Thank you Rik that's great information, I'm rather ashamed that I haven't done any trips to Kew and other places to do my own research.

The change from the early to later tanks seems to be confirmed by these two pictures.

Rob


WM20 33141


WM20 33382 etc

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

Hi Rik
That’s some document that
Is it in Kew records office
I must go there - 40 mins by train for me
I must call & talk about it with you
Thanks for sharing with us
Br
Jo’b

email (option): jonnyob1@googlemail.com

That's a useful piece of photographic corroboration, Rob..the fuel tank change falls exactly as my calculations assumed that it should. It doesn't mean of course that they all do...

On the the subject of stand pivots, it may be that BSA never delivered and that the cancelling instructions were never noted in these summaries...It is clear that there were also separate detailed contract files that have not survived. We can't rely on this evidence in isolation, but if it reinforces what we see from other sources then it can provide that final piece of the jigsaw which swings 'probable' or 'likely' to 'certain'

John, these are indeed the National Archive Ministry of Supply ledgers - Huge leather-bound books. Even pre-virus though they were cutting down visiting times and files available....If it re-opens then get in there when you can.

That is a remarkable document, many machines from this contract ended up in the far corners of the war, were the 2118 crates for shipping the machines abroad or were they for the spare engines and gearboxes, 1700 + 425 = 2125? Is £2 4s per crate going to buy a small engine size crate or a larger one?

Rob

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

I have picked up a second version or edition of the riders instruction book for contract C7287.

There are a few differences and this would seem to prove that all 17,000 copies weren't printed in advance of production, I havent included every suttle rewrite.

The change in oils for different temperatures printed in the later book was altered in the earlier one with glue in pieces of paper, and may stem from use of the WM20 in Iceland?, I wonder if this was the case with other makes used there?

The carbureter section has new drawings which looks like a different carb but it may just be artistic licence?

The codes in the printing data page 46 change from "C2494-10" to "C2924-10-24", does anyone have any other version?

All my scans show the later edition first.

Rob



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

Hi Rob
Great addition to this post
Timely for many of us to make notes etc
Thanks for the update

Br
Jo’b

email (option): jonnyob1@googlemail.com

There would clearly have been a supply of spare parts lists and handbooks ordered for each contract, but presumably replacements were printed as and when needed ?

Certainly in the case of handbooks which were to be kept in the pocket of the toolbox, whether wrapped in oilskin or not, there must have been quite an attrition rate with replacements needed regularly.