wdbikemad

A common dodge was to cut the puttees shorter (strip and tape) but you then lost a lot of the intended support...... They are indeed an art form, but when wearing the things every day, you could get your boots and puttees on within a couple of minutes and looking smart...... DMS boots and puttees were, in my humble opinion, a comfortable and smart arrangement........and far comfier than the first issue of high-leg DMS boots............ Most post-war puttees were made by Fox (in Wellington, Somerset)...sadly long gone now after existing since at least WW1......modern versions were a mix of wool and nylon, earlier wartime versions being largely all wool.....coloured versions existed for some regiments (eg - the Green Jackets, RTR, etc) and some officers took to wearing very pale-coloured (fawn) private purchase examples....... The old webbing anklets lasted into the late-70s in some units, usually boot-polished black, the modern short puttees commencing issue during the early 70s......

I'm surprised by the late despatch date of a non-standard make....but you can't argue with Steve Mayhew !! I'm inclined to think that Enfield were more into "home use" machinery, at least from 39 through to 42, most machines of their's being employed in non-front line areas (eg - Models D, C, (early) CO, J, etc) so they may have had a tad more freedom than other bulk manufacturers in the supply of machines to the Government....? As we know, most civvy and overseas manufacture continued for many manufacturers well into 1940, only abruptly terminating following the fall of France, and there must have been a fair stock of civvy and export parts and machines knocking around the various works that didn't fit into the standard-type WD mould of the time.........from late 1940 most of AMC, Ariel, BSA and Norton's output was for a very limited number of models and almost wholly destined for the military for universal use anywhere across the Globe.......not so perhaps, Enfield........? Certainly, 42 into 43 saw a change of direction, with Enfield's production scaling down to two specific models, the WD/CO and WD/RE........

If DPM and with a 1982 date, it will be a MK2 or 2A aircrew combat jacket....

If DPM, it will be a MK2 or 2A aircrew combat jacket.......

Gearbox indicator is brass (end easily bent !).......fairly easy to find, as used on many post-war pre-unit Triumph twins also....

I may be wrong Ron, but I think 1942 may be a tad late for WD/Ls and Gs...? Jan will probably know more !!! Most of these "oddities" were of post-Dunkirk emergency procurement, although the situation of the time saw many non-standard bikes still being manufactured and delivered well into 1941.........but by 1942 the situation had eased and WD bikes were, by and large, fairly standardised by then.......... My 1940 16H was built to a post-Dunkirk (massive) contract (C7353) for 17,000 machines......Rik and I established that mine probably wasn't built and delivered until around Feb 41 at the earliest....and by then the front and rear numberplates had disappeared that were fitted to initial production in my contract......mind you, my 16H retained the holes in the mudguard for the fitting, no doubt to use up stocks of drilled 'guards at the works..... So, your WD/L may have had numberplates still fitted....or not.....? And the matter is further confused by post-war civvy use and/or dealer rebuilding, as front numberplates were still a legal requirement at the time.......Best comparison may be to look at WD/C's manufactured around the same period, and see exactly what they were factory-fitted with......

Thanks Jason ! More detail towards the book

I agree.....only ever seen CW as a manufacturer with dated 68 pattern trousers (nearly all 72 dated too)....never any smocks........I THINK CW is "Compton Webb" but it could also be "Clifford Williams" (an old battledress manufacturer)...? Yep, 60 pattern (in DPM) made during 1970 and 68 pattern entering production during 1971.....

It's actually an aircrew parka......the "22C" stores number indicates aircrew clothing, plus the modification record on the label is another clue only found on aircrew and survival clothing....... These garments were originally intended for aircrew operating in extreme cold climates during the (no pun intended) "Cold War" era........and also came in grey-blue........ They are a superbly made garment but very hard to find today.......they were superceded during the late 1970s by the Canadian-issue extreme cold weather parka (shorter, and with the slotted buttons).....I had one of these issued in 1983 for a detachment to Goose Bay....... Some of these 1950s/60s parka survived on RAF issue for ground crew into the early 1980s although they were a rare sight by then.......:-D Where did you find this one Jason ?!!! I estimate this as late-production (by the NZ zip), circa late-1960s/early 70s.....

