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: |