Matchless G3L

[Rich Payne]

Keith, Although I have several sources for Norton info. My only gen on Matchless contracts is from Orchard & Madden. Do you have a copy ? Recently reprinted and well worth getting hold of.

They confirm that frame 20660 was built under contract C9841 commencing with 20650 which probably carried a census number of C4649425. On this basis, I would expect yours to be around C4649435. The number on your tank C5210671 appears to have been issued to a 1943/44 WM20 BSA contract.

There is a photo on the Canadian Archive of G3L C5484270 in Canadian service.

C9841 included machines with both Lucas and Miller lighting equipment. Yours seems to have been Lucas.

Engine no. 51384 was built under C12632, a contract from 11/41

RR, The type of footrest lug is dependent on frame date. Pre and early war machines had no pillion equipment and the original civilian footrest lug was used for the Field Stand. I'm still trying to ascertain precisely when the extra brazed-on lug was introduced in production.

Panniers and pillion facilities were clearly fitted to machines already in service but I have found no evidence as to how this was done. A clamp-on lug would be the easiest option but perhaps few have survived because post-war civilian users didn't need the Field Stand.

Does your frame number have the "W" prefix ?

By the way, if you'd like to see copies of the pictures I mentioned, pm me with an e-mail address and I'll be happy to send them through to you.