ramerry Posted March 22, 2022 Share Posted March 22, 2022 Bit of a bother over a James ML frame No. I have a feeling it could be a bodgy one. The No. is ML12031 & he is claiming it to be a 1945 Machine. Information I have is last WD ones went to ML8500 although there was possibly 200 went to the Admiralty but no paper work known. Civilian ML Models were 1946 ML's started at ML12841, 1947 started at ML19881 & 1948 started at 26921. Would any body have any idea on this please. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welbike Posted March 22, 2022 Share Posted March 22, 2022 Sounds postwar to me, does it have a "works" number? wartime ones had this on the rear engine lug, see picture. There are more ways to check, does it have folding footrests? what centre stand is fitted?, rear brake plate rounded or squarish? does it have the special headlamp? Any pictures? Lex Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Posted March 22, 2022 Share Posted March 22, 2022 (edited) 12031 is over 2000 after the initial 3000 ordered under the last contract, but still before the 1946 civy production. I image lots were made in readiness for continued contracts by the WO but were then re used for the civy market during 1945. Another of the stand out amendments for civy use was the handlebar clamps and possibly a speedo. Ron Edited March 22, 2022 by Ron 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ramerry Posted March 22, 2022 Author Share Posted March 22, 2022 He did say originally the the frame No. was 6769 that was on a lug, but no he has not shared any photos. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welbike Posted March 22, 2022 Share Posted March 22, 2022 Ok, if that is on the rear engine mount lug, it could be wartime, but don't buy anything without pictures, value could be thousands more or less. Cheers, Lex Pictures of one I restored a couple of years ago. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Posted March 22, 2022 Share Posted March 22, 2022 And mine with the lug number, which is not that far away from that bike. Although I'm not sure there was any sequence to the lug numbers. Ron Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welbike Posted March 22, 2022 Share Posted March 22, 2022 Oh, yes, there is a relation to the frame number, but can't be calculated, I am keeping a register. Lex Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ramerry Posted March 28, 2022 Author Share Posted March 28, 2022 Thanks for all the replies, the bloke who has the bike has gone very quiet since i asked him where the engine No. was stamped whether it was on the gear box cover or on the engine casing so i would say that he has been passing a civvy of as a WD model which does not bother me as long as they say it is a copy & not a genuine WD model. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Posted March 28, 2022 Share Posted March 28, 2022 As you probably know, the engines numbers aren't recorded. But should look like this with the four "A's" Ron Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ramerry Posted March 29, 2022 Author Share Posted March 29, 2022 Thanks Ron Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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