welbike

Nice Ron! Alfie, those pictures can be ordered from Stilltime Archive, I am saving up to buy 100+ pictures. Cheers, Lex

Nice repair Ron! Cheers, Lex

Here's the little film they made there, can watch it over and over! Cheers, Lex

Hello Bob, that is the 7th. RNF from the Tyne and Tees Division in training, south of Amiens, a little hamlet called Le Croq, (near Fontaine-Bonneleau) the (stone) building is actually a church, I still have to go back there to do a proper "then and now" picture, with the outfits, and a lonely M20. But we did visit, and talked to the locals, here 2 pictures, (thanks Jan, and Rich!) sort of then and now, have many more pictures in that area! Also added a picture of the back of the church, so you can see the steeple, plus the original IWM picture, the cameraman had to stand on the roof of his Humber to take the picture! Cheers, Lex

Thanks for trying that Adrian, I always try to find locations, and know how frustrating, and difficult it is! but I did find this one! Lex

Here's what they said back in the day! And here about the gloves and helmets in France: French motorcyclists required by law to wear gloves (motor1.com) New motorbike glove law in France for summer 2017 | ETA Lex

I still use my 1940 fibre DR helmet, as they are much lower in weight than the steel ones, never been pulled over for wearing it though. Another matter I recently heard, and never knew, is that in France, when riding a motorcycle, you MUST wear gloves with a certain approval lable, not sure about the details, but in France many strange laws exist, and are not enforced. Cheers, Lex

Contact the Tilly register, I believe on here: austineightregister@gmail.com Or from the website: The Tilly Register Cheers, Lex

Thanks for this, I had not seen this before. But please change the colour of the exhaust system to silver, and take the canvas thing around the filler neck off, just my 2 P's. Lex

Ok, but they are at Jan's to see if they can be etched with contract info, will take awhile, have to make the drawings, for James and Flea. Lex

It's probably stamped brass, and then nickel plated, but you's have to make dies for that, way too expensive! Etched brass, you cannot get the rippled background effect, but I had the steel contract plates done, and that worked in stainless. Lex

Ok, the second one, I can have those made, but will be in stainless, and it's the most difficult one to have made, but will not be infilled with black paint, you have to do that yourself. Any chance of a centre to centre (holes) distance? Thanks, Lex

No, the James was never fitted in a dropcage, and it would not fit either, it's much more substantial! They were carried in gliders though, so you could replicate one of those? Shame to hear about Nige! he's about my age. Lex

Ah, I forgot about checking the Flea pictures! I will have a better look/see! When I have something made, I'd like to do it correct the first time, have been doing too much wrong lately! Lex

Thanks Ray! the Pack is in the Overloon War Museum, the second one is there too, but not on display yet, it will be in a US display, but I have parts for it that were found in the Rhine crossing's operation Varsity, with the 6th Airborne area, dug up some years ago. The glider is a part replica, that nobody in the UK wanted (or had room for) it, and RAF storage was being demolished, so it came to Holland a couple of years back, and is now permanently displayed in Overloon, a Dakota is also there. We have, for years been doing displays and shoots all over the place, but since the pandemic, all is on halt, so it's in the museum now for some time to come. Lex

Thanks for the Mansfield stuff, but which badge to copy now?? I found 2 more badges, see all of them here.

Hi Alfie! Good show! Lex

Hi Ray and Tom, I have a couple here in Holland, but that is probably too difficult, but I can ask a friend near Luton, if his can be viewed if you want? he can also tell you all about it. Any chance of a picture of the glider loading plan? In the meantime a picture of mine, that is on loan to a museum. This is one with original parts recovered from the battlefield mounted on it, and 100% British wartime used. Lex PS, another solution could be to go to Duxford, as they have one on display, but it's a bit strange, as it's hanging from the ceiling!

Well, I have seen both restored, but have just heard off of an original brown one too, or remnants of brown paint, but most I have seen were green. Lex

I have some problems with this website, many things are wrong! Please don't use it as a reference to what is original or not! Cheers, Lex

Ok, but the US O.D. is different to the GB O.D. that is a fact, and I have not seen any bicycles in brown (original paint) but what do I know! Lex

It's all about colours today it seems! (on FB) but I think, the bicycles, followed along the lines of the motorcycles, that followed the vehicles.... British Vehicle Camouflage, 1939-45 (mafva.org) Cheers, Lex PS, or buy all the literature available.....

Yes, same for me! but also riding the bikes, and collecting the manuals and tools for them, make it quite interesting. Did you read about my newest find? And in the meantime I am in contact with the daughter of a War Photographer, who's bike (or front number plate) I own, pictured in France. Lex

A lot of bikes were bought and shipped to the US too, see these adds, also Pride & Clark a mentioned in a Motorcycle Mechanics article. Also a picture of Mortlocks, where were they? OK, they were in Perth, Australia! building is still there) Lex

Thanks Richard, I have added it to the slowly growing file of abreviations. Just checked the Ruddinton catalogs, but I have nothing before 1967. Lex