Ah, great stuff, Ron. I'd forgotten the possibility of an RAF contract. In the Norton ledgers there are some mentions of items such as "RAF Spare Engines" but very incomplete. From 1940 though, Nortons were using the separate AS numbers...The Triumph records are with the VMCC, aren't they ? I don't remember looking at them though so no idea how detailed they are.The problem is that they may have been using numbers from the production sequence but only listing completed machines in the ledgers.
Sorry to hear about your little industrial injury. As long as it only hurts when you laugh... :grinning:
Hi, thanks for the help, I don't think I can pinpoint it, there's nothing I can do. Awesome Indian. Mine is January 1943, shipped (lend lease) to Russia.
To date the bike you would have to look at the frame number, frame number TL 41699 is DEC 43 or JAN 44,Contract No S2956 ,Cat Ref 24,frame numbers TL 41418-46417,I have frame no TL 41542 under saddle stamped T.E.C.12.43. not that far from yours,tank no c5423542 your tank number would be c5423699,it should be fitted with Webb girder forks and cut off petrol tank with steel chain cases.
below a couple of photos from the same contract.
Going back to the engine has it got two small holes under the mag platform where rivets could have once been,still think its a spare engine batch.
below spare engine as listed in parts book,the number is similar to the steel tag engine.
Hey, Steve. Thanks, I understand. I don't think my lineup originally belonged together at all. I'd like to refurbish it based on the engine and most of the parts. The frame is made much later than the rest of the bike. That's why I was trying to track down the engine numbering.
Thanks for the information,I appreciate it.
I would agree with Steve. The Frame is what determines a vehicle. It's the part that the authorities would acquaint the vehicle to. Plus your frame is recorded and therefore much easier to determine the spec. Mine is from the next contract. By then they lost the steering damper and were fitted with the 7/8" handlebar and standardised Amal controls. Ron
PS My 741 is 1942 ex British Forces under the Lend Lease scheme.