Registration plate info

Vince, at the time that your TRW was in military service, it would have had a military reg number and not appear in local records. Something like 12 AA 99. It would have received a civilian registration if it was sold off, but I can't imagine why a bike only a few years old would have been 'struck off charge'

Graeme, that's interesting about the space being important on the search function. Legally speaking, a change of vehicle colour has to be notified in the UK. I was never that fussy but I have three fuel tanks in different colours.

79x100 said:

Graeme, that's interesting about the space being important on the search function.

Click to expand...

RPK 733R worked OK with the space for me (and I doubt it affects the DVLA search either way, or the use of upper/lower case).

Vehicle enquiryThe enquiry is complete.

The vehicle details for RPK 733R are:
Date of Liability 01 10 2008
Date of First Registration 16 06 1977
Year of Manufacture Not Available
Cylinder Capacity (cc) 828cc
CO2 Emissions Not Available
Fuel Type PETROL
Export Marker N
Vehicle Status Unlicensed
Vehicle Colour BLACK
Vehicle Type Approval Not Available

Click to expand...

GRM 450 said:

"RPK733R" it showed 16-6-77 and showed it was a Black Norton that was not re registered in 2008.

Click to expand...

Not re-registered as such, the "Date of Liability" was the date the vehicle should have been re-taxed, (therefore it is marked as "Unlicensed") if it had still been in use on the road in the UK.

Thanks for the link to the DLVA site LAB.
It's interesting to be able to see the registration information on my bike in the UK.
I have all the original documents, reciepts and the service paperwork from its first purchase. Then all the records of its life since then. All very interesting and worth keeping and adding to as I spend money on it.
Maybe for a future buyer?
Graeme

An update to my post about my plate and where my Norton came from:

I found some paperwork I’d forgotten I had. It shows that my 850 was sold new as a “Norton Roadster (Black) IIA” for 755 pounds on May 7, 1974 (yeah, 38 years ago yesterday) from Page Motors at 42-45, Polwarth Crescent, Edinburgh, EH11. So although I’m sure there is a logical and mundane reason, I’m wondering why a bike sold from a shop in Scotland was issued a “GO” plate indicating SW London?

I’ve got to admit I was tickled to find these papers since I always wondered about the bike’s true history before it came to the US. I couldn’t find anything about Page Motors itself, but if you google the address and go to street level you find a building that just screams “old motorcycle shop”. If you imagine the renovated façade gone, you have large openings that were just made for plate glass windows or garage doors and the entire curb area in front is a driveway taper to the street. (Besides, it’s just across the intersection from the Polwarth Tavern and why wouldn't you open a bike shop there?!)

Does anyone have any knowledge of the business or the location?

I also found the air waybill from British Airways. He paid 157.05 pounds to ship the bike from Edinburgh, via Glasgow and London, to Boston and a further $90.05 (5% of a stated value of $1711) customs fee in the US. I always assumed it came in to NY.

Not of much interest to anyone but me I suppose, but examining the street view of the place while also looking at the Norton in my sunroom, I can almost hear it idling outside that building on the sidewalk, waiting to go.

Hello VintAge,

Just got back from Cadwell park race circuit watching one of your fellow Americans on a Minnovations bike, great time.

Does anyone have any knowledge of the business or the location?

Click to expand...

I live in EH10, my first Flat (me thinks you probs. call it an appartment) was in EH11, I bought my second bike from Page. Once I have dried out (from the rain at Cadwell, Not the drink!!!!!!! :mrgreen: ) and got some sleep I will come back to you.

Best

McVic

VintAge said:

I found some paperwork I’d forgotten I had. It shows that my 850 was sold new as a “Norton Roadster (Black) IIA” for 755 pounds on May 7, 1974 (yeah, 38 years ago yesterday) from Page Motors at 42-45, Polwarth Crescent, Edinburgh, EH11. So although I’m sure there is a logical and mundane reason, I’m wondering why a bike sold from a shop in Scotland was issued a “GO” plate indicating SW London?

Click to expand...

Yes, very strange, especially as we know OGO 820M was purchased from Elite Motors, London SW17.

The only explanation I can come up with is that export registrations were only issued by a certain number of vehicle licensing offices or perhaps only one office?

One possible clue to that theory is the entry on the "log book" of OGO 820M at top left, where the registration mark has been entered under: "FOR COMPLETION BY THE MANUFACTURER BEFORE DELIVERY" along with "Date of delivery: 9/5/74" (9th May 1974) which suggests these export machine registrations were already allocated before they left the factory and not at the point of sale by the dealer which was the usual way vehicle registrations were issued.

Dave Swanson said:

Click to expand...

L.A.B. said:

79x100 said:

'SAH' was used up to December 1954. That seems early for demob of a TRW.

Click to expand...

It seems odd for a White Helmet TRW to have a Norfolk registration, as the White Helmet display bikes were specially prepared by the factory, and period photos show new 1957 White Helmet TRWs complete with Warwickshire (UE) registration numbers. What is also slightly strange is that the WH bikes had civilian registrations instead of And, for those that may not know who the White Helmets are: http://www.army.mod.uk/signals/display/1302.aspx
http://www.whitehelmets.co.uk/

Click to expand...

I believe that they did have military numbers.
When decommissioned they would be re registered for selling to the general public.

mcvic750 said:

I live in EH10, my first Flat (me thinks you probs. call it an appartment) was in EH11, I bought my second bike from Page. Once I have dried out (from the rain at Cadwell, Not the drink!!!!!!! :mrgreen: ) and got some sleep I will come back to you.

Click to expand...

That's great McVic, looking forward to it!

L.A.B. said:

Yes, very strange, especially as we know OGO 820M was purchased from Elite Motors, London SW17.

The only explanation I can come up with is that export registrations were only issued by a certain number of vehicle licensing offices or perhaps only one office?

One possible clue to that theory is the entry on the "log book" of OGO 820M at top left, where the registration mark has been entered under: "FOR COMPLETION BY THE MANUFACTURER BEFORE DELIVERY" along with "Date of delivery: 9/5/74" (9th May 1974) which suggests these export machine registrations were already allocated before they left the factory and not at the point of sale by the dealer which was the usual way vehicle registrations were issued.

Click to expand...

Thanks LAB! If correct, that could explain it. Now that I have the PO's name and address of record in the states, I'm going to try to find him to see if he can shed some light. He was a friend of one of my best friends but I never met him (he gave a power of attorney to our mutual friend to sell it for him) and I had forgotten his name. I know he was working at or attending the University in Edinburgh at the time but did know he would be taking it back to the states with him, so if he ordered the bike under those conditions it would all fit together - buy it for eventual export after some local use and pick it up at Page where he currently lived?