1955 ES2 seat (single downtube)

Previously paul_gooch wrote:

Can anyone help me locate a seat for my 1955 single downtube (pre-featherbed) frame?

All parts seem ultra rare for this short lived model, but after spending 11 years sourcing the correct fuel tank, tool box, rear mudguard, number plate bracket and lifting handles, I now have the same problem with a seat.

All of the suppliers I approach on-line try to persuade me to buy a featherbed frame seat. Some even tell me that they didn't make a non-featherbed version in 1955. The more knowledgable ones suck their teeth and frown.

Does ANYONE know where I can get one? Or.....can anyone take photo's and measurements from their correct seat base for me so that I can get one made up?

Here's hoping

Paul

Paul,

I've owned my 1955 ES2 since 1970 and have a seat which is very similar to a BSA seat, which was on the bike when I bought it. I cannot categorically state that this is correct as the petrol tank that was fitted was the same as a 16H tank! However, the seat that I have uses the special seat bracket that extends up to a fixing point by the bracket that supports the rear of the petrol tank. I have photos if this helps but they're to big to include with this message.

About 10 years ago I found what I believe to be the correct petrol tank but the mark where the seat fitted up to the tank indicates that another type of seat may well have been used. I'm happy with my BSA style seat and nobody has ever tried pointing out that they think it's the wrong type!

As you mentioned, this variation of the ES2 was only in existence for a couple of years, so parts are rare. Since owning my ES2 I've taken notice of differences between different years and have observed there are two types of rear mudguard on the 1955 model i.e. a C and a D cross section, and I believe they're both correct.

Let me know if I can help.

Phil Ham

Previously paul_gooch wrote:

Previously philip_ham wrote:

Previously paul_gooch wrote:

Can anyone help me locate a seat for my 1955 single downtube (pre-featherbed) frame?

All parts seem ultra rare for this short lived model, but after spending 11 years sourcing the correct fuel tank, tool box, rear mudguard, number plate bracket and lifting handles, I now have the same problem with a seat.

All of the suppliers I approach on-line try to persuade me to buy a featherbed frame seat. Some even tell me that they didn't make a non-featherbed version in 1955. The more knowledgable ones suck their teeth and frown.

Does ANYONE know where I can get one? Or.....can anyone take photo's and measurements from their correct seat base for me so that I can get one made up?

Here's hoping

Paul

Paul,

I've owned my 1955 ES2 since 1970 and have a seat which is very similar to a BSA seat, which was on the bike when I bought it. I cannot categorically state that this is correct as the petrol tank that was fitted was the same as a 16H tank! However, the seat that I have uses the special seat bracket that extends up to a fixing point by the bracket that supports the rear of the petrol tank. I have photos if this helps but they're to big to include with this message.

About 10 years ago I found what I believe to be the correct petrol tank but the mark where the seat fitted up to the tank indicates that another type of seat may well have been used. I'm happy with my BSA style seat and nobody has ever tried pointing out that they think it's the wrong type!

As you mentioned, this variation of the ES2 was only in existence for a couple of years, so parts are rare. Since owning my ES2 I've taken notice of differences between different years and have observed there are two types of rear mudguard on the 1955 model i.e. a C and a D cross section, and I believe they're both correct.

Let me know if I can help.

Phil Ham

Thanks Phil, the type Baz has posted looks like a modern universal type, with a flat seat base, and brackets adapated to fit. I have found these photo's elsewhere on the NOC website. Does yours look like this, if so I would be interested to get some measurements etc.

Paul

I purchased a seat from RK Leighton for my 54-55 model7 and am very please with it.

Alan

I recently managed to get the 1955 seat from a club member. Have a search through the threads to find pictures. Mine is currently on the bike which is with Pete Lovell. It is fitted to a '56 but I prefered the look of it to what was on and it is more comfortable. It is very similar to the BSA seat.

I did get a few pictures showing the seat and fixings etc - will try to sort them out and make measurements when I get the bike back.

Sorry no,my bike had the correct rear bracket but i still have to fabricate a front one.

Alan

Previously paul_gooch wrote:

Can anyone help me locate a seat for my 1955 single downtube (pre-featherbed) frame?

All parts seem ultra rare for this short lived model, but after spending 11 years sourcing the correct fuel tank, tool box, rear mudguard, number plate bracket and lifting handles, I now have the same problem with a seat.

All of the suppliers I approach on-line try to persuade me to buy a featherbed frame seat. Some even tell me that they didn't make a non-featherbed version in 1955. The more knowledgable ones suck their teeth and frown.

Does ANYONE know where I can get one? Or.....can anyone take photo's and measurements from their correct seat base for me so that I can get one made up?

Here's hoping

Paul

Armour Motor Products offer a seat described as being for the pre featherbed frame 1956-1957. I don't know how much the frame could have changed in such a short time, but you might want to check it out. I put one of these on my 1958 19S and it went right on and matches the old seat nicly. The only hitch was that the cover was glued on and needed to be riveted eventually. The catalog number is "DSN1 Single tube, s/arm 1956/57" Hope this helps.