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  #1  
Old 12-05-08, 09:37
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Radek Radek is offline
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Default Help with 1942 Royal Enfield 350cc OHV WCO military sidecar

Hi Guys,
could I ask, is it original british army ww2 sidecar frame?
thanks Radek
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  #2  
Old 12-05-08, 16:03
malcolm erik bogaert malcolm erik bogaert is offline
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Default royal enfield

Radek...it looks very similar...however Im no expert...suggest you ask Richard Farrant...have you received the parcel of austin marked tools yet!regards malcolm
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  #3  
Old 12-05-08, 16:20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by malcolm erik bogaert View Post
Radek...it looks very similar...however Im no expert...suggest you ask Richard Farrant...have you received the parcel of austin marked tools yet!regards malcolm
Hi Malcolm, not yet. But i am still in job, maybe is something at home. I would like wisit the shop for your Zill parts this weak. Know you something about Rob. Friends told me that they haven´t contact for 1/2 year.
Radek

P.S.: this weakend we will have battle (german X allies) maybe come two T34. I will post pictures.

Last edited by Radek; 12-05-08 at 22:33.
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  #4  
Old 12-05-08, 20:34
malcolm erik bogaert malcolm erik bogaert is offline
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Default royal enfield

Radek...which Rob do you mean...is it Rob van Meel...regards malcolm
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  #5  
Old 12-05-08, 21:33
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Oh sorry.
Yes Rob van Meel
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  #6  
Old 12-05-08, 22:18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by malcolm erik bogaert View Post
however Im no expert...suggest you ask Richard Farrant...

Hi Malcolm,

I am no expert on sidecars either .......have had motorcycles for many years but have never had an interest in sidecars, sorry that I cannot help Radek.
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1943 Bedford QLD lorry - 1941 BSA WM20 m/cycle - 1943 Daimler Scout Car Mk2
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  #7  
Old 12-05-08, 22:43
Rich Payne Rich Payne is offline
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With the exception of the sidecar wheel drive Norton outfits with either chair or box, the British Army don't seem to have used many sidecars. I have a few pictures of Nortons 16Hs and BSA WM20s with chairs and the chassis doesn't look like either of those.

The bike in your picture has obviously been much modified. Are those Matchless Teledraulic forks ?

I'm not sure that I've ever seen evidence of contracts for Royal Enfields with sidecars. Do you have access to the Engine / Frame numbers ? Jan Vandevelde will be able to tell you how it left the factory.

Rich
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  #8  
Old 12-05-08, 22:43
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Default sidecar frame

Hi Radek,

To my knowledge, no WD/CO was ever sold to the Army with a sidecar.

Norton has made sidecars for the forces: I have seen pictures of 16H models with a box sidecar, and of course the Big 4 had a sidecar with a driven wheel. But these chassis don't look like the one on your picture.

I've heard stories about BSA M20's with a Swallow sidecar, but haven't got any pictures unfortunately... But if my memory serves my right, Henk Joore (the BSA M20 website webmaster) is busy with such a project. I'll ask him if he knows if this is a BSA sidecar...

By the way, would you have the frame and engine numbers from this bike for my register please? I have already found a few in Poland, all of them ex-RAF bikes...

Regards,
Jan
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1940 Royal Enfield WD/C
1942 Royal Enfield WD/CO
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Old 12-05-08, 22:56
Rich Payne Rich Payne is offline
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Never seen a picture of a WM20 with a sidecar Chaps ? Here's one from an old Vanderveen book. The body looks to be the same as seen fitted to 500 Nortons but the chassis is clearly different.



This is Norton's variation on the theme. Not a very clear image of the chassis but you can see the mudguard support which acted as an outrigger.



Rich
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  #10  
Old 12-05-08, 23:58
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Default British bikes with sidecar

Any one know what the British bikes are
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Original Photos from my collection
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  #11  
Old 13-05-08, 00:08
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Keith Brooker View Post
Any one know what the British bikes are
Original Photos from my collection
Hi Keith,

The lower photo is definitely military, a Norton Big 4 633cc with sidecar wheel drive by looks of it.

The upper photo, I think, is probably a Home Guard unit. The lorry looks to be civilian, outside of a factory or works. The assortment of motorcycles could be impressed or owned by the riders.
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  #12  
Old 13-05-08, 01:07
Rich Payne Rich Payne is offline
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As Richard says, nothing very WD about the machines in the top picture. I think that I can see a star on the fuel tank of the second bike from the right which usually suggests BSA to me. The bikes don't seem to have black-out lighting and the riders have battledress which seems a little conflicting in terms of dating.

The Norton Big 4 picture is an interesting one. There are quite a number there and they look to be fairly new and still finished in pre-war Service Green. The riders are wearing Service Dress. The first proper batch of these was delivered in May 1939 so the picture was presumably taken during the summer of 1939. As far as I have been able to tell, there were only two fully equipped Motorcycle Battalions with Big 4s at the outbreak of war, 4th Royal Northumberland Fusiliers who fought at Arras with 50th Div and the Territorials of 1st Queen Victorias Rifles who had the misfortune to be sent to Calais (without their motorcycles).

Would I be correct in thinking, from the colour of their stripes and buttons that they are from a Rifle Regiment ? If so, probably 1 QVR.

