Dating my machine

Greetings all,

I have been trawling through the website and can find no list or mention of a register of manufacture dates for these machines. Does one exist? I would like to work out where my machine fits in the scheme of things.

I will post a photo and data when I work out how.

Regards

Guy

Hallo Guy,
I suggest you contact me at pybeat@gmail.com with full details of your machine, to see if I can supply you with the information you seek.

if you let us know what the frame number is we can give you a reasonably idea when it was made. the number is on the headstock about 1 inch plus up from the bottom bearing at the front.it may be faint and should be 4 numbers

Can I ask how relevant the VMCC Reguster is to this discussion nowadays? It lists some 160 odd ABC twins giving fraame, engine and gearbox numbers but was last published thirty years ago. Have the numbers changed significantly since then and how helpful were they when first published?

I was always a bit surprised at how many were listed given the number that are seen in use. Is this just a reflection on the difficulties encountered by the average lone restorer?

Hopefully the sterling work being done by Forum members will draw out a few more.

The VMCC Reguster, with fraame numbers, is not a patch on our ABC Sopwith Register.
Admittedly, this volume is never complete or up-to-date: it is only as good as the information supplied to it by Sopwith owners. Auctions are monitored for Sopwith sales, but the new owners are never listed.
The Register does not include an ABC Villiers.
Caution concerning Data Protection acts, prevents its general publication. However, specific queries and requests for relevant information are usually addressed.

I have no doubt the current Register is greatly improved over the thirty year old VMCC list but the fascination remains. Where are all these bikes? Given the numbers of survivors listed and the number surfacing on this Forum there must be an awful lot in hibernation somewhere.

I suspect many are what is now called 'project' bikes and in need of major work which is beyond the skill of most of us but as shown with the crankshaft remanufacture perhaps their time has come. Has modern technology reached a point where total mechanical rebuilds are feasible? To me the Register numbers hint there are sufficient survivors for some spares manufacture "on spec" to be vaguely near practical.

It is the prospect of more vintage bikes on the road that makes the Register so interesting to me. The numbers hint they could have a far greater presence than everyone assumes.