Keith O&M quote contract C7370 for 167 WB29's and contract C2007 was for 3 M24's with civilian reg numbers EOF 200/201/202 and a further three purchased by MEE with reg numbers EOG 20/21/22.
I tried to ID that bike ages ago, but Rob's clearer picture shows the knee grips from 1939 onward. In my picture you can see the end of the fish tail. The bike has none valanced guards and speedo through the brake plate. Not a B23 as that's a SV and not a B29 as the speedo drive is wrong. My money's on a 1939 B26. You can see the bottom of the frame on the twin port sports model?? Ron
I can add a little to the discussion about the 3 M24’s purchased by MEE with the registrations numbers EOG. These were the 3 army bikes used for the 1939 ISDT in Salzburg, Germany in late August 1939. My recollection is that at the end of the 5th day of the event they were told that the declaration of war was imminent and made a dash to the Swiss border and escaped over it just a few hours before it closed for the next 5 years. I am sure Rib Miller will be able to provide more details on the bikes. JT
I can add a little to the discussion about the 3 M24’s purchased by MEE with the registrations numbers EOG. These were the 3 army bikes used for the 1939 ISDT in Salzburg, Germany in late August 1939. My recollection is that at the end of the 5th day of the event they were told that the declaration of war was imminent and made a dash to the Swiss border and escaped over it just a few hours before it closed for the next 5 years. I am sure Rib Miller will be able to provide more details on the bikes. JT
Interesting JT that the three M.24s having EOG registrations were used in the 1939 ISDT as they appear to be 1938 models going by the oil tank fixing.
The three JM24s, EOG 20, 21 and 22 arrived at MEE on 19/8/1938 and were sent to Central Ordnance Depot Chilwell on 23/8/1938.
BSA have them listed as despatched in July but then 'sold' in August. Wasn't there a suggestion that they were modified at the works ? The BSA records show them as 'Inter Nat. Six Day (Army)'
The RTR and the Army had 38 and 39 models between them..The picture below shows the RTR team on the 38 bikes with the registration numbers mentioned...The second photo shows ISDT riders at the docks in 1939...Note the 'civvy' M24s...One of these bikes is in the original photos I have of the team in Austria...I'll try to dig out and copy the originals....Ian
23x M24 was also delivered to the War Office in September 1939, according to the BSA factory ledgers. I have found these about 1 year ago and informed O&M, for the next version of their book.
Interestingly 1 of the original M24 War Office engines surfaced about 6 months ago and is now in the hands of a Dutch MC collector.
Those bikes may be 1938 registered as stated in the previous photo but they are 1939 bikes with the '4 screw' tappet cover..of course they could have been registered from August to December 1938 and still be to 1939 specification as the 1939 BSA model year started in August 1938....Ian