MVs in period motorcyle publications

[Rich Payne]

This is a wartime picture which Nortons subsequently used in their advertising. I don't think that I've posted it before.






I'll leave identification of the ambulance to the four-wheeled mob.

[PPS]

Did they (the Blood Bank) know something that those giving blood didn't??

Look at the logo on the sign, could they have been based in Transylvania?

Paul.

[rewdco]

Hi chaps,

I'm new to this forum, my main interest goes to the war time Royal Enfield motorcycles. Royal Enfield claimed that their motorcycles were "built like a gun" (some people said it was a pity that they didn't build them like motorcycles...), can anybody identify the artillery in this ad? Or is it just an artist's impression?

Jan

[cliff]

The blood truck is a 1941 Chev for those interested.

[Mark W. Tonner]

Originally posted by rewdco
can anybody identify the artillery in this ad? Or is it just an artist's impression?

Hi Jan;

Welcome to the forum. The 'artist's impression' is of a 2 pounder anti-tank gun mounted on a truck in the 'portee role', in North Africa.

The source of the two images below is:

Top: - my own collection

Bottom: - Imperial War Museum
Photo No.: E 3734E
Title: COMMONWEALTH FORCES IN NORTH AFRICA 1941
Collection No.: 4700-33
Description: New Zealand 2-pdr anti-tank gun mounted on a truck in the portee role, 3 December 1941.

Hope this helps.

Cheers

[David_Hayward (RIP)]

The blood truck is a 1941 Chev for those interested

I agree with Cliff. I suspect it was one of 3,150 Model 1543X2 or CC60L lorries, 3-tonners military, ordered by 25th June 1940 under Demand S/M 2005 and delivered to, and assembled by GM Near East Ltd, Alexandria; again for those interested. Some were allocated in the Mid-East L 449XXXX series. Looks as though it may have then been issued to the AIF, and then "sold", perhaps surviving to be repatriated to Aussieland?

[rewdco]

The 'artist's impression' is of a 2 pounder anti-tank gun mounted on a truck in the 'portee role', in North Africa.

Hi Mark,

Nice to see the original picture which was used for this advertisement! I have some more examples of war time Royal Enfield ads and the pictures on which they were based, but here's a strange one. Royal Enfield was recycling and old BSA publicity shot in this 1942 ad! The picture was taken in 1940, and a similar picture was used in a contemporarily BSA ad...

Cheers,
Jan

[rewdco]

This is the original picture, clearly showing the BSA logo on the fueltank...

[rewdco]

And this is the original BSA ad...

REgards,
Jan

[David_Hayward (RIP)]

Note the GMC COE in the background..AFWX-354?

[David_Hayward (RIP)]

Photo 1

[David_Hayward (RIP)]

#2..these are probably from THE MOTOR CYCLE

[Rich Payne]

That Matchless is rather special. It has a spring frame although nothing like AMC fitted post-war. Looks like an Ariel behind it.

I rather fancy a pint in The Cricketers

[rewdco]

There's a "proto" in the Orchard and Madden list, with a 1944 date and "rear springing fitted" remark. Must be this one!

Jan

[David_Hayward (RIP)]

Is this the same machine?

NO DETAILS I'M AFRAID

[Rich Payne]

It very much looks like the same Matchy. Is there any information with the picture ?

[David_Hayward (RIP)]

Does anyone know what the trucks are in #2 outside the Cricketers please? The left one looks like a Utility, and the one under cover has the chequered "Polish" style TAC sign? Wonder when it was?

[Richard Farrant]

Originally posted by David_Hayward
Does anyone know what the trucks are in #2 outside the Cricketers please? The left one looks like a Utility, and the one under cover has the chequered "Polish" style TAC sign? Wonder when it was?

David,

In photo #1, I think you mean (?) is an Austin 10, probably a Utility, on the left and another Utility to the right, if you can read the census number, we could pin it down. The chequered sign on the back of it, is not Polish, but the sign used for Training Centres.

[David_Hayward (RIP)]

Thanks Richard, I meant to make it clear that it looked like a "Polish-style" sign. I have just been wading through a number of 1942 shots of an ATS training centre and the vehicles have that sign on them. It dates to early 1940 we believe.

[rewdco]

Originally posted by David_Hayward
Thanks Richard, I meant to make it clear that it looked like a "Polish-style" sign. I have just been wading through a number of 1942 shots of an ATS training centre and the vehicles have that sign on them. It dates to early 1940 we believe.

David,

This picture must have been taken in 1940: early BSA M20 models without pannier racks, but with front and rear numberplates. Similar sign on the petroltanks, and it looks like a training camp.

Regards,
Jan

[David_Hayward (RIP)]

This is supposed to be Despatch Rider training in October 1939..........!

[David_Hayward (RIP)]

..this one! Spot the m/c!

[Rob van Meel]

Wasn't the square with the chequered surface in white and red used by some sort of Army School. I remeber seeing it with a bar on the bottom which read school.

Rob

PS if only I knew how to get my scanner going and posting some pictures1

@ Rich Payne: you seem to have quite a collection of Motorcycles and Motorcyclings. Have you got any spare ones. I have some that are available for swops.

[Rich Payne]

Hello Rob,

Scanners are so cheap now that there's no excuse not to share your treasures !

As you mentioned in the DR thread, the old magazines (certainly in the context of motorcycles) are a wonderful resource, even if the print quality was poor. Most of the pictures that I "discover" turn out to have been published at the time.

Here's another pair, the clearer one appeared in Roy Bacon's "Norton Singles" book - Most marque histories include a few ill-captioned WD pictures.






Many of the scans that I have from the period magazines have been swapped with friends. I do still buy Norton specific issues especially if they're early war. The last few I bought were from the Beaulieu jumble at £3 each. I don't think that I've got any doubles.

I justified it on the grounds that I could better spend my money on that than the soapy foam they call beer at the same price. Trouble was I ended up drinking the beer as well.

Rich

[Rob van Meel]

Hi Rich,

Since you live in Limburg, Belgium? and I live just north of the Belgium bordertown of Turnhout, and i have some 350-400 of hte 1939-1946 Motorcycle and Motorcyclings, feel free to come and browse through them.
Not many spare ones though.
I have had my Norton since 1979, which started as an ex-Greek army one. But alas not many spares: I should have hoarded them when they were cheap: NOS Lucas WD headlamps complete with black-out mask for GB pounds 25, only 20 years ago. Etc. I used to frequent leon Liekens in Wiekenvorst who always had dozens of WD bikes for breaking up. It is his fault that I srtill got too many WD bikes!

Rob

[Rich Payne]

Rob, That sounds like an offer that I can't refuse and you'll be able to laugh at my Dutch with an English accent op z'n Limburgs ! Should I bring my own scanner ?

I never met Leon Liekens but I have acquired some bits that came from him. He has had a lasting effect on the number of ex-WD bikes in this part of the world as well.

These are the front and back covers of my latest purchase. Interesting to see the long-nosed grease gun as the parts book was still showing the short one at this time. My early pattern WD 16H toolkit is pretty well complete now.

[Rob van Meel]

Hi Rich,

direct email rvanmeel at wanado.nl and telephone +31 13 535 3612

See you,

Rob