van der Linde

WOW!!! Could have been taken from a film set with the way everyone is placed! One of the best shots I've ever seen Where, on Earth, do you find all this wonderful stuff, Ron? van der Linde

Ab-so-loot-lee bleedin' right! :nut: I would have been one of those if it weren't for the fact my 'bike is only 90% original AND that part of its history reveals it would have had a rebuild/refit at some time. Just before it was "......taken from an airfield..........", I believe!!! :cool2: Hence, I decided to bring it back to its late '41 guise with a just a few of the extras that it would have had, such as the panniers, really. I did have the original tyres (if you can say that......I might as well have said, "original oil"!) but they had to go as they would have broken and perished, just like the original tank knee rubbers-buggered to bits!!!. I may have to ask opinions in another post about how to rejuvenate my original Lycett saddle, as it has the beginnings of a very small tear showing........... Am waiting, with baited breath, to hear back from 79x100 van der Linde

That all sounds brill, Ron! At least, now, I don't have to worry about drastically changing the colour scheme. I can have two paths open to me: One, to follow the RAF route and add a RAF number (of some sorts!) on the tank together with the RAF roundels - btw, would they have been on both sides of the tank? Two, to use the RASC number and find out what part of the army me dad was attached to, going on the little I know about his landing at Peter's Beach for the Anzio landings. Then, possibly, I could use some artistic license to have the Divisional and Arms of Service signs painted on the tank and wherever. Blimey! And all this from asking about pannier frame fitments.........!!! What a forum

Thanks, guys, for all your input. It goes a long way in trying to unravel, and understand, the urban myths and mysteries out there! With regards to the C10*** rather than C45*** number, Ron: In my own, personal opinion, that is I have noticed more restored 'bikes with the latter than the former (and, by the way, why is that?) and just thought it would be "something a little more different", that's all :cheesy: That's only my opinion but, there again, I doubt I have seen more than a couple of dozen and, should imagine, there are way more than that if I started looking! With these numbers am I right to think that the C10*** relate to RASC allocations while the C45*** relate to RAOC? If so, then what type of number would have been allocated to the RAF and RN? From what has been mentioned about some of the contract going to RAF then this would tie in, quite nicely, with the original owners personal history of my 'bike being "......taken off the local airfield.....". It would be interesting to know if this 'bike had a C**** number painted on its tank when it was RAF. But, considering that I have already got it in me head to restore the 'bike to army green colours (I have already got the paint for it!) and that I am adding a few, let's say,discrecionary items as well to try and make it to its, former, late '41 condition then I am a bit loath to going down the road of making the 'bike in RAF colours/trim now: All to do with time which means money. Something that I have become devoid of since starting the restore! There again, though, is there anything to say the 'bike would not have been in some kind of green colour scheme even if it was allocated to the RAF? Would love to know that and make me feel a bit happier :laugh:If so, would the RAF ask for their 'bikes to be in certain trims? I would really like to build the 'bike with my old pa in mind. In particular to a period when he was in the landings at Anzio to liberate Rome. Not knowing who he was with (as he was so not talkative about his efforts) I do know he had dealings with the RASC in that theatre. In fact, I took photos of various headstones when in the British Cemetary, at Anzio that show this. So, with regards to this I could use RASC numbers on the tank, which would mean I could use C1039181, if I use the 880th engine number rule. Is that correct? In a nutshell, then: Would be great to hear if my 'bike was RAF and what C number would have been used on the tank. Also, would be even better if I could use a shade of green for a RAF machine. On the other hand, if this doesn't work out then I can still pursue the path of a RASC machine and dedicate to me ol' man. (This has gone a bit off topic, me thinks.......! :red:)

