Classic Bike ID required - Triumph?

[Eddieb]

Hi knowledgeable KB folks

Can anyone ID this old Bike, it's believed to be a Triumph looking at the sweep under the logo. Those more knowing than I can probably tell just from the engine case shapes etc.

Both pics have the same plate so it's assumed to be the same bike, though there are modifications between the pictures. The rear guard is shorter in the front on pic for example.

The pictures were most likely taken in Hamilton or Cambridge around 1950 and the rider used to be a member of a/the Hamilton Motorcycle club.

[Road kill]

Yeah it's a Triumph.

Will consult "the book" an find out more.

[Road kill]

Looks like a 1950 Thunderbird,,,but the front end ain't right,,,which means not much I guess.

The bike behind him has the right front end,,,maybe he nicked it.:scratch:

[Eddieb]

Thanks Roadkill. Apparently he had his own garage/workshop in Hamilton where he serviced vehicles so he was mechanically inclined.

[Motu]

It's a rigid non sprung hub Triumph, the forks are right, but no guard or headlight. It could be a 500 or 650, hard to tell without a closer look. One thing I can't see is the pushrod oil drain pipes....

[Paul in NZ]

Its not a Thunderbird.

No 650 had a chrome panelled tank and they initially came with nacelles.

Looking at the first picture you can see the 'ears' on the top fork shrouds (means no nacelle) and a bracket mounted speedo. I think the last Triumph of the era that had that and the chrome panelled tank was the 48'??? Given the colour is dark and obviously not silver its probably Aramath Red so its either a 47 or 48 5T or Speed twin... Icon of it age.....

[James Deuce]

Its not a Thunderbird.

No 650 had a chrome panelled tank and they initially came with nacelles.

Looking at the first picture you can see the 'ears' on the top fork shrouds (means no nacelle) and a bracket mounted speedo. I think the last Triumph of the era that had that and the chrome panelled tank was the 48'??? Given the colour is dark and obviously not silver its probably Aramath Red so its either a 47 or 48 5T or Speed twin... Icon of it age.....

Neeeeeeeeeeeeeerd!

[Blackbird]

Eddie,
I have a workshop manual covering all Triumph twins from 1945 through to the early 60's. there's a photo of a 1951 500 which has all the right components so this might be an option too. The only difference is that it has Siamese pipes as the photo is the TR5 version of the Tiger 100. The fuel tank paint job is identical to your photos. I had a 1955 T100, but they had full rear suspension by then.

Hope this helps,
Cheers,
Geoff

[Paul in NZ]

It's a rigid non sprung hub Triumph, the forks are right, but no guard or headlight. It could be a 500 or 650, hard to tell without a closer look. One thing I can't see is the pushrod oil drain pipes....

Thats because for a very short while they deleted them and had internal drains into the pushrod tubes. Last year for that was 1948 I think.... Dunno why they didnt stick with it...

[Paul in NZ]

Neeeeeeeeeeeeeerd!

Yup! Bike next to it has a nacelle which means the photo was taken 49 or later

However the main bike is interesting because it should have a ribbed front tyre as stock! (THAT makes me a nerd) So its been changed out or worn out.

Its also had the mufflers removed and the read guard bobbed

[Eddieb]

Looking at the first picture you can see the 'ears' on the top fork shrouds (means no nacelle) and a bracket mounted speedo. I think the last Triumph of the era that had that and the chrome panelled tank was the 48'??? Given the colour is dark and obviously not silver its probably Aramath Red so its either a 47 or 48 5T or Speed twin... Icon of it age.....

So something like this. This is apparently a 1946 5T Speed Twin.

271465

[Motu]

Thats because for a very short while they deleted them and had internal drains into the pushrod tubes. Last year for that was 1948 I think.... Dunno why they didnt stick with it...

Yeah, I've seen the heads without drain pipes, but couldn't remember when they did that.

[Paul in NZ]

More like this (scroll down to the 47 with no oil drains)

http://www.theworldofmotorcycles.com/vintage_motorcycle_triumph.html

That makes it a 47 then...

[Paul in NZ]

Second photo is the interesting one. Hes wearing battle dress which was relatively common just post war OR he could still be serving. The bike also has a chrome number plate/tail light which means he knew someone who worked at the railways workshops ;-)

[Eddieb]

More like this (scroll down to the 47 with no oil drains)

http://www.theworldofmotorcycles.com/vintage_motorcycle_triumph.html

That makes it a 47 then...

Ok, you've lost me. Not being that familiar with old Trumpys I'm not sure where the oil drains are to spot the difference.

[Paul in NZ]

From the head (front and back) to the pushrod tubes joining about the middle of the cylinder. Everyone chromes them - they were not chromed from the works

[Eddieb]

Cheers, got that now.

[James Deuce]

He's this scary encyclopedia that needs a jolly good download. The ghost of Edward Turner demands it.

[jellywrestler]

He's this scary encyclopedia that needs a jolly good download. The ghost of Edward Turner demands it.

rego plates of that style were used 1946-1951, they didn't have stickers so changed them every few years

[Eddieb]

Thanks everyone. It's a bike keen friends grandmother and grandfather and she's interested in any info gleaned from the photo.

[SPman]

Yup! Bike next to it has a nacelle which means the photo was taken 49 or later

However the main bike is interesting because it should have a ribbed front tyre as stock! (THAT makes me a nerd) So its been changed out or worn out.

Its also had the mufflers removed and the read guard bobbedIt looks like he was racing or sprinting. Tracks were not as we now know them........

[Eddieb]

Just found out an update from another family member.

It turns out they got engaged in 1949 and he sold the bike to buy her engagement ring so that pins the picture to about 1948-49. He bought another bike a few years later.