Short of finding unit symbols / designations under the paint, is there any way to determone, what unit an M20 Bike might have been assigned to?
(Frame No 110856 / C5551556 / Contract No. S5209 12/43 - 7/45)
Mike Margolis - Tucson, AZ USA

email (option): mikemargolis@cox.net

Hi Mike

I believe I am correct in all I say here - if not you certainly get a correct answer!

As stated unless you are exceptionally fortunate insofar you find evidence of unit markings on the bike the answer is no for WW2. The Key Card data will probably, if it was retained after WW2, give you its last known unit prior to disposal.

Sorry.

Andy

email (option): a.tizzard@btopenworld.com

In view of the fact that fuel tanks and mudguards are so easily swapped, even finding markings is no guarantee, unless the bike is a time capsule that saw no post-war service.

Rob van den Brink's Norton site has a useful bit about the difficulty of tracing vehicle history.

http://www.wdnorton.nl/Individual_motorcycle_history.htm

Basically, all wartime paperwork seems to have been destroyed in the late 1940s. The odd piece that has surfaced was probably mis-filed or kept as a souvenir.

We live in hope but these records would have taken up so much space that it's most unlikely that any quantity survives anywhere.

Henk was kind enough to send me some photos of bikes that had C numbers close to the one I have. Now that I read the Norton article referenced above about the idea that the C numbers may have been retouched for security purposes, the dead end is even more dead!

email (option): msawicki@mailer.fsu.edu

Andy. Thank you. I had a hunch that the answer would be heck NO. That said, the people on the Forum have been SO kind. Appreciate everybody's help! Regards, Mike in the Desert.

email (option): mikemargolis@cox.net

Rik, Thank you for shedding even more light in this!
Mike in the Desert.

email (option): mikemargolis@cox.net

Mark, Thank you for your help! I now feel free to a paint the Bike nearly any color and apply nearly any type of applicable unit designation desired without fear of criticism..
Again, Thank you! Regards. Mike in the Desert

email (option): mikemargolis@cox.net

Seems like you should paint it in a desert scheme

Ron

email (option): ronpier@talk21.com

Ron. Check your humor tank, it may be on empty.
touche! Sorry, I couln't help myself! Mike in the Desert

email (option): mikemargolis@cox.net