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Le Prof

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Everything posted by Le Prof

  1. Hi Rob, I don't know if it's of use to you, but there is one sitting by a garage in south central France, where it's been for some years. It was there in September 2022 when I last passed through the area. I have no idea if it's for sale. Let me know if you'd like further details. Best Regards, Adrian
  2. Actually, it is slightly better for me now. The advert at the bottom of the page which would slide in and out seems to have gone. But I still have the large ad at the top of the page, and the occasional ad interspersed into the text, which look like a reply to the topic, and so can lead to non sequitur moments. Thanks for resolving what you have, but do we know the reason for it? Will it ever get back to the previous (better) format? Best Regards, Adrian
  3. Hi, thanks for trying to resolve it. My screenshot is somewhat ironic (-:
  4. Hi @John Bradshaw Sorry for the delayed response. It's a bank holiday here (14th July), giving me a chance to catch up on my post. I have fingers in too many pies at times. (-: Thanks for the additional information. I appreciate you taking the time. For research, no I have not seen your images from the 1979 BSA company records, and would welcome a view. I understand there is very little paperwork remaining from BSA, but some wartime production minutes and other documents are stored at University of Warwick. I keep intending ordering the files one weekend when I'm over there toread through, just to see if there's anything of interest. eg, "minutes of the meetings of the Research and Design and Management sections, 1944-1952; copies of the minutes of minutes of the Sales, Research and Design and Management meetings, 1944-1945;" https://mrc-catalogue.warwick.ac.uk/records/BSA I suspect ythese are too late for what we are interested in, but I can't find anything else, and you never know. (-: Best Regards, Adrian PS, please see the Personal Mail I've sent you through the site.
  5. Hi John, Thanks for that. (-: It looks like I'm going to have to rejoin facebook. I've been avoiding it, but there must be a few frames I've not seen on that chat. Best Regards, Adrian
  6. Hi @John Bradshaw We've all been there (-: Thanks, I'd not seen the parabike in the link. Thanks for pointing it out. (-: Sadly, no S/N, (when researching, this is really frustrating, I have seen literally hundreds I couldn't get a S/N for) but it must be quite close to yours (ie, in the around R21500 to 22900 range) because of the BSA wingnuts, making it a rare frame type. However, at least the wheels, handlebars, brake levers and saddle are all incorrect. I don't do Facebook (perhaps I should rejoin), but another friend tells me that R31999 has just turned up on the Parabikes forum. The nearest survivor to that I have listed is R31935, which is one of mine (-: Best Regards, Adrian
  7. Hi John @John Bradshaw Oops, better luck next time (-: Best Regards, Adrian
  8. Hi All, Looking for advice. For many years I have owned a 1941ish Willys MB jeep, and 1944 SS Cars 'Airborne' trailer. They were originally registered in the UK, but I moved to the French Alps 20 years ago, which is where they are now, French registered. I still have all the UK documentation. I damaged my spine some 10 years ago, and I am now not able to drive a jeep any real distance, so jeep and trailer have been sitting in a garage almost untouched since. I was hoping things would get better, but time passes quickly, and I realise now it is best for the vehicle to go to a new owner rather than sitting like that. The jeep is registered as a 1941, but is ex British Army, and has been rebuilt many times, so that I can say the majority of parts are WW2, and in quite good condition. The 1941 dating comes from the brass postwar British Army overhaul plate, it does not have original dataplates. I know the original WW2 M series number. Literally 'ran when parked', but after standing for that time will need at least all the fluids changed, the battery changed (it is on 12v), and the tyres will need to be assessed. It has original WW2 one piece wheels, slat grill, small neck fuel tank. But the body is a bit later, with panelled over glovebox aperture, and the Willys scripting in the rear panel is hand done (though I have a separate original Willys scripted panel I intended to fit one day). It has the brass The trailer is complete, no data plates, but has the post war British Army number stamped on the frame, so I know the original X series number and last unit. The floor is perforated with pinhole rust, I used it like that with no problems, but another person might want to replace it. What do you think is the best way to sell these? Ebay? Milweb? here? As a pair or individually? I only have a rough idea of value, I'm not sure how originality, or lack thereof would change this value. All suggestions welcome as to how to proceed. (-: Thanks for your help. My jeep in happier days in the sun (-: Best Regards, Adrian
  9. Hi All, Apparently the remains of eight Hurricanes originally supplied to Russia have been found buried outside Kyiv, Ukraine, where they were disposed of after WW2. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-65955365 Best Regards, Adrian
  10. Hi @garys39 Thanks for the photo. (-: Do you know if the the lighter green one, second from left, is earlier or later than the dark green on right? Best Regards, Adrian