Just a quickie with regards to the above, before it has to made into a new Post: I was trying to make some sense of the numbers used on these WD machines using Orchard & Maddens book (as well as Draganfly!). Seeing that my engine number was 11,656 (and the frame ties in) I, tried to, use some common sense to work out what the number would be that is painted on the fuel tank. I can see that the O&M book says it is Contract Number C10477. Thank you, Ron, for verifying this for me. But, looking in the column that says, WD Serial Number Allocation, there are two sets of numbers: 458926-4590925 and 1038302-1039801. Understanding that 1,500 were allocated to Chilwell and Ashchurch, each, together with some going to RAF and RN I can see that it could be quite confusing. In fact, I have replies back from IWM and RAF saying they cannot help! Can someone point me in the right direction as to what number would be painted on the fuel tank? I am guessing it was one of those used in the WD Serial Number Allocation. Or, am I barking up the wrong proverbial and was a completely different number system used? Would be great to hear if anyone has detailed information of what the bike's number actually was but, at the same time, I would prefer to have 'C' number that starts '10...' rather than the ubiquitous '4....'. Can't help but going against the grain :cheesy: Thanks again, Ron, for all the help. Those photos you are posting are priceless, not just to me, but to all those out there asking for help. Regards.

Have a late '41 W/NG with ambiguous history. This is my first restoration. I normally build 'bikes: Chops, customs, hybrids, with a special penchant for Guzzis, as this goes against the grain of your commercial builder. I thought this restore would be a challenge.....but, this is turning out to be, quite, laughable. In my 'world' of custom building it is a very tight-knit community although we are always there to help each other out. In the old club I was with, we had a saying,"Together, we stand alone." I thought, by doing this restore, I would find immeasurable help, due to the comradeship heard of in war time days. Haven't found this, so far, out there on other forums: Ambiguity, closed doors, bad manners, One-Upmanship.....just some of the things I have encountered. But, I must say, there have been a few who have shined. So, thank you, to those. I was hoping to find this forum to be a change. So far, it has been brilliant! Hats off to those who have pointed me in directions of expertise and wealth of knowledge. I am looking forward to enjoying the W/NG restoration again. Meeting too many Brick Walls and wannabees was challenging my faith in all this. I build and ride 'bikes. Nothing more. Nothing less. 'nuff said.

All sound good, to me, guys! Looking at the top photo, in consideration, it looks like a pretty easy bracket to knock up, as well as the two spacers. I ended up having to get the four lower frame brackets (that have bends and folds and slots/holes drilled in them, etc) from Draganfly and it was these that I couldn't work out, exactly, how their fitment was made. Ron saved the day, though! With regards to the original rear rack, Steve..............BUGGER! HeyHo............but, at the end of the day it was a straight swap for something I needed and something I had no need for....... Would be grateful if anyone has contact details for Terry, as he could be of interest if I find anything else missing? Just as a bit of info, the 'bike has these details: Engine Number ..... 11,656 Frame Number ..... XG 21,380 therefore, would it be correct that this would have a contract number of C1039181 with the RASC?

Excellent, Ron! Just the help I needed . I can see exactly how the two, lower brackets fit to the bike, now. A couple of questions, if I can? With the front two brackets, and how they attach, will I need a longer bolt to secure them? With the rear two brackets, remembering that the setup that I have never had frames fitted, will I need the 'mudguard bracket', 'spacers' and anything else for that matter to allow fitment? If so, do you happen to know what the part codes are so I can start looking around? Thanks for your time. It helps a great deal. I may have to pick your brains again, at some point, Ron! Regards.

Hi. Just wondered if anyone had detailed photos of how the pannier frames attach to the bike. It is a late '41 model and, therefore, never originally came equiped with any panniers but, as I like the idea of how it will look (when I finish the restore) it is something that I am persueing. I have, already, swapped the original 'small' rack for the 'longer' pannier rack model, acquired a pair of NOS pannier frames and have the two sets of pannier frame brackets (repros). I do understand, though, I may have to make adjustments (read that as,"drilling holes and buying/making other bits"!) to the mudguard area as well as look at sourcing other parts to make the look complete, remembering that the original mudguard that I have was not made to have these parts. Look forward to hearing back from yo all! van der Linde.