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wd 16h petrol tank numbers

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hi can somone give me the sizes of the serial numbers on the petrol tank i will be most grateful  pete

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The style and size of the WD Serial (Census) numbers varied during the course of the war and from contract to contract. What range is your frame number in ?

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Early on in that contract, the numbers were applied to the front number plate.  This is the lowest serial that I have on file :-

C4386209

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From about W34000 onwards, it was applied to the fuel tanks. and this was probably also done when earlier machines were repainted.  The standard vehicle size was 3 1/2" high x 2 1/2" wide x 5/8" thick and I've seen it referred to that motorcycle serials were intended to be half that size, i.e. 1 3/4" high x 1 1/4" wide x 5/16" thick. If you're thinking of ready-made stencils, then Tony Pearson at Axholme Signs has a good knowledge and database of what his customers have used on WD motorcycles. If you let me know your serial number, I'll see how close I can get with a photograph.

C4394337

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hi richard my serial numbers appear to be 4386152 although i had to slowly rub down the tank to reveal the numbers a bit at a time i have many pictures of the process, with different numbers appearing at different stages, i hope you have a near example regards pete

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Pete, yours is very early in the contract and quite close to the C4386029 that I posted above. I calculate that your frame number should be W26126.

Originally, it would definitely have had the serials on the number plates and been fitted with the twin steel pannier tool boxes which were discontinued half way through the contract. There is a British Pathé film which features C4386238.C4386238

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...and this is slightly higher too, with the Australians in North Africa. The contract was being produced during late 1940, in to 1941 and because of where the build up of forces was taking place, a great many went to the Middle East C4387019

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hi richard my frame numbers have been over stamped twice so are unreadable looks like a dead end thanks pete 

 


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