  11. Hi @Enfield1940 The red square on the helmet is proabaly the Drop Zone /Tactical Recognition Flash (DZ/TRF) for 1st Batallion Parachute Regiment (1 Para). Below looks like AT/(?), which could be Anti Tank platoon. The buckles are sometimes dated. Best Regards, Adrian
  12. Thanks for your kind words, John. I really wanted to use preantepenultimate, since I've never had cause to. But not this time.... (-: Best Regards, Adrian
  13. Thanks, John. I have it noted correctly on my listings, my mind must just have been thinking of you. So yours is the prepenultimate Brown listed (-:. I need to think about the paint changes. It is obvious that stocks of paint would be used until exhausted, and stocks from different sources may exhaust at different times, so there will be a lag behind order changes. Also, BSA's have been noted with brown and green components. Whils this might just be from army servicing, it is also likely thatparts were painted seperatly, so leading to mismatch in the colour handover periods. Best Regards, Adrian
  14. Hi Again, John. Thanks for the colour information. I need to work through it to see how it relates to observed colours on the bikes. Resolving the colour question was one of the primary reasons for collecting information. So, I can say this from observation: The earliest frame I have details for is Lex Shmidt's R923. It is evident that this is in it's original green colour. Photo Credit: Lex Schmidt All subsequent frames where I can see the original paint are also green. This appears to be true for all early 'Twin tube' frames, and the beginning of the second pattern frames, up to at least R10779. The first Brown frame recorded is T13439, which is one of mine. The T number is so far unique, and it also has a Gold BSA transfer, although this could be due to the transfer oxidising in soeme way (I have seen two other original 'Gold' BSA transfers, both on a lot later bikes). Brown with the occasional green is predominant to about R21047 (which is brown). After that Green becomes more dominant with occasional Browns. R29967 is the last brown I have recorded, your R26135being the penultimate, and both surrounded by Greens. After R29967, I only record Greens until the last known surviving frame (R62836). So, generally: - R923 to around R10779 are Green. By around T13439 to around R21047 they are mainly Brown From around R21047 to around R29967 they are mainly Green From around R29967 to the end they are Green. So, as a rough estimate, around 10,000 frames of the early Second Pattern bikes were Brown. It has been suggested to me that the Green used that the start of production, and that at the end were different Greens. But, honestly, I don't have enough good unweathered early and late examples to try to make that call. Can colours be used to date the bicycle production seequence (which is still unknown)? One clue is the well known image below of a soldier with an early First Pattern bicycle. This is from the archives of the Imperial War Museum in London. This is from a series of photographs taken on 29th August 1942, and other photos in the series show more examples in use, so this is not a prototype bicycle, and production and delivery must have started a short while before this date. Photo Credit Lt. Spender. From observation, this bike was green, and was painted before August 1942. How does that fit with the colour discussion? This is the appendix from British Standard 987C, 1942, British Standard Camouflage Colours. You may find the official descriptions a bit.... British? (-: This is where the Tea and Coffee references come from. I havn't yet found a good copy of the right side of this appendix page, but you can see the colours. So, both the Green and Brown were suggested colours by 1942. I'm out of time for today, I will get back to this later in the week. Best Regards, Adrian
  15. Hi @mcspool Thanks for republishing that. Do you know the original author or source for the listings? I have reorganised the listings into the more useful table below, which can be shared freely with acknowledgement. Below is a detail of the registration on RAF 261179, and Armstrong Gent's bicycle currently for sale on Milweb. I am currently unable to access the site, but will add the owner's name later. Best Regards, Adrian
  16. Hi John, Thanks for the excellent quality closeups, it's a pity there's nothing to see. (-: I cannot think of any bare frame details I need. I appreciate the crank boss one, would it be possible to photo the boss weld on the chainwheel side? If you are thinking of changing your bike from Brown to Green, no problem from me, it's your bike (-: Your's is a very late brown frame. Apparently some exist with mixed green and brown components, which could be through parts being swapped in service, or because parts were painted up seperately and there was no attempt to match paint colours on assembly. Any details about colour changes and dates are always welcome, thank you. For the jeep in Stockton, I know where it is (close to the church). It's just interesting how these things can be hidden away. Incidentally, I once won the village hall in Stockton in a raffle (-: It was the fruit and veg shop of the old Co-op building in Rugby. It is a concrete sectional building, and when it came for demolition, it was offered in a raffle to various social groups in the area. I won, but couldn't find a means of moving it to a new site, so deferred to Stockton... (-: Again, thanks for your help. Best Regards, Adrian
  17. Le Prof

    Adverts !

