Registration numbers say it's not the same 'bike Smudge .... I think that WMH 536 now shows as a 1000cc
I've known Leigh Newbould for over forty years
Another Sunbeam...
- Thread starter The smudger
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Registration numbers say it's not the same 'bike Smudge .... I think that WMH 536 now shows as a 1000cc
I've known Leigh Newbould for over forty years
Registration numbers say it's not the same 'bike Smudge .... I think that WMH 536 now shows as a 1000cc
I've known Leigh Newbould for over forty years
He's a clever lad alright, and a genuine one...
I can hear Brian in the background
Yep! Brian is my new cameraman...
Some progress!
Its been quiet on the bike front as i have been really busy with work, but never really took my eye off the ball regarding the bikes...
Firstly the tank, I had the tank welded by a 'Professional' welder (Ahem)...
I could have honestly done a better job myself, it was crap. Too top it all, it leaked like a knackered fridge, I was so disappointed i could have quite literally cried..
I asked the guy before he took on the job if he thought he could do it, and he said yes. I asked him could he make it fuel tight, again he said yes, but could not 100% guarantee this and suggested i sealed it after welding, which i agreed would be a good idea.
Now in hindsight i should have ran for the hills then, but the guy was quite confident, and we agreed a price.
When i collected it i was disappointed, and told him so. Im no welder but i reckon i could have done a better job. Things got a little awkward when it came to payment, small business in an industrial estate, he had a mate with him, and i was told it had to be paid or he wouldn't release the tank, i was over a barrel, so paid.
Long story short i have sealed it, but it still leaks, gaps i think were too big and the sealant (POR 15) left the odd tiny gap which of course is all petrol needs.
So, i have a tank that is basically useless, I'm so pissed off i have trouble talking about it. I don't do dirty laundry in public, but will happily share the places name on a PM basis with anyone in my area as id hate anyone else to go there for welding...
Moving on...
I had the inverted levers plated. I thought for a long time over 'Chrome or Nickel' and eventually went with Nickel. I am very pleased with the results, there are a few marks on them but that's through choice, didn't want them to 'stand out' too much, fitted them today and they look good!!
Its been quiet on the bike front as i have been really busy with work, but never really took my eye off the ball regarding the bikes...
Firstly the tank, I had the tank welded by a 'Professional' welder (Ahem)...
I could have honestly done a better job myself, it was crap. Too top it all, it leaked like a knackered fridge, I was so disappointed i could have quite literally cried..
I asked the guy before he took on the job if he thought he could do it, and he said yes. I asked him could he make it fuel tight, again he said yes, but could not 100% guarantee this and suggested i sealed it after welding, which i agreed would be a good idea.
Now in hindsight i should have ran for the hills then, but the guy was quite confident, and we agreed a price.
When i collected it i was disappointed, and told him so. Im no welder but i reckon i could have done a better job. Things got a little awkward when it came to payment, small business in an industrial estate, he had a mate with him, and i was told it had to be paid or he wouldn't release the tank, i was over a barrel, so paid.
Long story short i have sealed it, but it still leaks, gaps i think were too big and the sealant (POR 15) left the odd tiny gap which of course is all petrol needs.
So, i have a tank that is basically useless, I'm so pissed off i have trouble talking about it. I don't do dirty laundry in public, but will happily share the places name on a PM basis with anyone in my area as id hate anyone else to go there for welding...
Moving on...
I had the inverted levers plated. I thought for a long time over 'Chrome or Nickel' and eventually went with Nickel. I am very pleased with the results, there are a few marks on them but that's through choice, didn't want them to 'stand out' too much, fitted them today and they look good!!
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I’d be gutted if I’d ended up with that result and if he has a Facebook page I’d hammer it big time.
I would also be mightily 'pissed off' with that result.
What was his response when you told him that you were 'disappointed'?
He refused to release it without payment. Thats a red flag to me.
Did he offer to 're-work' it?
The tank does 2 things - holds petrol without leaks and is the crowning glory of the bike.
Seems like he failed on one or both of those things.
Still, on a positive note, the levers look good. I do like the mellow tone that you get from nickel.
What was his response when you told him that you were 'disappointed'?
He refused to release it without payment. Thats a red flag to me.
Did he offer to 're-work' it?
The tank does 2 things - holds petrol without leaks and is the crowning glory of the bike.
Seems like he failed on one or both of those things.
