United Kingdom - British
Birmingham Small Arms - BSA Motorcycle WD M20
Hardware Finish and Paint Reference Page
BSA Motorcycle M20 Serial Number 103026 Registration Number C5213726, above photo.
This BSA M20 Serial Number 103026, in the QuestMasters Museum collection, is added here not because it has any hardware
finishes that are relevant to this page, but rather as a placeholder in the hardware production time-line for the restoration of
this motorcycle.
This War Department M20 is the 6209th of 8000 motorcycles produced for contract S2603 (December 1943 - July 1944). It was
produced and was delivered to the War Office, London in roughly May of 1944.
This original wartime photo shows a 1944 BSA M20 Registration Number C5213661, marked with the stylized winged helmet
insignia, on the fuel tank, for the 1st Polish Armored Division - part of the 1st Canadian Army. This M20 was produced 65
motorcycles before the 1944 BSA M20 Serial Number 103026 Registration Number C5213726, in the QuestMasters Museum
collection.
Note the placement of the BSA logo and registration number on the fuel tank in this photo.
The hardware in this photo is covered in dust and dirt, so the finish cannot be easily determined. The hardware on the
blackout mask face appears to be the same color as the mask. The earlier rubber tank pads are not present.
This original wartime photo shows a British Sergeant riding a 1944 BSA M20 Registration Number C5213784, which is 58
motorcycles later than 1944 BSA M20 Serial Number 103026 Registration Number C5213726, in the QuestMasters Museum
collection.
Note the placement of the BSA logo and registration number on the fuel tank in this photo.
Although dust and dirt obscures all of the hardware finish, the bolt that attaches the Lucas DU42 headlight appears to be
cadmium or natural finish, unpainted. The visor on the Black-Out Mask on the DU42 also appears to be significantly lighter in
color then the black painted face of the mask. The visor may be painted the same color as the rest of the motorcycle or may
have been painted in M-5 mustard colored gas detection paint.
This original wartime photo from the Imperial War Museum, shows a 1944 BSA M20 Registration Number C5213537, marked
with the stylized winged helmet insignia, on the fuel tank, for the 1st Polish Armored Division - part of the 1st Canadian Army.
This M20 was produced 189 motorcycles before the 1944 BSA M20 Serial Number 103026 Registration Number C5213726, in
the QuestMasters Museum collection. In this photo, Captain F. Perepeczko (left), 1st Polish Armoured Division, Normandy,
France 1944. The Serial Number of the Ford GPW or Willys MB Jeep is 33564.
Note the placement of the BSA logo, registration number and the Allied Star on the fuel tank in this photo.
The dust and dirt obscures the finish of any hardware. This motorcycle has "I" tread on the tire sidewall. It also retains the
earlier rubber tank pads.
During the restoration of the QuestMasters Museum BSA Motorcycle WD M20 Serial Number: 103026,
research was conducted to correctly re-finish every component of the motorcycle, as it was delivered from
the factory, with detail specific to the finish and painting of each part.

This research began to be quite a task. The BSA factory was destroyed early in WWII due to aerial
bombardment by the German Luftwaffe and many records were destroyed.
Furthermore, documentation - manuals and photographs were done to maintain the vehicle for operational
use and maintenance, not for use as detailed reference for restoration 75 years later.

Thankfully, many enthusiasts have taken a great interest in this type of motorcycle and documentation has
started to surface for use as reference.

I would like to give great thanks to the webmaster of the wdbsa.nl website for sending the following photos
on this page, to the QuestMasters Museum. He has gone to great lengths to preserving the history of this
model of motorcycle on his website.

QuestMasters has analyzed each photo below and added the comments for noteworthy changes in paint and
finish types. During WWII, the BSA factory used cadmium plating for the finish of their bolts and hardware,
unlike the United States which predominately used "raven" or grey phosphate finish. The cadmium finish was
a dull silver, as opposed to the yellow/orange finish that also exists in this chemical finish. It can closely be
compared to a non-bright zinc finish.

As the war progressed, unpainted components were painted and the overall British Standard 298 Olive Drab  
paint on the motorcycle went from a semi-gloss finish to flat finish. These changes were done during British
War Department contract changes with BSA and as a war material savings for war production. Motorcycles
were not painted completely assembled. Each sub-assembly was painted - then assembled. Subcontractors
provided parts not produced by BSA, therefore, these components were integrated later in the motorcycle
production assembly line.