    Same here. It seems as if 2/3 of the page disappears in pointless unfocussed adverts. I would normally not mention something like that, since I understand that a website has to be paid for somehow, (and very much appreciate it's existance), but to go from zero ads, to being one of the most intrusive for ads on all the sites I use, overnight, has been a bit of a nasty shock. I won't quit the site (yet), but it makes it very difficult to use. Thank you for the site, and listening to the comments of the members. Best Rzgards, Adrian
  18. Hi again, john. As it turns out we were writing at the same time (-: So, flat topped fork (all the BSA wingnut types seem to be like this, soon after peaked returns for several thousand examples, then flat is back until the end), so the fork is the original, or at least the correct type. Incidentally, red primer was used towards the end of production instead of the black enamel (-: The downtube is welded direct to the bottom bracket, as you said. This went to the lugged version somewhere near R30500. The crank arm photo is very interesting, since it seems the boss is welded to the arm. I've discussed this possibility with others, that BSA modified standard arms in stock when they knew there was a problem, and cast them later, but this is the first good example of the welded type I've seen. It could also mean that the chamfer on the outside edge originally occurred on both edges, so as to give a place for the weld bead to penetrate. I hate to ask this, but I didn't know you had the crank out. Is it possible to take a picture of the two BSA marked cones (one each side?) There's no urgency, I'm trying to see if they have date code letter on them like the K, H and J seen on these examples. Even just knowing what the letter are would be helpful. Original photos: Ian Air Pilot Thank you for you help. The house with the jeep is probably well known in Stockton, for years there was a tipper open cab CCKW parked in the garden. It may still be there today! Best Regards, Adrian
  19. Hi John, The weather's a bit iffy here too, 30+°C, sun and storms, but totally usual for the time of year. Thanks for your replies. Every little helps. (-: The threaded crank arms I dobt I'll be able to resolve. It is rare that the original type pins have been removed, without pedals then being fitted, and so difficult to know if thee threading is original or not. I do have a good photo of R33587's crank arm interior, showing no threading, so this is likely to be the case for at least half of the bikes made, and all with the the later 'conical' boss. I look forward to your other details. Best Regards, Adrian
  20. John, thanks for your prompt, and informative response too. My first ride in a WW2 jeep was from Stockton Village down the A426 to Southam and back, around Christmas 1984. To my knowledge the jeep (and a BSA Parabike), are still interred in a garage in the village. The questions are a little esoteric, I hope you'll forgive that. So, your bicycle would have originally had a black enamel undercoat, any sign of that? There appear to be three forms of crank arms. The earliest have just a flat face, like most bicycles, and may be tapped for bicycle pedals (so probably off the shelf items), as below. Later bikes have a boss extension, probably to help support the pedal, and these come in two types. An 'early' version, below, which is tubular, with a chamfer: And a later version, such as @Enigma below, a more conical casting. Yours is likely to be plain, or the early boss type, they were just coming in when your bike was made. The attachment of the down tube to the bottom bracket should be welded on yours (left frame in photo below, note frames are upside down) . Later this was improved by using a lugged fitting instead.(right frame) Photo from @garys39 Yours should have an oil fitting offset to the rear of the bottom bracket, like both above. Forks come in two types, with peaked or flat shoulders. Peaked are early, are replaced by flat, and then reappear mixed with flat in mid production. Flat are later, and are used exclusively by the end of production. Peaked. Easy to see because there is an inverted V in the base of the bracket too. Flat, again, the base of the bracket is flat, along with the shoulders. Finally, very early tommy bars on the handlebar quick release were welded direct to the nut. Later, they were inserted in drilled holes in the nut. Yours should be the second type (photo from Enigma), as below. I hope that makes some sense. Best of Luck with the restoration. It's getting harder to find the pieces, but it sounds like you've got that covered. I look forward to seeing the results, and feel free to contact me should you think I can help in any way. Best Regards, Adrian
