Can anyone tell me when the 'rebuild' C numbers were introduced?...Also, what number did they commence and end with..?...Ian

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

Haha, that would be toooo easy, but most started with 14.

There were different blocks of them I believe.

Cheers,

Lex

email (option): welbike@welbxxx.net

Hi Ian

I don't think we know the exact date that they started, there is a picture of an M20 wearing "C1441953" liberating a Dutch or Belgium town which seems to prove it was before the end of the war but by how much still remains unknown.

Rob van Meels books on allocations of serial numbers states that:-
1400000-1499999 Rebuilt Motor Cycles
1500000-1599999 Rebuilt Cars
1600000-1699999 Rebuilt Trucks
1700000-1799999 Rebuilt Lorries & Trucks
The book indicates these number were allotted prior to 23rd November 1944.

A study of the BSA and Norton keycards has shown some interesting patterns, the first rebuild number I have found so far was BSA WM20 33118 with serial C1400632 and the last being BSA WM20 48625 with the serial C1475183, the Norton numbers are mixed in without any recognisable pattern and I assume the gaps which are left would be mostly Matchless's.

The keycards also show 3 Norton 16Hs from the block 6000000-6009999 Motor Cycles Captured ect,
29611 6002005
104949 6002025
10121 6002081

And a number of serials from the block 6050000-6099999 which is listed in Robs book as "Reserved", so far my list starts at BSA WM20 2981 with the serial 6050002 and ends on WM20 93356 with the serial 6050351.

Some of the BSA with rebuild numbers have frame numbers from RAF contracts, handed over to the army for some reason?

And just to complicate the matter a little bit more a Norton Big4 petrol tank turned up with an original "14..." rebuild number painted on, it seems unlikely that a Big4 would go through the rebuilding system when it was already obsolete by the end of the war so perhaps it was fitted on a 16H?

Hope this is of help

Rob

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

I just love the detail that some folk on here know!

Thanks for the info. Rob...I'm thinking of using a 'rebuild' number on my M20..After all I have rebuilt it three times now.. ...Ian

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

I don't know where this image came from - I've had it on the pc since 2006...It has the looks of a scan from 'Windscreen', possibly...No idea either if the date given of 1943 bears up to scrutiny. If so, then C1461573 was applied as early as '43.

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Hi guys, according to the photo of a card sent to me from Henk, my m20 rebuild number is C1447008 so even earlier than the one in Rik's photo and that was 1943, so many seem to have been rebuilt, if only we could find out where they served, WOW! that would be so good.
Thanks for a great forum.
Cheers, Chris

email (option): c.w.taylor@btinternet.com

Hi Chris

Your M20 would originally have had a regular C number, the rebuild numbers listed in the keycards were issued later, the card just shows the last known number painted on the bike in 1947/8ish when the modern registration number system (eg"99ZA99") was brought in.

It would be great if the wartime keycards had survived, but it seems likely they were destroyed when this postwar set was created.

Rob

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

Hi all, have a similar picture from 1943, and is from George Mc Cleans workforce, Ward Road Dundee, but no rebuild numbers there, seems original numbers were re-applied.

Re. Matchless rebuild numbers, there are loads, 1400956 1460810 ranges, and everything inbetween, that was from a quick glance in the cards.

Where does that fit in the scheme of things Rob?

Cheers,

Lex

email (option): welbike@welbxxx.net

Hi Rob, I have got an original C no. C13290 and frame no. 81381 and this is when my m20 was rebuilt with C1447008 as its new contract number, the card says it was with 552 SQN RCT (TA), does anyone know what this is, I assume it is or was a military regiment, thanks in advance for any help, this truly is a brilliant site.
Cheers, Chris

email (option): c.w.taylor@btinternet.com

Hi Chris,

The original tank number for your BSA would have been C4865364. The C13290 number is the contract number in which your BSA was build.

Henk

email (option): ahum@quicknet.nl

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

Wow! Thanks Henk, this is a real learning curve, no wonder you guys get so into it, it is a minefield (pardon the pun), but well worth the journey, thanks again and I hope one day we meet.
Cheers, Chris

email (option): c.w.taylor@btinternet.com

Thanks Rob, now I just need to know where my m20 was based, I know it is nigh on impossible to get war history, but I am going to enjoy the challenge of finding as much info as possible and with sites like this there is always a chance.
Thanks ALL.
Cheers, Chris

email (option): c.w.taylor@btinternet.com

Meet Henk if you must! But I must warn you, he likes to take all his clothes off Ron

email (option): ronpier@talk21.com

Ron, behave!!!

Rob, what does 223 SQN RCT (V) means?? V for Volunteer??

Cheers,

Lex

email (option): welbike@welbxxx.net

Yes it looks like Volunteers is the answer.

http://www.win.tue.nl/~drenth/BritArmy/Lineage/RLC/

Rob

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

I see a "14" Norton on the forum photo !

Noam.

email (option): noam10@gmail.com

That norton tank and the pannier bag look a very dark colour when comparing them to the norton front mudguard and lorry.

That norton tank and the pannier bag look a very dark colour when comparing them to the norton front mudguard and lorry.

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

You should have seen us when you were away Dave.

Henk

email (option): ahum@quicknet.nl

Ah.... That's why she's still trembling Was it a Wendy sandwich between you and Ron

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

['That's why she's still trembling Was it a Wendy sandwich between you and Ron']...

I'm now beginning to get a clearer understanding of the concept of 'Post Traumatic Stress'... ... ...Ian

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

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

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