Ron

Tom you have had some advice over on the WD bike forum and now from Ferg who is a Matchless fan. I can remain fairly un-biased as I have most WD makes and models in my collection. I would say that without a doubt the G3L is the most nippiest, fastest and comfortable bike from the period, but they are lacking in the girder fork experience. To my mind the G3 is one of the prettiest bikes......But neither are my most favourite bikes to work on. From my collection, my most favourite bikes to ride are my WM20 and my Royal Enfield WD/G. Royal Enfield WD/CO's are reasonably available and with a second to none spares back up from Hitchcock's it's an option worth considering. Personally I think you should meet up with guys and their bikes and form your own first hand opinion. But I'm happy to provide pictures of anything you might want to study.

O&M quote only 30 WO Twins under contract 559903 for the RAF. Frame numbers H15 101- H15 130 engs H15 106- H15 135. The next contract 632331 has 170 bikes so 200 in total but only with a highest frame number of H15 319.........Steve M. ?? Ron

I don't know if any of us know who owns that picture. Mine is a fairly accurate Restoration shown near the beginning of this thread. Not a high resolution and only in a shed environment, so probably no good. Ron

Cheers for that Steve. Maybe give Chris O your up to date number. When he rang you, we were in the top hall where Jobby was and it just said number not available or summink! Ron

Like Steve, I can't tell from a picture. But better that it's post war as it's stronger and parts are available and I won't tell anyone. BTW Steve did you catch up with Chris O at Shepton? He tried your mobile but I think you had forgotten to wind it up🥴 Ron

You're not trying hard enough Chris😄😄 It's on the website under used crankshafts. http://accessories.hitchcocksmotorcycles.com/Used-Parts-and-Bikes/Crankshafts-used/41056 Ron👍

Yes Arnaud in France. I'll email you his email address. Ron

I can tell from your picture that you probably know that Hitchcocks have them. But wait for Jan to respond soon. I expect he has some. Ron

I've collected the first batch of fasteners I sent for plating so able to do some assembling. I've assembled lots of girder forks over the years and I think I might have said it before, but Royal Enfield WD/C's take the biscuit for the most awkward!!🥴 Ron

I missed that one☹️ He could have used mine......NOT! Ron

And now I feel guilty again for not, reading, learning and inwardly digesting your report Jan. Truth is I can't even remember yesterdays headlines😏 Ron

Never noticed that Steve! Ron

I'm not so sure Duke? I'm often amazed at the quality and engineering that went into a piece of equipment which maybe only had a life expectancy of a short period. If something was designed and ordered to be produced, I don't think there would have been any instructions to make it shoddy. I've still yet to see an original drop cage but I bet the welds are neat 🙂 Ron

Jan maybe Lex should pass his original through your door for appraisal and possible production? They look like a lot of work but some of the welding and detail on that one don't bare close scrutiny. I'd like to see or good pictures of an original out of interest. Ron

That's OK then and it sounds like the guy making them might be Nigel Silver who I know quite well and is a decent bloke. Ron

Thanks Adrian. I know nothing about the ones being sold. Duke has seen two at Malvern. So you think this latest one might be a repaired original? To my mind there's nothing wrong with a reproduction, as that's probably the only way to own one for a display........As long as everyone is being honest. Ron

Lex told me that there's one in the Airborne museum (NL I think) and there's another one that I think was buried for years and needs some repairs. There's talk of me getting 2 or 3 copied from it......Sometime maybe! Ron

Richard I missed your post. Frame TL 53842 is the 425th bike from Contract S6680 for 8000 bikes. This was the last contract for 3HW's and the order was reduced to 5200. Engine 3HW 63842 is its original engine. However I don't understand your date 2. Dec 45? It should read TEC. MM. YY. Dec 45 would be well past the date your bike was made. If your bike is already registered on an 'F' plate, you simply have to contact DVLA who are duty bound to change it to an age related number.........Based on their own regulations that wouldn't allow you to put an F reg number on a 40's bike. Ron

It's an impressed Royal Enfield civilian model D (250 SV) I have several pictures of these and despite what some people think.....This one attached, is not Princess Elizabeth. My own bike is the true WD version WD/D. Ron

I've gone as far as I can go with Lex's frame and engine, until the fasteners are returned from the platers. I was pleased to find that the steering head races are in excellent condition, so just replaced the steel balls with best quality British balls. Ron

Meant to add a pic. Ron

The serial numbers for this contract are 4854180 - 4857179 (=3000 machines with numbers allocated in order of frame numbers) The frame numbers are TL50418-50431 and TL50439-53417, so 7 machines missing? Allocated elsewhere? Yours is the 2696 bike in the sequence. I make that C4856875. PS. Strangely Mine is from the previous contract which were delivered earlier but had higher serial numbers, in fact most of the previous contracts had higher numbers, which is because the demand for your contract was originally dated Oct 1940, which must have been for 3SW. But the bombing of Coventry in 1940 disrupted everything! Ron

Hi Ryan. Frame TL 53113 was from contract C8886 which was for 3000 bikes from Oct 44 to Feb 45 but only 2991 bikes delivered? TEC 1. 45. = Triumph Engineering Co. Jan 1945 I calculate the tank census number to be C4856875. Engine 3HW 44250 is from a much earlier contract C13948 which was for 5495 bikes from mid 42 to mid 43. Ron

As I said Andy. I don't think they were "supplied" to Littlewoods etc. Just sent there for storage. A lot of 3HW's went to the middle east.......Maybe on ships from Liverpool? I'll forward this to Rik and Jan etc for their comments. Ron

Hi Andy. I've a feeling these places were used as they had the space for storing large amount of motorcycles before dispersal and also probably not particular targets for the Luftwaffe. Ron