My 42WLA before and after
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- G-Major
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My 42WLA before and after
Afternoon gents,
Just putting up my WLA for inspection. The first pictures are from a gentlemen in Missouri named George who I bought the bike from back in April 2011 it arrived at my house in 10 UPS boxes.
So, 5 years later and a lot of blood, sweat and tears. It is 99% complete now. Minor wiring, attaching skid plate and hooking up the control cables is all that is left.#
The only repro items I used were the tires, very few nuts and bolts, the drive chain and the inner battery I put inside an original battery case.
I used Bruces book to be as accurate as possible for a type 7. Please point out any incorrect items or issues you see with this bike. Thanks!
. by No Name, on Flickr
. by No Name, on Flickr
AFTER
IMG_4010 by No Name, on Flickr
IMG_4002 by No Name, on Flickr
Just putting up my WLA for inspection. The first pictures are from a gentlemen in Missouri named George who I bought the bike from back in April 2011 it arrived at my house in 10 UPS boxes.
So, 5 years later and a lot of blood, sweat and tears. It is 99% complete now. Minor wiring, attaching skid plate and hooking up the control cables is all that is left.#
The only repro items I used were the tires, very few nuts and bolts, the drive chain and the inner battery I put inside an original battery case.
I used Bruces book to be as accurate as possible for a type 7. Please point out any incorrect items or issues you see with this bike. Thanks!
. by No Name, on Flickr
. by No Name, on Flickr
AFTER
IMG_4010 by No Name, on Flickr
IMG_4002 by No Name, on Flickr
GPW 112092 04-30-43 USA 20372531 (orig)
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- G-Lieutenant Colonel
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Re: My 42WLA before and after
Looks great, glad you saved another one !
- TopKick
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Re: My 42WLA before and after
Outstanding in appearance at a distance. However, for scrutinizing (what you asked for) the photos are taken too far away with too many shadows.
"Keep 'Em Rolling"
TopKick
"Until it's melted down and turned into something else, or blown to Smitherines, it's restorable"!
TopKick
"Until it's melted down and turned into something else, or blown to Smitherines, it's restorable"!
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Re: My 42WLA before and after
Thanks very much and youre correct. Once i get the appraisal in hand i will use his photos as they are much better than the few i snapped.
I tried to build the bike to look authentic and not freshly dipped into green paint and crisp white decals on it. Most of the paint is original, i have an original paint primary cover that hasnt been installed for these pictures. The oil tank is original paint but the fuel tank isnt. Frame was repainted and so was the fenders and luggage rack. It was very hard to find a NOS battery box and chain guard but i used as much NOS or original finishes as i could. I built my own parkerization set up for the parts that needed it. Also my air pump isnt in these pictures. That shiny black exhaust was unwrapped 2 days before these pictures from it packaging after 70 years. All the leather is NOS also. Like i mentioned, reproduction parts can be counted on one hand That Thompson is a numbers matching 1928A1 that has been demilled early in its life so its in really great shape and hasnt been turned into a paperweight like most of them have been in Canada. There are 3 demilled Mk2 grenades in that original grenade pouch too.
The markings were done with a foam brush and painters tape to simulate the stencils and rough look the original markings had. Visible streaks in the white and so on. The radio suppression S was done with the same technique.
The NOS leg guards will get marked with "processed uk base" that was documented from the original set of guards i posted in another thread.
I tried to build the bike to look authentic and not freshly dipped into green paint and crisp white decals on it. Most of the paint is original, i have an original paint primary cover that hasnt been installed for these pictures. The oil tank is original paint but the fuel tank isnt. Frame was repainted and so was the fenders and luggage rack. It was very hard to find a NOS battery box and chain guard but i used as much NOS or original finishes as i could. I built my own parkerization set up for the parts that needed it. Also my air pump isnt in these pictures. That shiny black exhaust was unwrapped 2 days before these pictures from it packaging after 70 years. All the leather is NOS also. Like i mentioned, reproduction parts can be counted on one hand That Thompson is a numbers matching 1928A1 that has been demilled early in its life so its in really great shape and hasnt been turned into a paperweight like most of them have been in Canada. There are 3 demilled Mk2 grenades in that original grenade pouch too.
