19S mudguard question

Hi John,

The ribbed mudguard is possibly AJS/Matchless but without seeing it I can't be sure. Hinged mudguards are 1953-55 in general but some very early 56 models had them. The bad news is that the 56 guard is a year specific part and has a detachable rear section. 57 models also had this but they weren't quite the same, the profile was noticably different.

Jim

Hi John,

I have a 56 19S which is very original & unmolested, the rear guard (& number plate mount) is same shape/profile as that on my 58 Dommy 99, infact the removable rear sections are interchageable between the two. I'm also fairly certain that Kev Feltoes model 77, which I believe is 57, has exactly the same arrangement, being essentially an ES2/19S frame with a 99 engine. Hopefully there should be a couple of pic's attached.

Regards, Tim

Ignore the 3rd url, I added it as an attachment, not an image & apparently I don't have sufficient privilages to delete it

Chris ?

Hi Tim,

Interesting that your 19s has a 57 style mudguard fitted but then again 55 and 56 were years of messing about in terms of tinware so it is absolutely possible that a mid year produced bike could have slightly different tinware to one produced at the start.

They did this in 53 to the rear mudguard so very early models may have a short hinged mudguard while later have the full length type.

Other tinware was also changed frequently like the petrol tanks which changed four times in four years. 54 had bolt on knee grips, butterfly type cap and a transfer for 'Norton'. 55 had a conventional removablecap round badges and glue on knee grips. 56 had nearly the same setup but they had gone back to bolting the knee grips on. 57 had the chrome panels on the tank sides.

Jim

Hi John,

Don't forget that AMC whoalso ownedAJS/Matchless bought Norton therefore they started to use AMC parts on them and the rear number plate shown in the pics is an AMC product that was also used on machines with ribbed mudguards. 1956 model Nortons DID NOT have a ribbed rear mudguard.

I know someone who acquired not one but three NOS detachable rear sections for the 1956 mudguard and they weren't ribbed!

Jim

Hi Gents,

Jim, some interesting fact there, I'm still trying to build up a better knowledge of the 19. Mine was registered 15/02/56, so I presume built late 55 or very early 56. Chassis/eng number is L965*** but I don't have any references to check against for a more accurate idea. It has the lay-down type gearbox, Crome tank with painted panels, round badges, conventional removeable cap & bolt on knee grips, the large matching tool/battery box & oil tank, the rear guard as shown & a front guard again the same as the wideline 99.

Regards, Tim

Hi Tim,

Certainly for 1955 the ES2 and 19S shared tinware borrowed from the Model 7 twin with the exception of the petrol tank. I see no reason that the same thing wasn't done for the Model 50 when it came back for the 56 season. In fact doing anything other than this would have been exceptionally stupid and costly.

Jim