Identification codes to arrow colors below: red arrow, cadmium or natural finish, unpainted; green arrow,
hardware painted the same color as the motorcycle; blue arrow, variation in color scheme.
1941/1942 BSA M20 Hardware, above photo.
Shown here are a large batch of freshly delivered British BSA M20's in Australia. The registration number on the fuel tank is
for the Australian Army. The 8" Lucas DU 142 Headlight identifies these motorcycles as 1941 or early 1942 production
motorcycles. These motorcycles also have the early rubber handlebar grips and rubber gas tank pads, which would be deleted
mid-war, for material use elseware. Noteworthy are the hardware finish types, marked here as follows: red arrow, cadmium or
natural finish, unpainted; green arrow, hardware painted the same color as the motorcycle; blue arrow, variation in color
scheme. Note: The 8" Lucas DU 142 Headlight shown here has two differently painted Black-Out Masks over the lens. One
style is black with natural attachment hardware and one type painted olive drab with olive drab hardware.
These motorcycles all have rear seats and longer luggage racks.
1941/1942 BSA M20 Hardware, above photo.
Shown here is a second photo in a series, of a large batch of freshly delivered British BSA M20's in Australia. Noteworthy in
this photo is the British "C" registration number, which has been chemically removed, but a portion of the "C" remains. The
right blue arrow shows the black rectangle background of the Australian registration number, which has been hand applied,
not sprayed, with drips of paint running down the fuel tank.
Also noteworthy are the 8" Lucas DU 142 Headlight Black-Out Masks in olive drab and black paint.
In the center/rear of the photo, several of the BSA M20's have not had their British Registration Number painted over yet. They
are BSA M20 Serial Number 49533 Registration Number C4559042, which has a black painted Black-Out Mask and near the wall
BSA M20 Serial Number 51525 Registration Number C4561034 and BSA M20 Serial Number 52454 Registration Number
C4561963.
These motorcycles all have rear seats and longer luggage racks.
BSA M20 Serial Number 30775 Registration Number C4347367 Hardware, above photo.
Shown here is BSA M20 Serial Number 30775 Registration Number C4347367 with 8" Lucas DU 142 Headlight without
Black-Out Mask, early rubber handlebar grips and rubber gas tank pads - which would be deleted mid-war, for material use
elseware. Also shown are the early style foot rests. Noteworthy are the hardware finish types, marked here as follows: red
arrow, cadmium or natural finish, unpainted; green arrow, hardware painted the same color as the motorcycle.
This motorcycle does not have a rear seat, but rather the early style luggage rack.
BSA M20 Serial Number 30775 Registration Number C4347367 Hardware, above photo.
Shown here is the other side of BSA M20 Serial Number 30775 Registration Number C4347367. Noteworthy are the hardware
finish types, marked here as follows: red arrow, cadmium or natural finish, unpainted. The tool box has the early style closing
latch and there appears to be a cardboard parts tag still attached just in front of the seat spring.
This motorcycle does not have a rear seat, but rather the early style luggage rack.
BSA M20 Serial Number 33382 Registration Number C4349974 Hardware, above photo.
Shown here are a large batch of freshly delivered British BSA M20's. BSA M20 Serial Number 33382 Registration Number
C4349974 is shown in the front left, as well as C4350086, C4350011 and C4350047. The hardware finish on these motorcycles
is consistent with the previous photos on this page, but what is different is the Lucas DU 142 Black-Out Mask without visor,
marked with a blue arrow. This blackout mask appears to be painted black inside of the headlight rim.
This motorcycle does not have a rear seat, but rather the early style luggage rack.
BSA M20 Serial Number 37766 Registration Number C4354358 Hardward, above photo.
Shown here is BSA M20 Serial Number 37766 Registration Number C4354358 which is very similar to BSA M20 Serial Number
30775 Registration Number C4347367 shown previously. The hardware finishes are consistent with previous early
motorcycles, shown here with a red arrow, cadmium or natural finish, unpainted. The blue arrow shows the change from the
early foot rest to the solid cast style used throughout the rest of wartime production.
Also on this motorcycle, the tire tread style has changed. Previous tire styles had a "V" on the sidewall profile, this tire has an
"I" completely around the sidewall.
This motorcycle does not have a rear seat, but rather the early style luggage rack.
BSA M20 Serial Number 37766 Registration Number C4354358 Hardward, above photo.
Shown here is another photo of BSA M20 Serial Number 37766 Registration Number C4354358 which is very similar to BSA