The markings were done with a foam brush and painters tape to simulate the stencils and rough look the original markings had. Visible streaks in the white and so on. The radio suppression S was done with the same technique.
The NOS leg guards will get marked with "processed uk base" that was documented from the original set of guards i posted in another thread.
GPW 112092 04-30-43 USA 20372531 (orig)
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- Sergeant Major of the Gee
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Re: My 42WLA before and after
It looks perfect Donky, it's a real gem..congrats!
The only things missing besides the skidplate, are the rear chain oiler and the radio-suppressor earthing between front cylinderhead and oiltank.
A perfectionist (which I'm not..) could mention: a type VII didn't have a numberplate.
The WD-number should be stencilled in blue (or in white if it's a post-April '45) on the rearfendertip just below the bracket...or, when done in white, upsidedown between saddle and rack.
Again, just what a perfectionist could add...
It's a stunner, have fun with it and please: don't put it on a trailer...ride it!
The only things missing besides the skidplate, are the rear chain oiler and the radio-suppressor earthing between front cylinderhead and oiltank.
A perfectionist (which I'm not..) could mention: a type VII didn't have a numberplate.
The WD-number should be stencilled in blue (or in white if it's a post-April '45) on the rearfendertip just below the bracket...or, when done in white, upsidedown between saddle and rack.
Again, just what a perfectionist could add...
It's a stunner, have fun with it and please: don't put it on a trailer...ride it!
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Re: My 42WLA before and after
Thanks so much!Lib45 wrote:It looks perfect Donky, it's a real gem..congrats!
The only things missing besides the skidplate, are the rear chain oiler and the radio-suppressor earthing between front cylinderhead and oiltank.
A perfectionist (which I'm not..) could mention: a type VII didn't have a numberplate.
The WD-number should be stencilled in blue (or in white if it's a post-April '45) on the rearfendertip just below the bracket...or, when done in white, upsidedown between saddle and rack.
Again, just what a perfectionist could add...
It's a stunner, have fun with it and please: don't put it on a trailer...ride it!
The rear chain oiler isnt installed yet, im still trying to figure out where the two mounting clips are attached.
Radio suppression stuff is still in its bags and i havent installed it yet but it is all NOS. I will drill the head at the very end.
I thought they all had numberplates? I only bought that one because it had a type 7 registration number (obviously not mine, i estimate mine to be 6140996)
When you say post April 1945, you mean delivery date right? As the army were the ones who put the numbers on the bike? if thats the case then yes, dod is estimated to be July 5th so my stenciling for the registration should be white and upside down behind seat.
Thanks for some of the clarification!
GPW 112092 04-30-43 USA 20372531 (orig)
- Johan WILLAERT
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Re: My 42WLA before and after
I wouldn't be so quick to state that...Lib45 wrote:The WD-number should be stencilled in blue (or in white if it's a post-April '45) on the rearfendertip just below the bracket...or, when done in white, upsidedown between saddle and rack.
Indeed the number plate was dropped somewhere during , or at the end of, the Type IV production, and blue drab numbers were being stenciled on the rear fender below the headlights from then one... The color of the number and the location changed to white and on the rear fender between the battery box and the luggage rack following the February 1945 edition of AR850-5 but even April 1945 Type VII have been seen with the blue drab number still applied per 1942 regulations.
Palmer's new book shows an original marking in blue drab on USA 6139xxx S , which is an April 1945 production and has the S added to the number.
Furthermore following the 1944 regulations the radio suppression S moved from the dash cover sides to the USA number somewhere at that time...
30th October 1944 Type VII 42WLA63442 with USA 6129483 still had the S on the dash cover, while April 1945 USA 6139xxx S had the number applied after the USA number in blue drab near the tip of the rear fender.