Still, on a positive note, the levers look good. I do like the mellow tone that you get from nickel.
It's coming on nicely Steve.
If it helps, CW Classics at Rayleigh come recommended by a buddy of mine when it comes to tank fabrication jobs, but pretty pricey by all accounts.
If it helps, CW Classics at Rayleigh come recommended by a buddy of mine when it comes to tank fabrication jobs, but pretty pricey by all accounts.
5 years later nearly.....
So, things have, as you would imagine they would, moved on.
I think I did post these photos a while ago but can't find them so here they are (maybe) again. I managed to find a tank, these tanks are very rare as the fuel cap is a screw on, not a standard bayonet fixing. I found one through the SOF, nice chap, had the tank fully restored a long time ago, never fitted it and sold the bike.
We agreed a price, I could not believe my luck really, and bought it of course. Someone said on here a while back, the tanks job is not only to hold fuel, but its the 'crowning glory' of any bike, this is no exception...
I have since ridden the bike, It not only looks beautiful, but rides beautifully as well......
So, things have, as you would imagine they would, moved on.
I think I did post these photos a while ago but can't find them so here they are (maybe) again. I managed to find a tank, these tanks are very rare as the fuel cap is a screw on, not a standard bayonet fixing. I found one through the SOF, nice chap, had the tank fully restored a long time ago, never fitted it and sold the bike.
We agreed a price, I could not believe my luck really, and bought it of course. Someone said on here a while back, the tanks job is not only to hold fuel, but its the 'crowning glory' of any bike, this is no exception...
I have since ridden the bike, It not only looks beautiful, but rides beautifully as well......
It's a Factory Bobber before anyone knew what a Bobber was 
Whilst it looked good when you showed me around it, as you were bringing things together a few years back Steve, the end result is a thing of beauty. All credit to you.
These early S7s must be pretty rare now - can the SOF put a figure on it?
These early S7s must be pretty rare now - can the SOF put a figure on it?
That is stunning
Apologies if I am mistaken but wasn’t it just then ( in the late 40s) that returning US servicemen started to buy old Harleys and chop them into bobbers?It's a Factory Bobber before anyone knew what a Bobber was
Correct but I'm talking 'Factory' not something a brain dead Yank cobbled together
Thanks Ken, yes it’s been a labour of love alright, the tank was a really lucky find, as I mentioned before there were only 2100 of these made, more than 1800 of which went to the ROW market, leaving only 300 odd in the UK, and that was in the late 1940’s!
It’s a work of art, Earling Poppe was a genius designer, sadly he fell out of favour with the BSA crowd for some reason and was apparently politely asked to ‘clear his desk’….
They are changing hands for 10-12k now, a few years ago they were a bit more, but times have changed a bit. I know of a few, around 10 off the top of my head, but there are very few about. I don’t suppose you can remember the registration number of your one can you Ken? Would be a lovely story if it were in your hands as well in the past?
Hope you and Sue are well mate?
If you haven’t found the shop in ‘East London’ this might be of interest, perhaps?
PS I now see you’ve mentioned Barking. It’s a long way from Walthamstow, so I’m probably no help.
PS I now see you’ve mentioned Barking. It’s a long way from Walthamstow, so I’m probably no help.
A sad picture from Google maps.
No 109 now
No 109 now
All good here thanks Steve.
Sadly I kept no records of the bike. Early 1970s I had a 4G mk1 & the S7 both c.1948 bikes, a Tri-Greeves 350 that I was upgrading to 500 (still around somewhere according to DVLA), along with an R26 250 import with a cracked frame that needed a refurb. The daily ride was a 350 Triumph twenty-one. However setting up home, a mortgage & then loss of the workshop led to me having to clear the decks in short order. A familiar tale I'm sure. However, I don't think the story of my S7 quite matched with your bike - mine was a basket case from the Reading area, which someone had started to restore, with loads of new parts from Stewart Engineering. Sadly, we didn't get far beyond checking, cleaning & identifying what we had in the boxes, which was pretty much everything we needed.
@Wapping references Markhouse M/Cs Walthamstow above. I had the dubious pleasure of visiting Frank, searching for some R26 bits back in the day. Eccentric doesn't describe the guy adequately - he was a hoarder & the shop was stacked with BMW bikes/spares that he was reluctant to part with.
Good luck selling the green S7 - it's a lovely bike for sure. I was tempted for a moment, but managed to regain control. A DBD34 or RGS at a sensible price though?
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