Ron
email (option): ronpier@talk21.com
Bastiaan, I think the whole point about these civilian machines is that they didn't have a contract number, or at least the edges were very blurred. In terms of the Nortons that I know better, it is clear that during September 1939, they fitted OHV Model 18 engines into some frames numbered as per the block reserved for WD16Hs....They then went on to build bikes listed as 'WD16H' but which have frame numbers that fall outside of the contract...There are photos of 16Hs with impressed numbers that have all the military differences....With BSA it's a little more vague as there was a far longer gap between finishing one contract and starting the next.
BSA seem to have finished delivering C3655 (Cat. Ref. 18) which officially ended at KM20 4601 on 28/7/1939...and the next 500cc contract was Cat. Ref. 20 - C5110 which was for WM20s and commenced delivery on 22/9/1939 - if the cards are to be believed at WM20 5001.
Orchard & Madden show some late KM20s and low number WM 20s which can be substantiated from the factory records and were delivered to the War Office but there is no trace of a 'Catalogue Referenced' contract number so by default, I think all of these fell under emergency purchase orders and the general heading 'Local Purchase / Impressed'.
It's clear from the confused Ministry of Supply Correspondence that there was a tender for a joint Norton / BSA contract - C4818 but it was cancelled, as in order to keep the factories producing, emergency orders had already been placed and delivered.
The WD serial numbers issued will have come from the 5-digit blocks at the back of O&M...I have WD16H images for C49079 - C49084 - C49333 - C50392 all looking to be in France.
The only BEF impressed BSA that I have seen a photo of is the OHV C61036
The 'missing' Civilian type WM20s will be those sent to the War Office between WM20 111 and WM20 4999..They are variously listed as 'De Luxe' and 'M20 SV Tourer' and even 'SV Tourer DL'...Maybe one of these descriptions relates to the civil spec panel tank.
I don't think the 'T' batteries are a Ni-Fe type...simply chance that the cases are more or less intact. The Ni-Fe had to be larger and didn't need the rubber 'T' mount as it was much more resistant to vibration."
I suspect, Ron that he's looking on a small screen and hasn't seen the modification to the 1940 model-year MT1130-compatible number plate with the top edge depression.
The plate has been cut away on the top left corner and the MT1130 bolted to the (Continental) 'offside' of the mudguard, completely in accordance with the instructions....but only this one unit seems to have done it.
Rick...no the frame number was really butchered. I kept the paneltank and carb from that KM20 and sold the rest to Michiel. He used most of the parts to complete another KM20 project.
Hereby a photo of the same pile of paneltank KM20's but from a slightly different angle and another photo of a few paneltank M20's with T-batteries.
email (option): wdmotorcycles@gmail.com