Please also point out any civilian parts or parts missing, as I'd like to return it to WD spec. The fork damper adjusting knob presumably shouldn't be there and needs to replaced with just a nut?

Also, does anyone know what the correct colour it should be for 1944 please?

Thanks for your inputs. :smile:

During the latter years of the war, and for a year or two afterwards, there was a practice of issuing rebuilt motorcycles with a "Rebuild" WD serial /census "C" number. Under this system, there would have been no reason to re-stamp frames and there is no evidence that it was done.

However, from 1948 onwards,with the issue of the post-war VRNs, there were no "rebuild" batches and it seems likely that vehicles emerging from workshops were re-stamped to match the identity of the VRN which had been rebuilt...I'm pretty sure, with no hard evidence that "most" of these re-stamps are of post-war military origin...If civilian dealers or owners had been fiddling things, they'd surely have tried a little harder to hide the overstamps ?

Basically, H.M.G. were punting out vehicles with hookey chassis numbers :grimacing:

As an observation, your saddle is likely to be for a civilian model with the wider horizontal saddle spring studs. The cross-bar between the springs is not correct. The spring mounts on the saddle frame should be directly above those on the frame.

Your number plate bracket is not "Norton", but 1944 models had no numberplates...Early-war versions mounted on the two mudguard joining bolts.

In terms of colour, your frame will fall under C14498. Initial production was in SCC No.2 Brown. The very end of the contract would probably have been British Olive Drab. Personally, I think I'd base the identitiy on the clearly visible engine no. and that is also SCC No.2 era. Most British vehicles in NW Europe during 1944-'45 were brown.

Thanks Rik.
According to the old log book it left the army in 1952 so that would make sense.
Cheers for info.

Nathan, the post-1948 "Key Cards" detailing the change to the post-war registrations still exist. I have a copy, but not the Excel list that would allow research. Most of the "Numbers Nuts" are in Normandy at the moment, but it may be possible to research further in a week or two.

I can try to find stuff, but the Key Cards for these were stolen from me, but I have some info.
Cheers,

Lex

email (option): welbike@outlook.com

82294 is not in the Key Cards, but 82293 is, that had C4868670 on the tank, but this was an irregular contract it seems, so cannot be calculated. Is the original number not readable? there could be a Greek connection, as some other bikes around these frame numbers have that.

Best to ask Rob v/d Brink about it.

Cheers,

Lex

email (option): welbike@outlook.com

Nathan,

If you want info on the WD16H, go to www.wdnorton.nl website!

I read the original number as W81315 but it is clearly quite mutilated and I may be wrong.
The second digit shows a similar deep impression as the 4th "1" digit.
If this is the original number it was registered as C4869115. It was built either very late 1943 or early 1944.
Any other number is useless to determine original contract and built date.

Census numbers can be calculated for this contract C14498, nothing irregular as far as I can see.
Keycards have many mistakes/ommisions! In many cases a contract number is noted for a motorcycle but not the frame number.
W81315 is not shown in the Keycards but it could still have been one of the entries without frame number noted!
I have all available keycard entries (all 7240+ of them) in one excel file making it easy to find numbers.
List also used to check consequetive numbering of contracts and to find spare frames.
I have no proof whether all Norton keycards are known. RLC museum may have others.

Engine number is clear and original, W72084 was part of contract C12426 and motorcycle was built late 1942.

regards,

Rob

email (option): wd16h@telfort.nl

Thanks for replies.
I’ve looked closely at the frame number and I think it could be more likely W87315. Is there any info available for this number please?

Ok, I don't see it, but will let Rob answer, as he's much better than me with the numbers.

Lex

email (option): welbike@outlook.com

Nathan,

The digit "7" Norton used had a curved vertical line. I do not see that in this case.
Having about 170 pictures of Norton frame numbers and nearly 300 engine numbers I think have sufficient reference to stick to my previous statement.
I therefore stay with my previous information.
There is not much more to tell.

Cheers,

Rob

email (option): wd16h@telfort.nl

Ok that’s good to know. Thank you for your time and info.
Regards
Nathan