard named colours you will find it some where around mid brunswick green to deep forrest green.
Sort of normal is to use the less creamy colours for full green , particularly if the bike is going to have gold pin lining
If it is going to have cream side pannes then a more yellow version farly close to plain forrest green tends to get used particulaly if red pin lining is to be used.
It is really a case of picking the shades that will work together.

email (option): wariron@tpg,com,au

Tony. Have you ever looked at the colour chips in a an auto paint shop? Removing Brunswick green would probably narrow it down to 500 other shades of green. I guess who ever owns that sloper has attempted to make the tank the correct colour, and possibly got it fairly close, which is difficult to tell from a photo. Why don't you visit your local auto paint supplier and check out the colour swatches. When I was trying to choose a colour for a bike I built, I bought some aerosols from Halfords to test spray the tank with first. I wasted three £6 blue cans before I chose a red colour Ron

email (option): ronpier@talk21.com

Thank you to all that replied and the great information.

The tank has now been prepared for spraying and I'm going to go along armed with a few pictures to help picking a colour that I like. As mentioned in previous posts what with bikes not necessarily being the original colours in photos and certain colours no longer being available I just need to pick a colour I like

This does however bring me onto my next post regarding tanks sealers for rusty tanks. I'll start a new post for that one...

Thanks again

Tony

Is this the original colour of the BSA civil m20?