The ONLY example of an upside down white number above the battery box I have ever seen on a WW2 period picture was on a Type III (!!) 42WLA, picture taken in Antwerp, Belgium in September 1945. Obviously the number was applied in theater following the Feb 1945 Army regulations. Picture is in my collection and shown on my website and below:
It is my rather firm belief NO WLAs were ever delivered with white numbers from the factory before the end of WW2, but I will stand corrected if someone comes up with proof... By the time the Feb 1945 regulations came out and were enforced it was too late to change the numbers in the factory contracts.
Same thing can be seen on Jeeps where Ford GPW were delivered with blue drab hood numbers through the end of production in the Summer of 1945 and only the very, very late Willys MBs had white hood numbers from the factory.
The randomly applied white USA numbers on fenders, tanks, ammo boxes, etc... were painted in Europe at the beginning of 1944 following orders from the US Army in England in January...
I think this particular Type VII 42WLA should have the USA number in blue drab on the rear fender below the rear lights and the radio suppression S should be added to the number and not on the dash cover...
Lastly I'm currently rewriting the USA marking chapter for my website with all of the new info that surfaced in recent years....
And finally to the Topic Starter: GREAAAAAT bike!
MVPA#14204
Huffman D50546 (1942)
Westfield Columbia MG138969 & MG140418 (1943)
HD 42WLA31854 (1943)
Ford GPW272xxx (1945)
Bantam T3 56433(Est) (1945)
John Wood M3A4 17564 (1943)
Johnston Lawn Mower Co RL35-A 1255 (1944)
BSA Mark V* T136102 (1944)
The Liberator
Huffman D50546 (1942)
Westfield Columbia MG138969 & MG140418 (1943)
HD 42WLA31854 (1943)
Ford GPW272xxx (1945)
Bantam T3 56433(Est) (1945)
John Wood M3A4 17564 (1943)
Johnston Lawn Mower Co RL35-A 1255 (1944)
BSA Mark V* T136102 (1944)
The Liberator
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Re: My 42WLA before and after
Johan: thanks, you're right.
Although one can debate if the boys at H-D followed the Army Regulations to the letter (which according to BP's books they didn't; regulations came in with delay), PROBABLY all WLA's left the MoCo with the WD-number in blue drab on the fendertip..
And yes: the 'S' should've been painted at the end of the number instead of on the dashside too if this is, what Donk mentiones, a post-April '45 type VII.
See note (4) at page 180 of BP's book.
What I don't understand, is why the museumbike @ the H-D Archives, which is one of the very last type VII's according to someone who has seen it's numbers and casenumbers, still has the dash-'S'...
photo taken from your site Johan
Although one can debate if the boys at H-D followed the Army Regulations to the letter (which according to BP's books they didn't; regulations came in with delay), PROBABLY all WLA's left the MoCo with the WD-number in blue drab on the fendertip..
And yes: the 'S' should've been painted at the end of the number instead of on the dashside too if this is, what Donk mentiones, a post-April '45 type VII.
See note (4) at page 180 of BP's book.
What I don't understand, is why the museumbike @ the H-D Archives, which is one of the very last type VII's according to someone who has seen it's numbers and casenumbers, still has the dash-'S'...
photo taken from your site Johan
- Johan WILLAERT
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Re: My 42WLA before and after
No, not all, only from the late Type IV or Type V 42WLA onwards..Lib45 wrote:PROBABLY all WLA's left the MoCo with the WD-number in blue drab on the fendertip...
Lib45 wrote: What I don't understand, is why the museumbike @ the H-D Archives, which is one of the very last type VII's according to someone who has seen it's numbers and casenumbers, still has the dash-'S'...
photo taken from your site Johan
Question remains; is this WLA at the HD museum an untouched all original, or (partially) assembled from parts.... That particular WLA has rubber footboard mats, a bicycle style kick starter pedal and a couple of other items from earlier models...