These are a rare item......."Made in England"........:-D

Some of the tan-colour 40s and 50s issue Army pumps survived on issue until the 70s......... I suspect the RAF blue-grey variety are 1950s to 1960s, running parallel with the tan Army pattern......with stocks surviving on issue into the 70s.......by the 80s RAF PT pumps were predominantly white......I can recall scrubbing and whitening the buggers with a vengeance.....

Most kit used by the Canadians was either British-issue or Canadian manufacture but based upon British patterns.......the chocolate brown colour would be common for 1942 - 44 production for both the UK and Canada.......:-D

Forget corks !! Use modern Norton fibre friction plates.......these are slightly heavier and thicker so you may need one friction and one steel plate less.......most UK autojumbles and dealers stock post-war modern replacements.....not sure the exact type, but the Norton clutch didn't really change much post-WW2..........Try Norvil in the UK, or Mick Hemmings...they will know what you're seeking.... My 16H uses the modern fibre friction plates in conjunction with the remaining original parts, and it's a beautifully smooth, light, trouble-free item.......plus, more oil-resistant than the old cork variety and far, far cheaper.....oh, and trouble-free... I've used similar modern plates in my Ariel W/NG with the same result..........

I reckon they are cadet pattern boots.........I recall that my issue NI boots were without toe-cap, although I have heard that some were manufactured with this feature...... From memory, the sole was similar to the standard ankle boot but lighter weight and the moulding pattern was not completely identical........the variation occurring at the front or back (I simply can't remember)...... Any issue boots will carry an NSN or a contract number, NO metric sizing either...... As for the claim for ankle support....complete b*&%$£s........they were so light-weight that all ankle support had gone.....first time I bust my ankle was on uneven ground the very day after I stopped wearing DMS boots and puttees in favour of these....:embarrassed:

On many regulators Rik, there is a date beneath......usually month and year.....:-D

All the above is correct.....the "shorter" bodied regulators (MCR1) are generally pre-48 and the taller ones (MCR2) went right through to the 1960s.........Lucas did make some that could be adapted for either the clamp fitting or bolt-on with "feet" (which can be cut-off if necessary, the regulator body still incorporating the lower clamp attachment points in the frame).....some wartime WD bikes used post-war were fitted with the later MCR2 as it became available...... On a historical detail note, many pre and early wartime MCR1's are marked either "Lead Acid" or "Ni-Fe" above the "FADE" terminal marks to identify the type of regulator necessary dependent on the battery variety fitted....after 1940-41 regulators were unmarked, lead-acid batteries being standardised for all bikes after this period....... PS - is that an old piccie Ron, or have you stripped down your rather nice 16H combo ???

Try RK Leighton......they may supply spares....? You can easily make the clips from thin steel or brass strip, and the bifurcated (split) rivets can be found on Ebay for around £2.50 for a hundred-odd...... I'm lucky enough to have original NOS covers on my bikes.......plus pillion seats too....can't beat 'em !! :-D

"Light Olive Drab" from Jeeparts is a damn good match for khaki-green No.3 and late-war British OD.....not spot-on but with wear, good enough.......Firwoods variety is intended for spray only, Cromadex suitable for spray and brush........:-D and go for matt finish....get that authentic wartime look, glossed up with a regular application of an oily rag !!!

The best you can do with 99% of wartime bikes is establish the build details, serial number, service to whom allocated and delivery destination...........then you get a gap, until on the odd occasion your pride and joy features in post-war use WD records....... I have lots of photos showing Ariel's within 300-odd serial numbers of my own bike, plus 16H's similar in everywhere from the UK to the Middle East to India........... All I know about mine was my Ariel was found in the 80s in bits in a coal bunker in Kent......it hadn't been civilianised and was likely stripped for parts during the post-war years.......it left the factory on 10th April 1942 for Chilwell.....but there the story ends....... My 16H was built in early 1941 to a 1940 post-Dunkirk contract.....it was found in a chicken-shed in derelict condition in New Delhi, India, during the 1990s........when I stripped her, the piston was marked on top and internally "501 IME 1945 - +20"......a bit of research established that 501 Command Workshops Indian Mechanical Engineers were situated at Chaklala, NW India (the old NW Frontier)......so, I know when it was built, and where it was rebuilt in 1945.....and where it ended up nearly 50 years later..........but it's actual history.....??? :undecided:

