Trying to discover what the numbers stamped to the bottom of an Ariel W/NG engine case represent.
One number, represented by a ? is not easily discernible.

180 MS 101?
LV7 A1 WNG 11.


Thanks,
Wade

email (option): iron_ariel@yahoo.ca

Wade, a photo would be handy (and interesting !)

The MS stamp is likely to be a Ministry of Supply workshop reference. Could it read B180 MS ?

LV7 is the VAOS (Vocabulary of Army Ordnance Spares) code for vehicle manufacturer's specific parts. Al was the indicator for Ariel.

These wouldn't normally be found on a complete vehicle. The chances are that it was a rebuilt engine put into stock with the part number indicating a complete engine unit.

That's very helpful, Rik! I really wasn't expecting anyone to have answers, especially regarding W/NG cases, as they are scarce, as is the knowledge about them.
The cases are currently in Sweden so will have to request pictures. Should be doing that any way before finalizing the deal.
Cheers,
Wade

email (option): iron_ariel@yahoo.ca

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Here we go Rik. Easy to see how some numbers or letters have to be guessed. The original stamper wasn't all that careful as the backwards C clearly shows. Guess he had a war or another pressing matter on his mind.

Wade

email (option): iron_ariel@yahoo.ca

Wade, they certainly didn't pick an easy surface to stamp on.

Below is a typical Norton rebuild stamp...B189 MS 6 1945 (the last '5' is between the Norton 79x100 stamp). 3787 is the Norton part number for a complete engine unit.

I have no doubt that this one also shows evidence of a 1945 Ministry of Supply rebuild and subsequent re-stocking of the complete engine unit for future use.

From a wartime portrayal point of view, the only down-side to these interesting markings is that it seems to have been very much a late-war / post-war policy and probably wouldn't have been much seen on bikes which saw much active service.

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Hi Rik,
Perhaps the engine did sit on the shelf for a while but who knows how it ended up in Sweden. I am told that at the end of the war batches of 5 and 10 were sold to dealers right at the quay. They promptly civilianized them and sold them off. Still a fair number of near complete W/NGs and or parts in Scandinavia. The frame I'm using came from Belgium so it saw action for sure. I want these cases because they are from the same Contract as the frame.
Cheers,
Wade

email (option): iron_ariel@yahoo.ca

Between myself and a friend, we have had six W/NG's go through our hands from Norway.
All had served with the Norwegian Army before being sold into their civilian market.
Three of them all came from the same chap and he was keeping at least another one for himself. I wonder what other bikes they used in the army? Ron

email (option): ronpier@talk21.com

Hi Rik and Wade,
Here is the engine from a '41G3 I have. It was sipped back from the middle east a lot of years ago
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Can you decipher some of this lot?
Cheers, Mick.

email (option): mick@motorbikemike.org.uk

Hi Mick, anything with "E" is a Middle-Eastern workshop..........

"BW" is Base Workshop...........these were located again, in the Middle East........numbers ran from 1 to infinity..........

"41 G3R" refers to the last contract of 41/G3's built with some G3L components, including the crank assembly........not interchangeable with the earlier 40/G3..........other changes included the rockerbox, that was devoid of the valve inspection caps (as fitted to the G3L).............

The "R" after "G3" is thought to refer to "Revised" (components)........for ease of workshop reference.............my own "41/G3" was similarly marked............and had a 7/8ths big-end fitted..........aka G3L........

I also see "7/8" on the stamping, doubtless referring to the 7/8ths crankpin fitted, almost confirming the theory..........

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

Hey Mick, looks like if the War had gone on much longer, the Matchless would have run out of writing room :-). That engine has a story or two to tell.

How about a Capital, C, Steve? Is this also from the East?

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email (option): iron_ariel@yahoo.ca

The "E" is indicative of Eastern Command workshops, and auxiliary ones at that..........the equivalent of "B" vehicle auxiliary workshops in the UK........these were numerous, many in civilian garages and workshops, and it was the same in the Middle East during WW2 and into the post-war period..........with the Middle East encompassing a huge area perhaps larger than the UK, workshops were extensive and many a back-street premises in Cairo, Alexandria, Palestine, etc, were involved........

No Idea on the "D", "C", marking, etc, but may have indicated a particular sector or rebuild classification .............

As for other workshops, "Base" workshops were generally Middle-Eastern based (huge Ordnance depots) and "Command" workshops were generally of similar size but located in the UK and Europe.................they were the senior to "B" and "E" auxiliary workshops..............

Steve, looks like a book could be written about the support teams behind the men on wheels. Quite fascinating. Thanks,
Wade3

email (option): iron_ariel@yahoo.ca

Just took a picture of these Big 4 engine cases from a friend, they're stamped on the offside (r/hand) could that be "Eastern" aswell??



Cheers,

Lex

ps, another chapter in the book Steve??

email (option): welbike@welbxxx.net