MVPA#14204
Huffman D50546 (1942)
Westfield Columbia MG138969 & MG140418 (1943)
HD 42WLA31854 (1943)
Ford GPW272xxx (1945)
Bantam T3 56433(Est) (1945)
John Wood M3A4 17564 (1943)
Johnston Lawn Mower Co RL35-A 1255 (1944)
BSA Mark V* T136102 (1944)
The Liberator
Huffman D50546 (1942)
Westfield Columbia MG138969 & MG140418 (1943)
HD 42WLA31854 (1943)
Ford GPW272xxx (1945)
Bantam T3 56433(Est) (1945)
John Wood M3A4 17564 (1943)
Johnston Lawn Mower Co RL35-A 1255 (1944)
BSA Mark V* T136102 (1944)
The Liberator
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- Sergeant Major of the Gee
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Re: My 42WLA before and after
Sorry, that's what I meant..I stand correct.Johan WILLAERT wrote:No, not all, only from the late Type IV or Type V 42WLA onwards..Lib45 wrote:PROBABLY all WLA's left the MoCo with the WD-number in blue drab on the fendertip...
Ok, didn't knew that, my contact never mentioned the floorboards nor the other (wrong) items on that museumbike.Question remains; is this WLA at the HD museum an untouched all original, or (partially) assembled from parts.... That particular WLA has rubber footboard mats, a bicycle style kick starter pedal and a couple of other items from earlier models...
I haven't seen it myself..
@Donk: all type VII's (except those sold as surplus at auction) were for the Red Army.
As mentioned earlier, enjoy it!
Last edited by Lib45 on Tue Apr 26, 2016 12:42 am, edited 2 times in total.
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Re: My 42WLA before and after
I have heard that before but I refuse to believe it! Haha!Lib45 wrote: @Donk: all type VII's (except those sold as surplus at auction) were for the Red Army.
As mentioned earlier, enjoy it!
I know this bike made it to the UK In 1945 but then from there I have no idea, almost like it was processed on arrival and then sent back the same day.
GPW 112092 04-30-43 USA 20372531 (orig)
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- Sergeant Major of the Gee
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Re: My 42WLA before and after
All shipments were cancelled after VE-day and those already on their way to 'Mother Russia' were called back or returned.
Those bikes were either striped from all military equipment and sold as civilian models or sold as surplus as they were.
Those bikes were either striped from all military equipment and sold as civilian models or sold as surplus as they were.
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Re: My 42WLA before and after
Lib45 wrote:All shipments were cancelled after VE-day and those already on their way to 'Mother Russia' were called back or returned.
Those bikes were either striped from all military equipment and sold as civilian models or sold as surplus as they were.
Yes I'm aware of the history... I just don't like the thought of a WLA with Ruskie markings.
So I'm more than happy that this one got turned around half way there
GPW 112092 04-30-43 USA 20372531 (orig)
- Johan WILLAERT
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Re: My 42WLA before and after
Lib45 wrote:Ok, didn't knew that, my contact never mentioned the floorboards nor the other (wrong) items on that museumbike.
I haven't seen it myself
MVPA#14204
Huffman D50546 (1942)
Westfield Columbia MG138969 & MG140418 (1943)
HD 42WLA31854 (1943)
Ford GPW272xxx (1945)
Bantam T3 56433(Est) (1945)
John Wood M3A4 17564 (1943)
Johnston Lawn Mower Co RL35-A 1255 (1944)
BSA Mark V* T136102 (1944)
The Liberator
Huffman D50546 (1942)
Westfield Columbia MG138969 & MG140418 (1943)
HD 42WLA31854 (1943)
Ford GPW272xxx (1945)
Bantam T3 56433(Est) (1945)
John Wood M3A4 17564 (1943)
Johnston Lawn Mower Co RL35-A 1255 (1944)
BSA Mark V* T136102 (1944)
The Liberator
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- Sergeant Major of the Gee
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Re: My 42WLA before and after
Thanks for the pics Johan.
The reason I did so with mine was to respect its history, no more no less..
That's the fun part: the Ruskies never marked their vehicles other then with a division/regiment number (if so) and/or slogans..donk_316 wrote:Lib45 wrote:All shipments were cancelled after VE-day and those already on their way to 'Mother Russia' were called back or returned.
Those bikes were either striped from all military equipment and sold as civilian models or sold as surplus as they were.
Yes I'm aware of the history... I just don't like the thought of a WLA with Ruskie markings.
So I'm more than happy that this one got turned around half way there
The reason I did so with mine was to respect its history, no more no less..
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