It's a bit trial and error with the 16H clutch, but it is pretty simple all-told.......I haven't a 16H manual handy, but I am pretty certain there's a plunger, push-rod and ball-bearing in the operating mechanism.....and adjustment is achieved via the clutch cable and the external actuating arm on the gearbox cover........ When adjusted properly, the 16H clutch is a very light, sweet thing......I can operate mine with a single finger ! When I rebuilt the unit, I used modern bonded fibre linings instead of the cork.....they wear better and are more resistant to oil, although are a little thicker and heavier, so you may have to leave out one fibre and one steel plate...? The plates also fit a number of post-war Norton models, and can be sourced from many Norton dealers who don't deal in 16H parts........ Check the workshop manual thoroughly, plus the text as well as the illustrations......it is also a good idea to get hold of a copy of the small Norton books by Pitmans and Pearsons......FULL of useful info ! You can always find 'em at autojumbles and Fleabay.......:-D

I learnt a long time ago to separate the domestic scene from the hobbies......:-\ All bikes, tools, spares and militaria live at the farm........and the only related item allowed in the bedroom would be a glossy or a well-thumbed handbook for bedtime reading.....!!! I actually built my first flying flea in a spare bedroom....and it was still a bugger to get down the stairs....(I'm no longer married to that one for some odd reason)......wouldn't even consider an M20 in similar circumstances unless I upped the home (and private medical) insurance valuation.......

It's a standard 60 pattern smock (first version 1961 to 1964).......most have the "sheen" to the cotton-sateen fabric when new (it soon goes with use !)....... The 60 pattern smock was a development of the cotton-sateen 1952 pattern garment.........basically the same item, but with the lining reduced to waist level....this was because the 60 pattern trousers were lined, thus rendering the lower smock lining excessive and unnecessary....the earlier 1952 and 1953 pattern trousers being unlined, hence the need for smock lining over the loins !! Incidentally, the original combat smock and trouser introduced during 1951 (no official year designation) were as the 1952 pattern, but made from cotton-gabardine (as per OD SAS windproofs) and in this case the trousers were lined due to the lighter weight fabric......there was no 1953 pattern smock, only trousers (issued from 1954 onwards) that had the fly arrangement simplified (no buttoned over-flap)..... The 60 pattern smock first appeared on issue during 1961 and other than the deletion of the lower lining was basically as the earlier 52 pattern...... During 1964 the sleeve design was changed to the larger pivot design that permitted a greater degree of movement, comfort and improved fitting.....this mod saw the deletion of the underarm vents......the modified smocks also feature the oval-shaped elbow patches....... There was some production overrun of the old and new design between 1964 and 1965.........but NO CHANGE in the 1960 designation...... The pre-64 smocks are a bloody awful fit and not recommended for wear.......if you want one for use, get a post-64 example !!! So, the smock shown is from between 1961 and 1964...........and to narrow the date down further, smocks and trousers saw the lining change from cotton-gabardine ("windproof fabric") to cotton-poplin (as per 68 pattern linings) during 1964........:-D

As far as I know, the neck cord was a standard fitting to all the pre-68 wooly pullys......but when the green version appeared around 1970, the cord disappeared.....possibly because the neck fitting was improved within the knit design.... However, some individuals did continue to fit a drawcord to the neck for whatever reason, although strictly unnecessary on the newer design......usually a boot lace or similar.....

I fear that as the years pass by the more stringent the regulations that impose restrictions on paint manufacturers, that in turn affects availability and price.......I can well remember restoring bikes during the early 1980s when you could go along to any decent plater and get "dull cadmium" applied to whatever fittings you wanted....nowadays, an almost impossible job....

Nice pullys ! The first one is the last pattern evolving from the wartime heavy-duty pully.......this was a basic pully with no patches but had a drawcord neck, and originally formed part of the mountain troops kit.......second version appearing during the 1950s added elbow patches, third version added shoulder patches and the very last version MAY have had epaulettes, although not too certain about the latter..... All these pullys had a reinforced neck with a tightening cord, and the second and subsequent versions all had cuff binding.....colour for all was a distinct brown with patches in a sandy colour cotton-drill, although the example shown appears to be more of an olive shade..... I think the one shown must be one of the very last manufactured.....dated 1968 and NSN marked......the modern green version appearing in service around 1970....... The second pully shown is the version originally designed for tropical use......just right for a sweaty jungle :-D