I bought a yellow coloured one some years ago which had a 1950s date inside, I think the blue ones are the earliest, 1942-3ish onwards.
I would have said anything with a wing on the BSA logo was post war but Henk showed me the cover of a WB30 book recently with a wing which would seem to prove otherwise?
I have early BSA Instruction Books for the WD C.10, WD Twin and M.20 and these are have a darkish green cover. I also have a BSA Instruction Book dated January 1941 for M.20s supplied to The India Office and this has a light yellow cover. I have a Maintenance Routine Book for M.20s - Contract C9310 - Frame and Engine Nos. WM20 44213 - WM20 53212 this has a light blue cover as does the Instruction Book for the WB30 - Contract C8330 and the M.20 Instruction Books for Contracts C7287 and C5610.
Standard handbook and workshop manual, after contract C12424, the manual has DU42 blackout fitted so is presumably before the end of the war?
Variations in BSA font, the 1939 spares list is the 1946 reprint, there was no attempt at updating the cover with the winged BSA logo so perhaps we are more concerned about it than they were?
Hi Keith
Is there any chance you could take photos of these ?
I would like too see them if possible
Br
Jo’b
I can take photos of my collection of BSA Instruction Books and the like but will need to e.mail them to you as my computer skills are so basic I have never copied and pasted or the like and what they say about 'old dogs' is true in this instance.
I am on another forum which requires only a double click to attach a photo from my computer to a post which is ideal for my ability.
A damned shame that the half-wit hacker altered the thread title and removed John's interesting question...and you're absolutely right John, the literature is as valid a part of the hobby as any other,especially in these strange times...
We do need to get Keith Chandler up to speed on posting photos here :relaxed: Keith very kindly sent me copies of the 'Tools and Equipment to Scale' lists of a Norton contract...Steve too has been very good at posting and responding...but there must be lots more out there.
As per John, I probably have WD16H duplicates that I might consider parting with, but in my case, it would really need to be in exchange for other pre- or early-war Norton literature.
There is a lot of (sometimes not obvious) information in these publications..please post details of what you have.
These are some of my riders/drivers/instruction books for BSA models,below is one of the first ones for KM20 contract no A9764.
Below is a page from above book showing lubrication points.
Below on the right is book for KM20 contract no C3655.
Below is a page from KM20 book contract C3655,showing lubrication points but with an updated nomenclature chart glued on top of the lubrication
picture.
Below some others from my collection.
Below two others,the right hand grubby one has been amended from contract C11101 to contract C12424 as seen on its cover and lube chart.
Below four others,the bottom two both have the late war lighting switches shown as well as the earlier ones,so may date from late 44 to 1945.
Also got these WB30 books,both have different lube chart diagrams showing the differing lighting.
below lube chart from right hand book above,also shown is ink stamp on its rear cover.
below is the lube chart from first photo left hand book,contract 294/C/S/13872.
below original parts book for WB30,several contracts with very small numbers supplied.
Below also have these two 250cc books SV WC10 & OHV WC11 INDIA OFFICE.
Henk and I determined once that the wing on the B must have been introduced somewhere in 1941 based on old BSA letter head. The B30 manual seems to confirm this.
Hi Chris
I have both books like you too - I think they are post war myself - reprints
They cover the last contract too with the odd test position switch & switch holder
In one there was an inspection document- I will photo this & get it uploaded
Br
Jo’b
I have e.mailed some photos of some of the BSA WD handbooks and the like that I have to John O'Brien who has very kindly offered to post on this thread for me. Many thanks J O'B.
Whilst rummaging through my collection of WD Motorcycle literature I came across handbooks and the like for Norton, Royal Enfield, Triumph, Matchless, Harley Davidson etc and was wondering if similar threads for these makes might also appear on here under their own titles of course.
I had tried to put these on for Keith but it was not possible to do so
seems the issue with the uploads is now resolved, i was going to send photos to the forum help line for them to be posted
The maker marked tasks books are pretty scares, I have a full digital copy of another example, contract C9310 is the only version I have seen, there may be some for other contracts, but it could also be a short period in history prior to the universal pamphlet with full tasks printed.
Jan has more, but I also have most of the Matchless stuff, and lot's of Big 4, Welbike, all of it, and some Velocette, and other weird stuff.
And also a lot of US wartime bike manuals and parts lists.
Not an instruction book as such, but perhaps of interest to this thread.
Under ‘Slimy Descents’ it mentions to raise the exhaust valve lifter when descending. I’ve never heard of this before. What’s the purpose? Surely it will just kill the engine?
John
John I think this has been covered in the training film and although not clear in that book, I'm sure it means, without the engine running. By selecting first gear and selective use of the valve lifter and front brake, you should be able to make it safely to the bottom. Ron