Jiri Posted May 20, 2021 Share Posted May 20, 2021 Hello, I would like to have an inscription "Royal Enfield" on my RE WDCO from 1938 on the fuel tank. Can anybody recommend me the font and size? Thanks! Jiri Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
79x100 Posted May 20, 2021 Share Posted May 20, 2021 There were no WD/COs in 1938....The first 'proper' WD contract COs were delivered in March 1942. Any 1938 Enfield would have had the larger pre-war civilian lettering. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jiri Posted May 21, 2021 Author Share Posted May 21, 2021 Thanks, I have to verify the year of production by the frame and engine number. But still I would like to have the inscription by the small size... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rewdco Posted May 21, 2021 Share Posted May 21, 2021 Hi Jiri, I'm keeping a Register for the WD Enfields. Please send me a PM with some pictures of the frame and engine numbers, then this will enable me to tell you the despatch date of your bike. I can also calculate the census number for the petrol tank, the one that you're using now is not for a Royal Enfield. Regards, Jan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jiri Posted May 21, 2021 Author Share Posted May 21, 2021 Thanks a lot. The first one is this: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jiri Posted May 21, 2021 Author Share Posted May 21, 2021 The second one is this: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rewdco Posted May 22, 2021 Share Posted May 22, 2021 Hello Jiri, Thanks for the details of these bikes, I will add this to the Register. In which country do you live? I can also give you this information: your engines and your frames all come from contract S/1546 bikes. This was a contract for 5000 WD/CO motorcycles, frame numbers for this contract were 19827 - 24826. The production of contract S/1546 started in June 1944 and lasted until May 1945. - Your engine with "duplicated frame number" 21672 was despatched from the Redditch factory on 29/9/44, destination "War Office - Handsworth". The military census number (on the petrol tank) was C5164012. - Your frame with frame number 22169 was despatched from the Redditch factory on 25/10/44, destination "War Office - Batley". The military census number (on the petrol tank) was C5164509. - Your engine with "duplicated frame number" 23604 was despatched from the Redditch factory on 20/1/45, destination "War Office - Todmorden". The military census number (on the petrol tank) was C5165944. - Your frame with frame number 22331 (***) was despatched from the Redditch factory on 2/11/44, destination "War Office - Batley". The military census number (on the petrol tank) was C5164671. (***) Note on frame number 22331: this frame number has obviously been tampered with. An "M" prefix is not unusual for WD/CO frame numbers (see also frame number 22169), but here the M is preceded by an "I" and a strange symbol. And the M has been stamped over. The complete frame number (223310) is also too long, it should only have 5 characters. My guess is that the last "0" has been added later. There is also a second number (36564) added, this is not a Royal Enfield WD/CO frame number... As for your original question: this is the transfer you need (but please cut off the lines in front of and at the end of the Royal Enfield text): https://classictransfers.co.uk/product/royal-enfield-6920-129x9mm/ Royal Enfield also used transfers for the census numbers, unfortunately the correct transfers for these Royal Enfield census numbers are not commercially available. But I have made up the complete set of numbers for Axholme Signs to make low tack stencils, so that you can apply the correct style to your Royal Enfield. You can find these low tack stencils here: https://www.axholmesigns.co.uk/product-page/pair-of-royal-enfield-census-numebers Regards, Jan 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jiri Posted May 22, 2021 Author Share Posted May 22, 2021 Hello Jan, thank you very much! Absolutly amazing!! I am from the Czech Republic. These motorcycles were bought last year in France. Me and my friend are going to go to Normandy on 3rd June with our bikes. Thanks a lot again. We are keeping the touch! Regards Jiri Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Posted May 22, 2021 Share Posted May 22, 2021 Lucky you Jiri! We've had to cancel our usual D Day visit last year and this year because the French vaccination program is not safe yet for us.😕 Ron Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rewdco Posted May 22, 2021 Share Posted May 22, 2021 (edited) Hi Jiri, Ah, France! I have a theory that the Free French Forces, under the command of General De Gaulle, received a batch of a few hundred WD/CO motorcycles from contract C/12425 prior to the invasion of France on 6 June 1944. After the war, the remaining motorcycles from this batch were transferred to the post war French Army. A second batch was soon added. This second batch were all contract S/1546 bikes. My “educated guess” is that first and second batch together counted approximately 2.000 motorcycles. They were in use until the late 1950’s, making them the last WD Enfields in active service. Your two bikes come from the second batch.I've also added two pictures of these French bikes. In the first picture the letters “TOA” can be seen, stencilled on the front mudguard. This is the abbreviation of “Troupes d’occupation en Allemagne”, the French equivalent of the BAOR (British Army of the Rhine).Different sources have also confirmed that the French Army motorcycle engines were rebuilt by CEMEC (Centre d’Etudes de Moteurs à Explosion et à Combustion). This “company” was established in 1948, to rebuild the ex-German-army BMWs for the French police forces. Some French motorcycles were rebuilt by the “Etablissement general du materiel du Mans”, a French Army workshop close to the Le Mans circuit. Another “company”, called SNECMA (Société Nationale d’Etude et de Construction de Moteurs d’Aviation), was specialised in the rebuild of aircraft engines, but it appears that they too have done a lot of WD/CO engine and gearbox rebuilds for the French Army. On the French Army bikes there are usually several "rebuild markings". Please feel free to add some pictures of the markings / stampings on your engine Jiri! 