1949 HRD Works Order Form details

[rapide049]

Bradley
I don't know anything else about Reg Tonge.

As for headlight sizes, it appears confusing but is quite simple.

8" headlamp units use glass lens units that measure 8" in diameter hence called 8" and all early B's up to late 1947 used this unit.

The 7" headlamp unit that the factory refer to is the same unit that us owners call 6.5". So when you see 7" in the records its was a 6.5" diameter lens unit and the headlight shell was what measured 7" and this is the same unit that the later series C's continued to use. Why the different references to measurments for the same unit I don't know.

Around November 1947 the first occasional reference to 7" headlamp appears in the factory records and in early 1948 the factory started noting if 8" or 7" was been fitted. This continued right through 1948 and the last reference to a 8" unit been used is early 1949.
Now it appears that the Vincent factory just used whatever Miller provided on that specific day and so in 1948 both sizes were been used side by side and there is a factory photo of a row of finished series B's showing the mix of headlight units. So you cannot just assume a series B had the larger 8" unit fitted and need to consult the factory records to be sure.

Of course there was the exception of the sealed beam lens unit that was a later requirement for the USA market. This was a true 7" diameter lens unit and so a special conversion rim was used to fit it to the standard smaller headlight shell. These are clearly identified in the records.

Simon

I used to know 2 blokes who had Herds as they called them here in 1948 ,one with a big headlight and one with a Small
Interesting all this , ATC is that referring to ATDC , ? We may never know

 

[greg brillus]

Using ATC and degrees in the one sentence suggests that it relates to ignition or cam timing........several times here folks mention about setting cams with equal lift at 4 deg BTDC on the overlap stroke........perhaps they (the factory) had same idea only using the equal lift measured at TDC this would make the cams advanced, and very typical of cam timing for an engine where you want good torque.......Experience would say that making this figure slightly more is perhaps even better.......as for the 13 figure, not sure what that means, it is too early for an exhaust closing point.......Unless it is a crank degree figure that relates to a cam at a certain amount of lift........most typical of cam set ups used by other manufacturers........generally using a figure of 0.050" lift as opposed to the actual closing/opening point as these can be too difficult to find with some cams.

 

[bmetcalf]

Greg, Brad Burt said above that he meant 5, not 13, so that makes things easier to analyze.

 

[fogrider]

Suddenly remembered I had the works record copy for my early B. I clearly did'nt read the original post properly as the reference 23TEM is specifically for the pillion footrests. Plenty of routine parts , especially cycle parts, must have been bought in, so was TEM another manufacturers' initials and 23 their part number for rear footrests as supplied to the HRD company. ?
Just (another) thought .......

 

[Michael Vane-Hunt]

My works order forms have Brown as tester. Would this be George Brown?

 

[Simon Dinsdale]

My works order forms have Brown as tester. Would this be George Brown?

Not George but probably somebody called Bob Brown.