Reference library

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Reference library

Photographically documenting some of the rarer and hard to find items for the BSA WM20's various models

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Welcome to the Archive of the odd and unusual, anything that is rare should be on these pages, If its not here yet I want to make sure it ends up featured here eventually, here we will photographically document as best we can, all the rare and interesting bits and pieces for The BSA WM20 and also eventually other British Military Motorcycle marques of WWII, so in future people will hopefully know what they are looking for/at, contributions always welcome and of course full credit given for everything.

And now a small appeal from me - I have always been fascinated by several pics of the drivers of Norton military motorcycles driving and firing a thompson sub machine gun at the same time via some sort of special support mount for the gun, I enclose the only pic I have of this in use on a solo bike, I have other pics of it also in use on a sidecar. What did this mount look like? How did it affix to the bike? and lastly what was it called? Can anyone help me?

OK I know its a Norton but did M20's have em too?

Perhaps the most tricky bit to find ?

The military 'Fag end' tail light

even on this good example the rubber is perished

finding them in any condition is cause for celebration

The 'Fag end' tail light is the rarest of the regular military issue tail lights, there are 3 other types which I hope to illustrate here eventually.

Probably the next most sought after

Usually already Olive green unusual in primer

The more common version of the lucas taillight

Ready painted in Olive Drab ready for fitting

Then we have the much sought after webbing handlebar grips - a single one going recently on eBay for £105. People out of desperation make quite good copies but no one has yet been able to avoid a seam, the original were tubular webbing with no seam, if it has a seam no matter how cunningly concealed its probably a modern repro/replica

A mint unissued 1" throttle grip for a Norton

but would equally fit a BSA WM20 throttle side

A rare pair of canvas grips?

variant with serrated ferrule internal return

A single throttle side still in stores grease

recently won on eBay 1" dia for throttle grip

Note the golden colour inside the grip metal

This appears to be a fine brass wash over steel

Close up of one owned by Richard

note webbing weave

Getting good replicas made from tubular webbing is one of the projects I hope to have some success with, they would have properly spun metal ferrules just like the originals. We will announce the availability here if we ever manage to find a company that can make tubular webbing still.

MYSTERY KNEE PADS

A slight mystery here, recently found by Richard C during a clear out of his Garage, there are clearly a pair of BSA Tank rubber knee grips, except the detail is very crude, are these fakes someone has tried to make from scratch or are they as I suspect, possibly made in India stop gap items made for Indian BSA's when supplies of finished rubber items from the UK dried up in 1941/42 ish?

Any comments/suggestions appreciated and full credit will be given to anyone solving the mystery.

Mystery BSA Knee Grips

note crude detail

No makers marks for clues

Appear to be professionally moulded though

Ebay vendor Jen has given me permission to use the photos of some of her interesting lots, so now I can illustrate an original engine immobiliser kit, these items were more trouble than they were worth by all accounts, frequently totally immobilising the bike to friend and foe alike.

Very rare immobiliser

pic courtesy of the eBay vendor

Next, another rare item from the same vendor - the wheel security bolt, the example illustrated was removed from an original machine and is in used condition, however these items are pretty rare and any illustration to document the item is welcome.

Security bolt

If anyone has any wartime pictures of these fitted to original bikes I would very much like to see how they were actually fitted. Below left the reverse side.

Below right are the ignition lead surppressors also sold by the same eBay vendor

Not technically rare but seldom seen REME bore tag

These were usually placed under cylinder nut

Next up a rather interesting early variant of the petrol tank cap, this example being purchased recently from Thailand by Richard C You can see another example on the Blue M20 in Ulrichs bikes found in Libya in Ulrichs section.

Note rounded tap like section to handle

same pattern also seen on early M20 oil tanks

I recently got one but not as good condition

Richards M20 has one this type on the oil tank

Early WM20's had the now scarce mica insulated KLG L777 spark plug, not very robust - scratches on the outside of the mica barrel leading to tracking problems. Heres a couple of pics of the typical KLG L777 plug and protective tin packaging.

