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1944 BSA WM20 project underway

Last fall I bought a 1944 BSA WM20 project bike. WM20 76381. I think that serial number makes it a 1943, but the prior title was from the 1950s indicating it came from Guam. I have spent the past several months sorting and sourcing parts. It is about ready to go back together. I am glad to have the 1939 KM20 I got from my Dad to use as a reference and to go for a ride when I get frustrated with the project.

Re: 1944 BSA WM20 project underway

It would be nice to see some pictures...Good luck with the reassembly....Ian

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

Re: 1944 BSA WM20 project underway

DE5-B4-A17-CB52-4-F1-C-827-B-8-EC304-CAB17-A
A28-FAD84-A934-46-F1-B488-D2-B2-DD0493-D6

Re: 1944 BSA WM20 project underway

5-F032-F1-B-A9-E3-43-ED-B16-C-DDBEE56-CAF0-F

930-DCE24-120-D-464-D-A15-E-E111-FF532-DBB

Re: 1944 BSA WM20 project underway

Frame number WM20.76381 is a contract C/13290 bike (10.000 bikes; frame numbers 71818 - 81817). The original census number would have been C4756964. Production for this contract started at the end of November 1942, and during this period BSA produced approximately 2.000 bikes per month. Which makes me think that your bike must have left the factory in February 1943. Here's an early bike from the same contract, photographed in Normandy in 1944.

C4752493-1

email (option): wd.register@gmail.com

Re: 1944 BSA WM20 project underway

Thank you for the info Jan. It has a replacement motor which has been rebuilt in the 50s. The motor is in good condition.

Re: 1944 BSA WM20 project underway

We can have a look at the history of your engine as well if you send us some pictures of the numbers on the engine.

email (option): wd.register@gmail.com

Re: 1944 BSA WM20 project underway

Jan, the motor in the bike is WM20, 95045 with RW stamped below the serial number.

I have a spare motor, 100484

C9-ABC685-59-EF-477-A-9688-5487-C34-D2233

3439961-A-96-EC-437-B-B791-830-F36-FC3-ABB

Re: 1944 BSA WM20 project underway

The bike with (duplicated) frame number WM20.95045 would have had census number C5128445. It was built under contract number S/1048, a contract for 15.000 bikes (census numbers C5115218 - C5130217). Production of this contract started in June 1943, at 2.000 bikes per month. Which means that number WM20.95045 must have left the factory around December 1943 - January 1944. Here's a picture with a "close" number:

C5128473

The bike with (duplicated) frame number WM20.100484 would have had census number C5211184. It was built under contract number S/2603, a contract for 8.000 bikes (census numbers C5207518 - C5215517). Production of this contract started in March 1944, at 2.400 bikes per month. Which means that number WM20.100484 must have left the factory around May 1944. Here's a picture with a "close" number:

C5210781-tilburg-1944-3

email (option): wd.register@gmail.com

Re: 1944 BSA WM20 project underway

Thank you for the info Jan. I really like the period pictures.

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