  21. Hello, @John Bradshaw Welcome to the forum, and taking the time to supply those details. I had the serial number listed from the Captain Stevens list in Canada, but no additional details. He noted you as being in Warwickshire. We may have met, since I come from Rugby, and used to do most of the local shows until I emigrated 20 years ago (you will see me on the same listings). Yours is the last BSA wingnut bike recorded so far (I now have over 300 serials recorded from the production of 60,000+). They are a rare variant, about 1000 to 1500 (roughly 3 to 4%) seem to have had them. The example in Birmingham City Museum is a BSA wingnut type, but I don't have the s/n. Below is the block including BSA wingnut bikes. Does yourshave the original forks and crank? If so, could I ask you a couple more questiond to fill in the N/K's ? Thanks. Best Regards, Adrian
  22. Hi @Tim efg and Welcome. Sorry, the images don't show. Use the to upload images. Best Regards, Adrian
  23. Hi All, Thread ressurection, eight years after my last comment above. My third data plate just turned up. I maligned the movers, though they did pack it in a box of books I've only just got round to sorting out (umm, 20 years later?) No photo at the moment, but the plate is the standard brass one marked: TANK, INFANTRY MARK IV MAKERS N° VM2883 W.D. N° T31132 DATE /1/42 i guess a Vauxhall Motors produced Churchill? Are any other details known on this one? The plate came from a pile of brass shiney things at a steam fair, probably Husband's Bosworth. Thanks for any help. Best Regards, Adrian
  24. Hi @Mark Ellis If you can't find NOS plates, Robert on this site should be able to make good reproductions: https://dataplates4u.com/ Best Regards, Adrian
  25. Hi @Morris C8 I was researching someting else in the Imperial War Museum archives, and came across these Dunkirk photos. I hope you don't mind me putting them here. The following colour photos were taken in Dunkirk immediately after the evacuation, by Hermann Weper of the 13 German Mobile Assault Unit. I have not included photos of dead soldiers. Copyright is the Imperial War Museum as indicated. Best Regards, Adrian (c) IWM COL287 German forces arrive in Dunkirk. The sea front at Dunkirk photographed immediately after the completion of the evacuation of the British Expeditionary Force earlier in the day. The crew of a light anti-tank gun of the German mobile assault unit Motorensturm 13 stand guard on the seafront. The gun is covered with a camouflaged cloth. Debris left by the British evacuation debris is visible in the background. (c) IWM COL288 German forces arrive in Dunkirk. The sea front at Dunkirk photographed immediately after the completion of the evacuation of the British Expeditionary Force earlier in the day. Vehicles and troops of the German mobile assault unit Motorensturm 13, drawn up on the sea front at Dunkirk near one of the unit's light anti-tank guns. (c) IWM COL289 German forces arrive in Dunkirk after the completion of the evacuation of the British Expeditionary Force earlier in the day. Clearing the blocked road into Dunkirk. Under the direction of their German captors, French troops push away an immobilised British Universal Carrier tracked vehicle. (c) IWM COL290 On the outskirts of Dunkirk, a German officer interrogates two captured French officers who sit under guard near a roadside table laden with wine bottles. A German inflatable rubber dinghy is visible behind the table. (c) IWM COL292 On the outskirts of Dunkirk, German officers confer by their vehicles at the roadside before moving into the town. (c) IWM COL293 German troops pulling a 37mm anti-tank gun along a road near Dunkirk. Immobilised British Scout carriers are parked at the side of the road. (c) COL294 German forces move into Dunkirk. Disarmed French soldiers file pass German officers on the outskirts of Dunkirk. The evacuation of the British Expeditionary Force had been completed a few hours earlier. (c) IWM COL295 German forces move into Dunkirk hours after the evacuation of the British Expeditionary Force was completed. A beached French coastal patrol craft at low tide at Dunkirk. The ship is armed with a 75mm canon on its foredeck and probably dates from the First World War. A British Universal Carrier and a bicycle lie abandoned half buried in the sand. (c) IWM COL296 German forces move into Dunkirk hours after the evacuation of the British Expeditionary Force. Curious German officers inspect the memorial to the French aviation pioneer, Louis Bleriot on the sea front at Dunkirk. It is surrounded by German vehicles and the litter of the British evacuation.
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