So I went to a swap meet (auto jumble i think for some?) last week and although it didn't have much in the way of old bike parts I did pick up a couple of nice tools to start my tool kit !
it did get me thinking it must be a great feeling to find a rare part, and even better if the seller isn't aware of its scarcity or value ....so I thought I'd start a thread on "that" part that you thought you might never find and did ! what was it, and how long had you been looking for ?
Cheers Stu

This last Netley, half a pre war Matchless prop stand, been looking for 30yrs, maybe I'll find the other half before I snuff it.

That'll make me just short of a telegram from the Queen, [or King probably.]

Lets hope I can still recognise it by then.


[capcha is clearer and better now, case is clearer]

I spent 2 1/2 years looking for the forgings that the rear stand mounted to on my MK2 Ariel Square 4...

Years back I also spent over 18 months looking for the opposite side of a pair of WD handlebar lever blades before a helpful jumbler told me they never made pairs but used the same lever on both sides... ..Ian

G'day Stu,
Was that at Wallan?
Last year at a swap meet I found parts to make up 1 1/2 pairs of WM20 bolt on type pillion pegs and brackets from two different sellers, neither of them had a clue what they were for.

email (option): spacemonkeym@gmail.com

Ken your a patient man, I like your optimism !
Ian sounds like a Doh moment, on the bright side you didn't have to wait 30 yrs !
Yes Matty it was Wallan , I used to go to the swap meets at Footcray fruit markets years ago but wasn't into classic bikes then, pity the parts I'm now looking for were probably available and cheap
I'm a swap meet sellers dream, I never barter and always pay the first price !
Cheers Stu

Stu,
You gotta haggle. 10 for this, you must be mad!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3n3LL338aGA

I remember Footscray swap, never found anything brit bike related that was any use, it was mostly car rubbish

email (option): spacemonkeym@gmail.com

There are currently only 7 known WB30s and most people have never seen one 'close up'..

When I bought mine the rear frame section was both damaged and heavily pitted...

At the very first jumble I attended after buying the bike I found a rear frame...The seller didn't even know what it was for and I couldn't believe what I was seeing...I managed to stay calm and bought it for £85.....

Probably the rarest part I have ever bought at a jumble......Ian

The 85 quid rings a bell, the first Welbike I bought at Beaulieu was that price!!

Mind you that was in 1985, and still the equivalent of 210 Dutch Guilders.

After that the price only went up......

Re. parts, last year at Netley, just across from Ron's stall was an MT110 for 45 pounds, and I bought it, also a Clearhooter HF150 for a tenner, on sunday afternoons Beaulieu, while several people asked me for one some ours before that!! (it's fitted on my G3WO now).

Also when I got my first B4, I was missing a petrol tank, so off to some jumbles, and at "Normous Newark" lo and behold, I found one for 25 quid.

Just proves the stuff is out there, just keep your eyes peeled
But then I sometimes also buy very expensive parts, (if I really get stuck) I guess it evens out in the end.

Cheers,

Lex

email (option): welbike@welbxxx.net