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Re: BEF Motorcycle Losses

I think you're right Rob...Definitely not a B29 frame...Here's a B29 for comparison...Ian

email (option): ian@wright52.plus.com

Re: BEF Motorcycle Losses

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
1939-b26sp
1939-b26tp

email (option): ronpier@talk21.com

Re: BEF Motorcycle Losses

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

Re: BEF Motorcycle Losses

John Tinley
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.

email (option): keithchandler@clistandchandler.co.uk

Re: BEF Motorcycle Losses

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)'

Re: BEF Motorcycle Losses

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

email (option): ian@wright52.plus.com

Re: BEF Motorcycle Losses

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.

Regards,
Bastiaan

email (option): Wdmotorcycles@gmail.com

Re: BEF Motorcycle Losses

John Tinley's picture of those bikes. Ron

IMG-0263

email (option): ronpier@talk21.com

Re: BEF Motorcycle Losses

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

email (option): ian@wright52.plus.com

Re: BEF Motorcycle Losses

Yes it can be confusing for those who don't know. Both my 1939 model and 1940 model C10's were built and despatched in 1939. Ron

email (option): ronpier@talk21.com

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