Rich
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  #13  
Old 13-05-08, 08:42
Rob van Meel Rob van Meel is offline
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Hi Radek,

I am alive and well. Give my regards to Tomas and all. I have send him a couple of e-mails but they seem to have gone missing?

As stated here side cars as a standard fitting for WD motorcyles were very few and far between.
Forks are Matchless'Teledraulics (and AJS), top yoke looks WD, but the front brake mounting is post 1949 by the looks.

Rob

direct email rvanmeel at wanadoo.nl
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  #14  
Old 13-05-08, 09:42
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To Rob: I am happy that you are o.k.
Do you know how much usuely cost the original forks?

here are any onothers pictures. (the Bren isn´t included)
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  #15  
Old 13-05-08, 10:49
Rob van Meel Rob van Meel is offline
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Hi Radek,

The normal price for Royal Enfield girder forks (with the check springs for the CO) start form Euro 300 and upwards, depending on luck and condition.

In the two private collection pictures with sidecars: the bottom photograph is a Norton Big Four. The top one looks like it is privately entered into the home guard? There is really not much to go on: the large headlamp could be early war, but without the black-out looks more civilian pre-war. The exhaust pipe looks like an OHV, but not 100% certain though!

Rob
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  #16  
Old 13-05-08, 11:04
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rob van Meel View Post
Hi Radek,

The normal price for Royal Enfield girder forks (with the check springs for the CO) start form Euro 300 and upwards, depending on luck and condition.

In the two private collection pictures with sidecars: the bottom photograph is a Norton Big Four. The top one looks like it is privately entered into the home guard? There is really not much to go on: the large headlamp could be early war, but without the black-out looks more civilian pre-war. The exhaust pipe looks like an OHV, but not 100% certain though!

Rob

I have spoken with Thomas. He will send email to you from another adress.
Radek
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  #17  
Old 13-05-08, 12:40
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Radek View Post
Do you know how much usuely cost the original forks?
Radek,

There was a complete WD/CO front fork (inclusive yokes, links, ...) for sale at the Kempton Park Autojumble a couple of weeks ago. The seller wanted 250 Pounds.

Henk Joore has just contacted me. He doesn't think this is a Swallow sidecar. He's given me this picture of a Swallow (see attached picture).

As you might know, I've done a lot of research on the WD/CO. During this research, I've discovered some interesting facts. All this has been bundeled in a 45 pages report, of which I can send you a copy if you send me your email address. Here's mine: jan(dot)vandevelde(at)vac-machines(dot)be

Regards,
Jan
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1940 Royal Enfield WD/C
1942 Royal Enfield WD/CO
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  #18  
Old 13-05-08, 14:09
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rewdco View Post
Oooops, forgot the picture...
Try my website www.austincars.wz.cz, there is contact on me.
Still i am in the job and I haven´t access to my onw email.
Radek
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  #19  
Old 13-05-08, 15:15
malcolm erik bogaert malcolm erik bogaert is offline
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Default wd Royal Enfield

Radek its nice to know the "fat corporal "still breathes,we havnt heard from him for at least a couple of years!regards malcolm
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  #20  
Old 13-05-08, 18:09
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Keith Brooker Keith Brooker is offline
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Smile British bikes with sidecar

Thanks Rich,
One of the troops is from the Kings Royal Rifle Corps.
Cpl H Challen Army number 6607935 he ended up a Colour/Sgt D.Coy 2/KRRC.
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  #21  
Old 13-05-08, 20:41
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rob van Meel View Post
Hi Radek,

The normal price for Royal Enfield girder forks (with the check springs for the CO) start form Euro 300 and upwards, depending on luck and condition.

In the two private collection pictures with sidecars: the bottom photograph is a Norton Big Four. The top one looks like it is privately entered into the home guard? There is really not much to go on: the large headlamp could be early war, but without the black-out looks more civilian pre-war. The exhaust pipe looks like an OHV, but not 100% certain though!

Rob
We was in Kysice village near Pilsen, something as at 60. celebration of the end of the ww2.
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  #22  
Old 14-05-08, 17:11
Keith Orpin Keith Orpin is offline
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This bike was on Milweb a couple of weeks ago. The front end is definately ex Matchless, and I'm sure the seller reckons he could help with the correct girder fork arrangement. Would make a nice restoration project.
Keith
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  #23  
Old 18-05-08, 17:34
Higgins Higgins is offline
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Default Hallo Rob!

i send to you message,
think problems is in computers,
dont like,
like WWII machines,

We have now two Matchless g3L mod 1941,
this second is very good, orig condition,please see on
WWW.fotoalbum.eu/higgins

but we have problem-all is o.k.
after cca 15km dont want go(?)
on celebration in kyšice village
we must load Matchless on Bedford board,
and in Kyšice village it was with out problems.

For me was very interesting, you was with friend in Nadryby(near Pilsen),
few yers ego, motorcyclists for column, perfect(!),

and Nodrmandie- thank you Rob!

I am alive and well. Give my regards to Tomas and all. I have send him a couple of e-mails but they seem to have gone missing?

As stated here side cars as a standard fitting for WD motorcyles were very few and far between.
Forks are Matchless'Teledraulics (and AJS), top yoke looks WD, but the front brake mounting is post 1949 by the looks.

Rob

direct email rvanmeel at wanadoo.nl[/QUOTE]
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