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First Pattern BSA Paratrooper Bicycle Register

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Hi Lex @Welbike

Yes, I follow your motorised work on HMVF.

Thanks for putting up those most revealing photos!

I had seen R923 on Colin Stevens list, but not included it until now, because there are no other details on the list, and the position of the serial number makes them easy to damage or be misread.I was starting to assume that the lowest number was R1000, but apparently not. I wonder what it is, then? With only one or two of these bikes per thousand surfacing, it could possibly be R1 It will be interesting to see if there are lower numbers.

The purpose of listing First and Second pattern BSA's here is to compile a list of known survivors, and look at the (relatively few) differences during production.

I now have 13 confirmed first pattern, another four or five probables, and about 180 second patterns listed. I will be sharing the list, with some conclusions, here shortly.

Best Regards,

Adrian
 
No probs Adrian, I also have a very nice second model, I will post pictures of shortly. I believe the numbers started at 100 (some British Motorcycle manufacturers did this too, and seems to have been a common thing), and the first model ran up to 10.000, after that it was the second model, the highest number recorded (by me) is R77527 in the US. the first brown painted ones started to appear around 15000, before that all green.

Cheers,

Lex
 
Hi Lex, @Welbike

I agree that an R1 is unlikely, and that R100, or pssibly R500 are more likely starting points. As you say, if 100 is used by some UK motorcycle makers, then, knowing your experience in these matters,, I consider that most likely.

From a first run through of the information I've gathered, these are my thoughts and observations. If you can tie down the details better, or know otherwise, please let me know.

I have twin tubes confirmed to R6599, First confirmed single tube at R10779. Since the twin tube was a design failure, I'm not sure if BSA would have built to a set number, or just introduced the design change as soon as possible. But certainly in the order of 10000 frames.

The last 'Angle Iron' type hinge, as on yours, I have recorded is R1422, and the first cast hinge R3641.

R77527 of John Neuenburg @Houndsworth remains the highest frame number recorded.

The spread of numbers I have is pretty good, at least one from every thousand built, however there is an anomaly, with no frames recorded between R62836 and R73380, around 10000 frames. I'd like to find some numbers in this gap. I wondered if they'd been produced, then sent overseas to commonwealth forces. My searches are mainly USA and Europe, so they might not turn up frames in other countries. The only place I could think of was India. I contacted a BSA parabike owning friend out there, but his bikes weren't in this sequence, and he had no other information. Being late production, I also wondered if they had gone into War Reserve stock. A problem remaining to be solved.

BSA marked frame wingnuts were used for a very short time, first recorded at R21622, and last recorded at R22712. By R22973 they were back to standard.

Items that are not directly attached to the frame, and colours can be more difficult to record, since they could be changed in service.

The tommy bar for the handle bar bolt is welded direct to the bolt until at least R4154, and seems to ave changed to the standard type by R6312 (a twin tube).

The frames seem to have been Green from the start, to at least R10779, a single tube. The first Brown frame I have recorded is my own T13439 (still the only T prefix I've found, another mystery), the last R16894. The first Green recorded after that is R17598.

The undercoat almost throughout production seems to have been a black enamel paint. Some frames it is difficult to tell if this was the case, and one late frame is red.

The pedal arms were reinforced with bosses for the pedals are first recorded at R22973, the last of the unreinforced recorded being R22666.

There is also some esoteric stuff to do with serial number sizes and fonts.... (-:

I hope this was of interest. I hope to complete the actual table shortly.

Best Regards,

Adrian
 
Unknown. R.Ravindran India.


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Unknown, Vikram Pendse Cycle Museum, Pune, India.

Photo: Vikram Pendse

1668952146054.png


 
R6599, soon to be with Mercian in France:

Photo Credit: Octothorpe
View attachment 1719005


Ah, so my ol' Airborne has gone back across the pond again. I hope it brings you much joy. Thanks for posting the Captain Stevens registry, I remember posting it on there but had completely forgotten the website's name.

Off topic, there's a later pattern example for sale in Baltimore, Maryland for what I think is the unreasonable price of $2125.
 
Hi @Octathorpe

It's still in the US at this time, but is steadily making it's way here. (-:

I have aso been obtaining missing bits, the handlebars, T nut and lamp bracket. Reproduction grips and transfers.

I suspect I will need the nut for the top bearings for the handlebars, it's difficult to see from the photos.

And then, of course, a reprep and paint of the frame when it arrives.

Incidentally, I currently have 35 identified first pattern BSA's listed, and at least another ten survivors that I couldn't obtain the serial number for.

Have an excellent Sunday.

Best Regards,

Adrian
 
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