Tin and plug unwrapped note guarantee sheet

Its rare to find a tin in this nice a condition

Successor to the 777 the KLG F70 was used on M20's

This lot recently sold on eBay for about £10 a plug

These early spark plugs had a wire spring HT lead retainer which was used with a simple brass tab terminal crimped on to the end of the HT lead, It had a hole in the flattened section which slid over the threaded spark plug center electrode the wire retainer slid over the top and gripped the thread when you released the 'ears'

KLG Plug cap

Of course your KLG spark plug would not be complete without the right KLG made bakelite spark plug cap - these are also difficult to find....(Plug and cap pics courtesy R Corcoran)

I have recently come into posession of a cap very similar in design to the KLG but made by Champion, in deep brown bakelite. Pics below show this Champion variant.

The Champion spark plug cap

top knob screws onto top of plug trapping HT ferrule

note WD surpressor in lead

slightly lower profile than KLG version

On the left below we have the early sump guard with four lugs instead of 2 and a U shaped rod found on later contracts, In the background is a modern repro of the early pannier rack and an example of the early numberplate.

On the right is a picture of an original Fluted headlamp glass for the Lucas DU42 headlamp, copies of these are available but they do not have the moulded in plain rim of the originals.

Note the 4 point mounting direct to frame bolts

This picture was borrowed from an eBay listing

Next we have something that I have not actually seen yet but a couple of pics of the early rubber mounted handlebar yoke assembly, courtesy R Corcoran who has contributed much to this section - thanks Richard!

New to me! Unusual must be v-rare

Presumably only on early de-luxe models?

Below I have been lucky enough to be granted permission to post this Pic showing the rubber mounted handlebars on an original BSA KM20. Also present is the very seldom seen steering damper knob anti turning spring clip, note it is in original early war paint - much more brown on colour.

The rubber mounted handlebars en-situ

Pic courtesy Henk Joore BSA WM20 Forum

Another item but one I had heard about before is the centrally mounted speedo mount used on early BSA M20's I believe the cable & hub on these models were different too. Sorry for the slightly blurred pic, again courtesy R Corcoran.

Next another piece Ive not seen before - it wraps round the front down tube and around the front engine mounting plates either side, together with a smaller top plate it eliminates the mud and corrosion trap formed by the plates and down tube, Im pretty sure this cannot be used with the second pattern sump guard as the front U shaped mounting hoop wouldnt fit.

To the right a pair of small straps found fitted to the rear footrest pegs to keep them upright, came with an ex-military WM20 but I cannot verify their provenance, they are very well made with all correct fixtures and fittings - I think they might be originals.

A couple more pictures of early handlebars combined control levers and with rounded solid end caps from Richard Corcoran

Left hand side ( I think!)

another view - same side I think

Below are the early pattern direct drive speedo front wheel and worm drive fitted on brake plate, these are only found on early M20 models. pics courtesy Richard Corcoran

Inside of the brake plate showing toothed drive.

Below we have an unusual gearbox front cover with a large deeply impressed BSA and stacked arms logo similar to those found on the alloy tappet covers. Can anyone shed any light on this? Im pretty sure its an M20 probably pre-war due to the type of clutch lever mounting.

Unusually marked Gearbox front cover

Lastly, perhaps one of the most difficult things to find as a matching original wartime made pair, I think someone said these werent actually dated, if you've got dates on the webbing parts theres a chance youve got a large pack thats been modified by the addition of bits of cut up 37 pattern webbing infantry equipment which is still available army surplus and WWII dated at quite reasonable prices.

Good repros are made which at first sight seem expensive but when you bear in mind the huge amount of work that goes into making each one, it is perhaps not so overly expensive after all.

Front view of an original pannier bag

Back view showing webb & leather re-enforcing

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