M20 Serial Number 30775 Registration Number C4347367 shown previously. The hardware finishes are consistent with
previous early motorcycles, shown here with a red arrow, cadmium or natural finish, unpainted. The left blue arrow shows the
early style kick start lever remains, the middle blue arrow shows change from the early foot rest to the solid cast style used
throughout the rest of wartime production and the right blue arrow shows a black painted steel valve cover with natural
hardware.
Also on this motorcycle, the tire tread style has changed. Previous tire styles had a "V" on the sidewall profile, this tire has an
"I" completely around the sidewall.
This motorcycle does not have a rear seat, but rather the early style luggage rack.
BSA M20 Serial Number 52778 Registration Number C4562287 Hardware, above photo.
Shown here is BSA M20 Serial Number 52778 Registration Number C4562287 which has consistent hardware finishes on
previous early motorcycles, shown here with a red arrow, cadmium or natural finish, unpainted. The blue arrow shows the
black painted Black-Out Mask on the smaller Lucas DU42 Headlight. The green arrow shows hardware painted the same color
as the motorcycle.
Also on this motorcycle, the tire tread style has changed to the earlier tire styles that had a "V" on the sidewall profile, instead
of the "I" completely around the sidewall.
This motorcycle has a rear seat and later longer style luggage rack.
BSA M20 Serial Number 86963 Registration Number C5120363 Hardware, above photo.
Shown here is BSA M20 Serial Number 86963 Registration Number C5120363 in the foreground, which is slightly out of focus.
Also shown are BSA C5120658, C5120508 in the foreground and C5120650 on the ramp in the background. Although blurry,
some of the hardware finishes are present. The red arrow is cadmium or natural finish, unpainted. The green arrow shows the
mud guard or fender hardware painted the same color as the fender and the girder adjustment knob also painted. The blue
arrow shows the introduction of the canvas grips replacing the earlier rubber grips. The rubber gas tank pads have been
deleted at this point in production.
Also on this motorcycle, the tire tread style is the earlier tire styles that had a "V" on the sidewall profile, instead of the "I"
completely around the sidewall.
This motorcycle has a rear seat and later longer style luggage rack.
BSA M20 Serial Number 114111 Registration Number C5554811, above photo.
This factory photo shows BSA M20 Serial Number 114111 with several other motorcycles including Registration Number
C5554744. Although the photo is not clear enough to show hardware finish colors, it shows the completely black painted
Lucas DU42 Black-Out Mask and the introduction of the Vokes Air Filter mounted on the top of the fuel tank.
BSA M20 Serial Number 114127 Registration Number C5554827, above photo.
This well-known factory photo shows BSA M20 Serial Number 114127 with several other motorcycles. The headlight bolts, red
arrow, are natural finished and not painted. The fuel tank cap, handlebar controls and speedometer hardware are also natural
finished. The axle nut, blue arrow, appears to be over-painted. The paint does not match the rest of the motorcycle, and may
have been painted a darker green or black after assembly. Note that the added paint has gotten onto the bottom of the girder
forks as well.
BSA M20 Serial Number 114134 Registration Number C5554834, above photo.
This factory photo shows BSA M20 Serial Number 114134 with several other motorcycles. Although the photo is not clear
enough to show hardware finish colors, it shows the completely black painted Lucas DU42 Black-Out Mask and the
introduction of the Vokes Air Filter mounted on the top of the fuel tank.
BSA M20 Serial Number 116183 Registration Number C5556883, above photo.
This factory photo shows BSA M20 Serial Number 116183 with several other motorcycles being readied for crating. Although
the photo is not clear enough to show hardware finish colors, it shows how the M20 was partially disassembled for crating.
The mudguards, or fenders, hanging in the rear of the photo have a considerable amount of sheen to the paint.
The BSA M20 produced during WWII was painted in British Standard 298 Olive Drab. This paint is readily available in the United
Kingdom. In the United States, there is not a vendor that has this paint pre-mixed. TCP Global was used to match and mix the
correct BS 298 OD, above left photo. Even though the paint was made in flat, when sprayed, it had a very light sheen.
A flat clear-coat was sprayed over the TCP Global paint. This flat clear-coat was produced by Big Brain, above right photo.
The results of both products produced a exact replica of the British Standard 298 Olive Drab used by BSA during WWII.
BRITISH STANDARD 298 OLIVE DRAB: