Rob's WD16H and Big4 Forum

One of first 500 of contract C14498 with leg shields

Rob's WD16H and Big4 Forum
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16H search

Hello, this is all a long shot i know. I am looking for any information on a 16H ex WD registered in Dudley UK. Reg number HFD937. Fitted with big4 engine and at some point had a side car in civil life. I do not know the frame number etc. Any help in this matter would be great. thank you. Ian

Re: 16H search

Hello Ian,

Based on what you write there is not much to say.
Civilian paperwork is often not correct, and I cannor say anything just by that number.
If you can send me engine and frame numbers I may be able to tell you a little bit more.

Cheers,

Rob

Re: 16H search
Re: 16H search

Ah Heiko,

If that is the bike in question its a very shabby advert.
It has a 1946 and upwards gearbox and a 1948 and upward engine.

Rolling chassis likely to be wartime Norton.

So a mix of military and post war civilian parts.

Could of course be a nice bike but its nothing genuine as combination.

Cheers,

Rob

Re: 16H search

hi again,
Thanks for the first messages and help. Sorry but the only information about the bike i`m looking for is the civil registration number HFD937. i do not know the frame or engine numbers.Registered 12-6-1948. One very old grainy photo from my families photo album. Would love to know what happened to the 16H. Yes i looked at the above 16H and messaged the seller but with no reply so far.
Ian

Re: 16H search

Sadly the DVLA decision to allow only a limited window for adding vehicles that were not taxed to the computerised records back in the 1980s meant that lots of vehicles lost their identities for ever.

However, the Kithead Trust webside appears to indicate that the Dudley area records are amongst the few to have survived, in the face of DVLA instructions to destroy the paper records.

http://www.kitheadtrust.org.uk/england_wales2_11.html

It may be worth a visit to see what the ledgers show. If you're very lucky then the frame number might be mentioned which would provide a link to machines or parts that have lost their registration number.

The chances are not great, but there may be clues.

ex-WD motorcycles though are not the type of vehicle that tended to survive in a traceable form unchanged for decades !

Good Luck !

ps...Please feel free to post a scan of the photo !

Re: 16H search

hi Rik, We have been and looked at what they still have of the first registration and all it shows is date, name and reg number. No frame number.
I would post the photo here but do not seem to be able. Not good with computer, copy paste does not work and can`t find where too attach any photo.
Ian

Re: 16H search

If it had been a civilian bike there would be some point in trawling the factory records to look for bikes sold new in the area but not in the case of ex-WD.

Copes of Dudley were one of the major outlets for ex-WD Nortons in the late 1940s.

Re: 16H search "Wanted"

Hi Just found out that above "carandclassic" Big4 16H bike sold . Anyone on here bought it? Looking to buy a similar spec bike myself.I see that one may have been for sale earlier in Cornwall before ending up for sale in Kent. Sorry i missed it now.
Anyone got a 16h with spare Big4 engine sitting about???
Ian