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Old Photographs, Recognition, Handwriting Deciphering => Free Photo Restoration & Date Old Photographs => Topic started by: Treetotal on Monday 22 February 16 14:10 GMT (UK)
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Can anyone date this photo from the make and registration of this motor bike please. I don't know who the rider is but a date would help...I don't think it's Frank Spencer ;D
Thanks for looking.
Carol
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The make is easy. BSA. Usually never called Birmingham Small Arms but technically that is its name.
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Lovely old bike - dont think it was a UK regn tho ... distinctive Brooklands Fishtail makes it prob late 1920s into 1930s - I think its a 2 exhaust port engine, given I think you can just see the other exhaust pipe at the cyl head .... but then again it might have an OVH rocker box visible under the tank - so dunno !
Have a browse thru the Galleries on this site - the link I show will take you to some 1930 models - you can use the drop down 'Galleries' menu to select other year from 1919 onward ....
http://cybermotorcycle.com/gallery/bsa-1930/
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I would say it is an early 1930s BSA probably 500cc. The number plate is not UK unless it is a services number, but if so why is the rider in civvies?
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Thanks so much Barry, Lostris and Robesur...so helpful...if it is who I think it is...he was in the Royal Navy.
Carol
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This subject is not my speciality but could it be Stoke-on-Tent registered?
http://www.poplargreg.com/taxdiscs/taxdiscs2/registrationyear.htm
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Oh yes...you could be right...thanks Barry for your helpful response.
Carol
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sadly not so ... the format of the Regn plate is wrong (with a hypen twixt nos and letters & a number after the two letters)
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Oh...OK...thanks for the update and for your interest...It's much appreciated.
Carol
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To me - it looks like a BSA Sloper (S29?) from 1929 - 1935
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Dont think the engine is angled enough in the frame for a Sloper ?
http://cybermotorcycle.com/gallery/bsa-1930/images/BSA-1930-38.jpg
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Does anyone know when the fishtail exhaust became popular, I am not finding it on any early photos of unrestored bikes, dating the bike may not help with dating the photo.
Mike
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It figures a lot on BSA & Velocette models of the late 20s and 30s ..... eg see that link I posted earlier and the image above ...
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Dont think the engine is angled enough in the frame for a Sloper ?
http://cybermotorcycle.com/gallery/bsa-1930/images/BSA-1930-38.jpg
You are right. It looks just like a S30 though.
http://www.bsa1930s.nl/1930/1930_s30-19.jpg
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Could it be this one?
http://www.bsa1930s.nl/1935/1935_w35-6.jpg
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Wow thanks guys...you all know your motor bikes....I really appreciate your time and your help...it all helps with the bigger picture...I love this photo.
Carol
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Good morning,
To me - it looks like a BSA Sloper (S29?) from 1929 - 1935
I would go with that but just to make sure I will pop up to Verralls later on. Ian will give me a definite ID on the bike.
The no plate is not UK or Irish; http://www.rootschat.com/links/01h47/ He has books on plates as well so may be able to ID that as well.
John915
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Good evening,
Firstly, the bike is a W33-7 or 8 circa 1933/34, twin port OHV. Ian really needed to see the other side for 100% ID as that is where important recognition parts are on most bikes but he's reasonably sure on this one.
Next, is this definitely the man you think it is and when was photo taken.?
The no plate is French, possibly-Saarland under French jurisdiction. That is the only match I can find. http://www.worldlicenseplates.com/
John915
PS, it may pay to repost asking for date by clothing.
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Thanks so much John for going to so much trouble....the info is very helpful....It could be one of two brothers one in the Royal Navy and the other in the Merchant Navy born late 1890s.
I really appreciate your time.
Carol ;)
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http://plaque.free.fr/f_rec3e.html
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Thank you Japeflakes...that's very helpful :D
Carol
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Good morning,
So, Paris 1932, why did he have a British bike with French no plate?
We may never know but it is intriguing.
John915
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Mmm...Interesting....maybe we will never know but worth a bit of digging. Thanks again for all your help.
Carol
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Good evening,
Given that the plate is Paris 1932 I have revised the ID of the bike. It's a W32-7, 500cc twin port OHV. Not actually greatly different from the W33, this is it from the other side.
http://www.bsa1930s.nl/1932/1932_w32-7.jpg
John915
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Thank you so much John for going to so much trouble to identify the model and date...I so grateful for the extra information.
Carol
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My husband says its a 1937/38 ,he knows a lot about them and has two old ones!
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Thanks very much for your interest and for the information...that's very helpful.
Carol
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Good morning,
My husband says its a 1937/38 ,he knows a lot about them and has two old ones!
How then does he explain the no plate, Paris 1932. I'm always ready to be proven wrong but that seems fairly conclusive to me. I also live a couple of hundred yds from Verralls, Englands leader in sales and renovation of vintage and veteran motorcycles.
John915
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Back again,
Sorry but the frames were all single front tube of larger section by 37/8. Engines are single port with pipe on the right hand side and side valve.
John915
http://www.bsa1930s.nl/index.htm
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Hi John....The guy in the photo has been identified as Hugh Curson b. c. 1893 in Hull who worked in Paris for Thomas Cook in the 1930s....great work and thanks so much for solving this mystery and helping to ID the man in the photo...Great result :D
Carol
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Good evening,
Nice one Carol, thanks for the update. Time to put this one to bed now I think.
John915