😃 Regards, Jan Edited May 22, 2021 by rewdco 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Hall Posted May 23, 2021 Share Posted May 23, 2021 I had one of these Ex French bikes too and I think the frame number was very close to that one (Jan likely has it on record). It’s very distinctive with its red outlined serial number. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rewdco Posted May 23, 2021 Share Posted May 23, 2021 It seems to be a French thing Chris... These two also come from France: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jiri Posted May 23, 2021 Author Share Posted May 23, 2021 On 5/22/2021 at 4:11 PM, Ron said: Lucky you Jiri! We've had to cancel our usual D Day visit last year and this year because the French vaccination program is not safe yet for us.😕 Ron Hi Ron, there was big problem in the Czech Republic with covid (me and all my family was illness - not very nice experience), but I am a teacher, so I got the first vaccination a month ago. It is safe for me and others too. Anyway - maybe you are Ron - the owner of my favourite jeep!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jiri Posted May 23, 2021 Author Share Posted May 23, 2021 11 hours ago, Chris Hall said: I had one of these Ex French bikes too and I think the frame number was very close to that one (Jan likely has it on record). It’s very distinctive with its red outlined serial number. Hi, amazing!! Thanks a lot! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jiri Posted May 23, 2021 Author Share Posted May 23, 2021 Hi Jan, thank you very much for all information. Now I am sending some pictures of my engine stamps...And my friend´s registration plate... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Posted May 23, 2021 Share Posted May 23, 2021 (edited) Hi Jiri. That Jeep belongs to a different Ron! Here is mine. Ron Edited May 23, 2021 by Ron Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rewdco Posted May 23, 2021 Share Posted May 23, 2021 Thanks Jiri! First time that I see a genuine military French rear numberplate on a WD/CO. Here are a few more, with close numbers... The numbers on your engine are these: - RL 386 is a French rebuild marking. Not sure what it means though... - C/S1546 is the "contract number" - M426 is the military "acceptance marking" - 24675 is the "true engine number" (the number below the cylinder base is the "duplicated frame number". Jan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Hall Posted May 23, 2021 Share Posted May 23, 2021 48 minutes ago, Jiri said: Hi Ron, there was big problem in the Czech Republic with covid (me and all my family was illness - not very nice experience), but I am a teacher, so I got the first vaccination a month ago. It is safe for me and others too. Anyway - maybe you are Ron - the owner of my favourite jeep!! I spent a little time picking at that blue paint. There’s a lot less now than there used to be. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jiri Posted May 26, 2021 Author Share Posted May 26, 2021 On 5/23/2021 at 9:50 PM, Ron said: Hi Jiri. That Jeep belongs to a different Ron! Here is mine. Ron Very nice!! Mine is ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Posted May 26, 2021 Share Posted May 26, 2021 You're an American Jiri...Ha Ha😉Ron Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jiri Posted May 26, 2021 Author Share Posted May 26, 2021 On 5/23/2021 at 10:07 PM, rewdco said: Thanks Jiri! First time that I see a genuine military French rear numberplate on a WD/CO. Here are a few more, with close numbers... The numbers on your engine are these: - RL 386 is a French rebuild marking. Not sure what it means though... - C/S1546 is the "contract number" - M426 is the military "acceptance marking" - 24675 is the "true engine number" (the number below the cylinder base is the "duplicated frame number". Jan Thanks a lot! Very interesting pcs! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jiri Posted May 26, 2021 Author Share Posted May 26, 2021 7 hours ago, Ron said: You're an American Jiri...Ha Ha😉Ron Sure!😁 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Posted May 26, 2021 Share Posted May 26, 2021 You sure do look the part! I guess you should really have a Harley! 🤐 Ron Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulJager Posted January 23, 2022 Share Posted January 23, 2022 On 5/21/2021 at 7:39 AM, rewdco said: Hi Jiri, I'm keeping a Register for the WD Enfields. Please send me a PM with some pictures of the frame and engine numbers, then this will enable me to tell you the despatch date of your bike. I can also calculate the census number for the petrol tank, the one that you're using now is not for a Royal Enfield. Regards, Jan Hello Jan, I just joined this forum because I bought a Royal Enfield WD/C or WD/CO from a friend of mine. He was able to acquire this bike from Denmark and has just little information about it. It is said to be a 1939 or 1940 bike, but I cannot confirm this because there is no documentation. I did find the framenumber and duplicate number on the engine to be the same, but could not find data about the specific number via Google. At this time I also did not find the number of the engine and gearbox. I saw that you keep a register and information about lots of WD/C and WD/CO bikes and would like to ask you if you can help me out? The framenumber, which is also on the engine below the cilinderhead is 18147. On the gearbox I saw in permanent marker number 26625 written down, but I have not been able to see any stamped numbers on it because of where the bike is now stored. Kind regards, Paul. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rewdco Posted January 23, 2022 Share Posted January 23, 2022 I've just sent you a PM Paul! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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