A few years ago I had a really good conversation with you guys about the tank number for my bike - and what the potential re-build number would be, but it looks like the post has gone. I can't find anything pre 2010.
When it was still a free forum post disappeared quite rapidly, since a few years I pay for the forum and they make you believe that post will remain for ever. After a while I did again reach a maximum and they made me pay a bit more and this is an on going story.
If you let me know your frame number I can see if I can find that rebuild number again.
I'm looking for the original tank number and rebuild number if possible.
My frame number is 25705.
The rebuild plate is stamped contract number: 6/VEH/8692/CB/26/C
Engine number is 22498.
Part of the previous discussion was about the fact there is another frame number that's been filed down -105950, and another engine number 57297. I don't think there's any malice involved, the new numbers are simply stamped below the old ones, not like a cover-up. Perhaps the bike was badly damaged and significantly rebuilt.
I can trace the bikes history all the way back to when it was bought from Pride and Clarke (1st Sept 1960) and it's been in the family since.
I think the verdict was that we used 25705 for frame and 22498 for the engine as they were the last ones stamped, and they tie up with the log book and re-build plate.
For some reason you don't see many of these rebuild numbers used when a motorcycle is restored. Often the appearance of a motorcycle has dramatically changed after such a rebuild especially with an early BSA as yours, they rebuild them to the latest specifications. A rebuild number is basically the only number that would fit the look of the motorcycle.
