I have been having another look at the BSA factory ledgers, they are pretty confusing as there are lots of frame numbers with two or occasionally 3 entries squeezed in.

A few examples

Frame WM20 701 Engine WM21 701 22/11/1939 Staatsbedriejf HOLLAND

Frame WM20 421 Engine WM20 421 14/09/1939 War Office London
Frame WM20 421 Engine WM21 421 24/11/1939 Staatsbedriejf HOLLAND

Frame WM20 1331 Engine WM21 1331 01/03/1940 Staatsbedriejf HOLLAND
Frame WM20 1331 Engine WM21 1331 04/03/1940 Staatsbedriejf HOLLAND

Frame WM20 1457 Engine WM21 1457 29/04/1940 Staatsbedriejf HOLLAND
Frame WM20 1457 Engine WM21 1457 29/05/1940 War Office London

Frame WM20 2965 Engine WM21 2965 30/04/1940 Staatsbedriejf HOLLAND
Frame WM20 2965 Engine WM21 2965 29/05/1940 War Office London
Frame WM20 2966 Engine WM21 2966 30/05/1940 War Office London
Frame WM20 2967 Engine WM21 2967 03/05/1940 Staatsbedriejf HOLLAND
Frame WM20 2967 Engine WM21 2967 29/05/1940 War Office London
Frame WM20 2968 not mentioned in the ledger

The first one is early enough to have made it to Holland

The second pair are probably two machines with the same frame number, as M20s and M21s had the same frame they all had a WM20 frame number, BSA used the engine number as their main means of identity so it wouldn't matter to them that there was more than one frame with WM20 421 stamped on it, especially if one was going over seas.

The third pair, possible this one machine had to return to the factory to rectify a fault or accident damage and went through the system twice?

The forth pair was either despatched from the factory in good faith to wherever shipment to the Netherlands should have occurred or perhaps just the despatch department of the factory but it was too late, it appears it went through the factory again for alterations in spec and was then delivered to the War Office a month later.

The fifth set are a representative of a longer series most of which have the double entries, but there are a few which only mention the War Office, its possible that they had originally been destined for the Netherlands but hadn't made it through the factory yet and were changed to War Office spec earlier, its possible that they didn't have the valanced front mudguard and other Dutch spec parts? WM20 2968 according to the ledgers was never made.

There are some mistakes in the ledgers which also have to be factored in.

Rob

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

@Rob: I see you did a deep dive in to the BSA factory ledgers. I did the same last year, just to find out how many BSA's were actually delivered to the Dutch Army. I fully agree with your experiences, the ledgers are a bit chaotic from Jan 1940. I could not exactly determine how many BSA M21's were delivered to the Dutch Army, unfortunately. But just a tip: compare the factory ledgers from the 'engine' books with the 'frame' books. For example: the range of number with frame WM20 2966 in the frame book is a bit confusing, with many double entries. In the engine book it is very clear but with a lot double entries missing. I have the advantage that I have a lot of files from the 'Staatsbedrijf Artillerie Inrichtingen' from the Dutch National Archive. In these files it is stated for about 80% of the M21's, how many were ordered and when they were delivered (and in most cases to which Dutch Army units they were dispatched).

@Rob: very helpfull those photo's for the fitment of the internal twistgrip! I have a question about that. I see you are fitting the rubber directly on the metal tube, but according to the partslist a 'throttle twist grip patch, partnumber 27-9453' should also be fitted. Did you use that 1 as well or not? I would like to know, as I still have to fit mine on my WM21. See below for the part in the 1939 partslist.



@Rick: You are right , there are a lot of differences between the Dutch Army WM21's and British WD machines. I have found a very nice, badly worn example in(not fully original anymore) Czech Republic last year. I have imported it to the Netherlands,. It is a matching frame/engine KM21 from the first contract which went to the Dutch Army.

email (option): wdmotorcycles@gmail.com

Hi Bastiaan. I only put four of my series of six pictures in my last post. Indeed there is a brass cover (shim stock), before the rubber. On this one I held it together with insulating tape as I found previous grips tended to slip. Ron

email (option): ronpier@talk21.com

Aah ok, I see! Thank you Ron. Could you send me all the photo's to my emailaddress?

Thanks in advance!

Br,
Bastiaan

email (option): wdmotorcycles@gmail.com

Hi i have a B29 that was part of contract C7370. It was delivered from the BSA factory to the London War Office on the 29th of May 1940 it was painted Khaki drab green and fitted with Amal controls .Its engine number is WB29 274 and frame WB27 249 which i have located recently. Any more history of this bike
would be greatly appreciated.
Cheers brett.

email (option): brettfrollet@gmail.com

I'm afraid these WB29's are not worth a light. I do happen to know were it can be dumped and I'll even collect it and dump it for you. Just PM me your address!!! :innocent: Ron

email (option): ronpier@talk21.com

Hi Brett
Last year I picked up a complete WB29 motor exc magdyno/carb

It has hairspring valves & alloy rocker covers

I have no data on its origin / contract but has been used as it has a +30 piston in there

Hope you get yours on the road

Br
Jo’b

email (option): Jonnyob1