Martyn Posted June 6, 2020 Share Posted June 6, 2020 Hello, My name is Martyn last year i was attending a local Steam and Transport Rally exhibiting a Triumph Thunderbird 1954 on my triumph owners club stand and a gentleman came up an asked if i knew of any body who was interested in a 1941 Army Triumph 3HW as he knew of one that was up for sale i took the details and the rest is history. i had previously earlier in the the year been over to Normandy for the 75 Anniversary so i was very excited to own a Military Motorcycle! the motorcycle looks the part and i think it might have been used for a static exhibit and not ridden i asked the gentleman i purchased it from for any history but he had nothing the log book states Date of first 23/8/1941 date of first registration in the UK 1/12/2015 VIN/chassis TL30318 Engine number 3HW52550. I have a couple of things i would if possible find out some information where the bike has been from 1941 until 2015 tall order i know i to sort out the running of the bike as it starts fine but after approximately it cuts out and then runs for a matter of 30 seconds and cuts out again and is like that until you let it cool right down but it will sit ticking over starting from cold indefinitely mystery to me? anyway sorry for the ramble any information gratefully received stay safe kind regards Martyn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Posted June 7, 2020 Share Posted June 7, 2020 TL 30318 is not listed in O&M but should be from 1941. Possibly more lost records? Maybe Steve M can shed some light. Engine 52550 is from contract S2956 in 1943/4. There should be a date stamp under your saddle on the top of the saddle tube. eg ...........TEC MM.YY (Triumph Engineering Co "Date") Ron Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jenkinov Posted June 7, 2020 Share Posted June 7, 2020 Hi Based on the lists published in British Forces Motorcycles 1939 to 1945 frame no TL30318 is from a triumph 3sw which was allocated to the RAF under contract C11465 .the frame range was TL30266 to 30415 ...the engine range was 3SW 40266 to 40415 ..it was one of 150 produced between 12/8/41. And 18/9/41.. Many 3sw were 're engined post war with the higher performance 3hw engine . Ron has detailed the engine is from 1943.. Would it be ok if we got photos of the bike from each side .with close ups of the front forks . Frame number on the front post ..Frame date under the seat and of the engine numbers ..this should allow the forum to identify parts and give you additional info. This is the only surviving frame i am aware of from contract 11465 so a rare .. Jenkinov Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Posted June 8, 2020 Share Posted June 8, 2020 Doh! I never thought to look at the 3SW's😡 School boy error, when it's often the case that they are retro fitted like that. Ron Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martyn Posted June 8, 2020 Author Share Posted June 8, 2020 Many thanks for your reply's i have attached a couple of photos as requested, the images i have attached are the one on my phone i will attach more if required when i am able to. many thanks, Martyn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Posted June 8, 2020 Share Posted June 8, 2020 Clearly it has Triumph forks and an aluminium chaincase (not 3HW Webb forks and steel chaincase) Also fitted with 3HW pillion and pannier equipment. Ron Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martyn Posted June 8, 2020 Author Share Posted June 8, 2020 Just got an image of the frame number from the frame post if that helps any Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martyn Posted June 11, 2020 Author Share Posted June 11, 2020 Many thanks for the information so far regarding my Triumph 3HW any more information would be gratefully i would like to keep this motorcycle for many years to come and anything i can find out would be great for the future of this motorcycle and its future custodians. many thanks Martyn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martyn Posted November 24, 2020 Author Share Posted November 24, 2020 Just following up from my previous posts, I now have the Motorcycle running fine and looking forward to using it next year attending shows with my local Triumph owners club. would anyone be able help me regarding any possible history of the Motorcycle as it seems to be repatriated back into the county in 2015 from where I do not know, it would be nice to find something about the bikes history if possible. many thanks, Martyn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jenkinov Posted November 26, 2020 Share Posted November 26, 2020 Hi. Martyn Thank you for the frame number photo .. This and the date on the Seat post confirm it's from contract c11465 for 150 triumph 3sw . The triumph factory in Coventry was adjacent to Coventry cathedral and through a series of raids was effectively destroyed in 1940 . Triumph set up a temporary factory at a site called Cape Warwick and effectively using surviving frames engines built the last 159 triumphs 3sws before relocating to Meriden where a new factory was established . After being relocated they shifted production to the triumph 3hw ..the overhead version of the bike . As such your frame is an exceptional survivor of the blitz and one of one a few hundred bikes ever produced at cape Warwick . In terms of its service life i would suggest contacting the RAF museum at Hendon . If any service records do still exist they are likely to hold them or be able to identify where they are held .. Please update us if you do get additional information..the contract