Australian ? M.T.CATG.

[Rich Payne]

Thanks for the prompt replies chaps. I might have guessed that the abbreviations are quite mundane. I suppose I was rather hoping, as with all these things, that it would provide some connection with the end-user. Are there any photos of sidecars with Australian Units ?

Interestingly, the booklet also details the applicable Frame and Engine numbers for the contract which is information that does not appear in Orchard & Madden's "bible" or in the other lists which I have from the factory records. The contract comprised frames 103100 - 103199 and 103700 - 103914 with engines numbered 93000 - 93314

According to the factory ledgers, the last machine was delivered on 19/8/1939

The Big 4 contract details are overprinted beside other cancelled overprints relating to the 16H contract C3655 for frames 104700 - 106300 and engines 95100 - 96700 which were built later (the last one on 7/10/1939)

While I'm on the subject, does anyone know how the "C" numbers were allocated ? Were they issued and painted on at the factory, sequential to frame numbers or were they added at Chilwell when a whole batch arrived, with no account being taken of frame numbers ?

I've done a "best guess" on my 1939 16H but it would be interesting to know if there is any chance of accuracy.

Rich