records do indicate the contract was fulfilled between 12th August 1941 and 18th Sep 1941 with bikes for the RAF being delivered to Quedgeley . Carlisle and Stafford from the temporary factory at cape warwick Chris AKA Jenkinov P 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martyn Posted November 27, 2020 Author Share Posted November 27, 2020 Good Morning Chris, Many thanks thanks for your Email, this which is gratefully received, I would love to find out any information I can for this vehicle so I will contact Hendon to see if they can help. with the information you have provided should this bike be in RAF livery i.e. blue not the green that's its currently in? kind regards, Martyn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Posted November 27, 2020 Share Posted November 27, 2020 Not blue Martyn. All vehicles supplied during the war were in "Service Colour" Including RAF and RN. Ron Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martyn Posted November 27, 2020 Author Share Posted November 27, 2020 Thanks very Much Ron. Martyn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jenkinov Posted November 28, 2020 Share Posted November 28, 2020 Martyn I note on the front of your bike you have a blade number plate ..on a historic basis these were not used in the war and whilst they were fitted post war became unpopular as they caused severe damage if a bike hit a person .Since the early 70s they have not been required and increasingly are not used even on the post war bikes . I do know of people that drive to shows with them off and then fit them for display purposes . Chris AKA jenkinov Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Posted November 28, 2020 Share Posted November 28, 2020 Awww Shucks Jenk! Don't say that. I've got several WD bikes with their original front number plates🥴 They were deleted quite early though. Ron Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jenkinov Posted November 29, 2020 Share Posted November 29, 2020 Ron ..they are not illegal so it's personal choice but they did not earn the nickname of bacon slicers without reason ..I believe the campaign to get them removed was partly led by motorcyclists at the time . I don't fit front plates to any of my bikes.. The plates i have adorn my garage walls Regards Chris AKA Jenkinov Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jenkinov Posted November 29, 2020 Share Posted November 29, 2020 Ron ..they are not illegal so it's personal choice but they did not earn the nickname of bacon slicers without reason ..I believe the campaign to get them removed was partly led by motorcyclists at the time . I don't fit front plates to any of my bikes.. The plates i have adorn my garage walls Regards Chris AKA Jenkinov Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jenkinov Posted November 29, 2020 Share Posted November 29, 2020 Hi Martyn You asked about the paint colour on your bike. ..Ron s confirmed it was green . But as a RAF bike the decals would often have been different .They often had the letters RAF on the tank and there was an instruction in 1941 for an 9 inch RAF rounded to be added to bikes.in service in the UK . I believe this was to assist Military police and others in quickly identifying RA F vehicles . Regards Jenkinov Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Posted November 29, 2020 Share Posted November 29, 2020 It's not the illegality that I was alluding to Jenk. It's the bikes in my collection that were fitted with them originally during the 1939/40 period. Back then they often used the number plate for the C number. I have a few original B&W RAF pictures. Some have roundels and some don't. The only picture I've seen of an RAF WD/CO there is no roundel, but I put one on mine anyway. Ron Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martyn Posted November 30, 2020 Author Share Posted November 30, 2020 Many thanks for your response to my Email, so just to confirm that the my motorcycle started out as a 3 SW and then down the line somewhere ended up with a Engine from a 3 HW is that correct or did they used some 3 SW frames to build the 3 HW , or is it just a bike that has been just put together with bits of various bike? Many thanks for the images, kind regards, Martyn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welbike Posted November 30, 2020 Share Posted November 30, 2020 I do know of a 3SW or 5SW engine for sale, in Holland, I can go after it, but it was kinda expensive I seem to remember, I'll try and find a picture I took. Lex Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martyn Posted November 30, 2020 Author Share Posted November 30, 2020 Hi thanks for your response to my post, I am not looking for an engine for my bike I was just asking if the bike started out as basically a 3 SW and someone over time has replaced it with a 3 HW engine . Many thanks, Martyn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welbike Posted November 30, 2020 Share Posted November 30, 2020 Ok, no probs, maybe it's of use to someone else here. Lex Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Posted November 30, 2020 Share Posted November 30, 2020 That is what has happened Martyn. Your bike started out as a 3SW and someone has fitted a 3HW engine. It could even have happened in a REME workshop, but more likely by a post war owner. The frames are identical. Ron Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martyn Posted November 30, 2020 Author Share Posted November 30, 2020 Thanks Ron that make sense, only if they could talk it would be a lot easier 😀 Martyn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.