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Messages - R

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1
Identify these bikes! / Re: L'il Villiers
« on: August 20, 2026, 10:25:53 PM »
I've shown this Waratah here before. It came from the original owner.
He said he bought it from P&R Williams with his army demob pay,
and rode it out home. At 30 mph-ish, it took nearly 2 days.
And a few petrol coupons.

Healing frame is out in the sunlight - where is this number
Might need some sandpaper.

2
Identify these bikes! / Re: L'il Villiers
« on: August 17, 2026, 12:14:58 AM »
Well saved - thankyou.

This is the PowerHouse Museums postwar example, for comparison.
About identical to mine - except my (original) tank has a much finer gold pinstripe.
(as I suspect that 1939 should have ?)



Edit. Hmmm, how do I make the pic appear smaller - no auto resizing here ?

3
Identify these bikes! / Re: L'il Villiers
« on: August 16, 2026, 10:45:09 PM »
Sale has ended.
Price realized $1000

So unless we hear from the new owner, the frame number has eluded us.

4
Identify these bikes! / Re: L'il Villiers
« on: August 08, 2026, 03:14:00 AM »
It wasn't unknown for the frames on the bigger bangers to break either !
They should really have had a reinforcing tube inside the weak points - but didn't do so.
It was with a sigh of relief that the industry moved to all welded frames mid 50s (mostly).
In fact, postwar Waratah frames had some of the fixtures welded on, rather than lugged.
Half and half, as it were.

Is there a casting number anyplace on that head lug ?
M&B in Walsall (near Birmingham) supplied a number of the big firms.
And maybe more.
I've got the little "Excelsior the Lost Pioneer" booklet, but it doesn't go into the head lug supplier details !
(nor does any other brand I can think of)
But someone might know...

5
Identify these bikes! / Re: Miller Waratah headlamp bulbs ?
« on: August 06, 2026, 10:37:03 PM »
Does anyone know what the corresponding little bracket in the headlamp body looks like. ?
That would secure the rim to the body.

Might be something L shaped ?  And partly go through a smallish slot in the body.
Never having seen one makes it tricky to find or even fabricate one..
Villiers bullet-like unit, about 5 inches or a shade more, with Miller switch on top.


6
Identify these bikes! / Re: L'il Villiers
« on: August 06, 2026, 10:30:37 PM »
Any news on that front ?
Time is a ticking away....

Meanwhile there has been a bidding frenzy.
4 bids and $600 already

7
Identify these bikes! / Re: L'il Villiers
« on: July 28, 2026, 11:37:45 AM »
Quote from: 33d6 on July 28, 2026, 09:30:49 AM
It had nothing to do with competition,

It never actually occurred to me they might be used for competition.
If someone won a medal in the ISDT, then I'm in awe !!


8
Identify these bikes! / Re: L'il Villiers
« on: July 28, 2026, 02:55:51 AM »
Aye. High pipes was a prewar thing.

If the model you wanted didn't come with them, you could probably order them anyway.
Road trials, of the long distance type were very popular.
And having 'the look" sold very well.
Just watch out for the leg burning potential !

https://cybermotorcycle.com/gallery/norton-1939/images/Norton-1939-Trials-Cat-EML.jpg

https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSz7_Ug88IXC1rM54I8AOpqoBZsFA4uKvPrJxcF8CT6eKAyMSLwdOFkeas9

However, the 1939 Excelsior brochure shows high level exhausts as std fittings on the 125cc Universal, 
so you'd expect the Waratah here to be the same ...

https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/emEAAeSwa3VpZTSD/s-l1600.jpg




9
Identify these bikes! / Re: Miller Waratah headlamp bulbs ?
« on: July 26, 2026, 09:18:45 AM »
Thanks.

Ah, so the headlamp bulb is 6v.
With no markings on it, is there some designation to obtain a new one  ?

AI suggests this could be 15/15W  (if you trust AI)
This LED one does look to have the correct base fitting.
https://www.oro2u.com/media/catalog/product/cache/fcb5851806c6fc4802571d138709ed85/4/4/44-295-led.jpg

I doubt this will ever do much night time running, so just switching on from a 6v battery will suffice to start with.
Constant loss, as it were. Battery charging, I'll work on it ...


10
Identify these bikes! / Re: Miller Waratah headlamp bulbs ?
« on: July 26, 2026, 06:10:36 AM »
Only $30 for a bulb, and $15 postage
Blimey  !!

https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/R-AAAOSwX-Bf7ebG/s-l1600.jpg

Wattage might be too high.
Not sure that the 2 little pins are in the right spot either .....

11
Identify these bikes! / Re: Miller Waratah headlamp bulbs ?
« on: July 26, 2026, 05:58:31 AM »
Hmmm, a bit of scouting around reveals that the parking bulb is a screw in E10 sized torch bulb.
And 3v

https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/MukAAeSw171p8K~t/s-l960.webp

However, there are LED versions of these, and some are rated to 24v
And some rated for AC use

Now for the main bulb

12
Identify these bikes! / Miller Waratah headlamp bulbs ?
« on: July 26, 2026, 05:15:40 AM »
My little Waratah (Excelsior) postwar 125cc needs some headlamp bulbs in its Miller headlamp.
Which looks to be 5" or maybe a bit bigger.
It merely has a switch in the top of it

What voltage are these bulbs ?
I wish to use it with a 6v battery.
(and did I read that the originals powered from the flywheel were 4v ??)
There is nothing marked on the existing bulbs.



Quite a big seeming bulb - with dual filaments
And an itty bitty little screw-in pilot lamp (battery 4.5v dry cell powered.)
What should I be looking for ?



And, the little bolt securing the rim at the bottom has nothing to screw into.
Was there some sort of little bracket through the slot in the headlamp bucket ?
Despite appearances, that is 1/4" cycle thread.
So, what am I looking for ?



Hope someone knows these things ....
Thanks in advance








13
Identify these bikes! / Re: L'il Villiers
« on: July 26, 2026, 04:44:59 AM »
Aha, I did wonder that
It was the 1st one I came across in a random search



There seem to be several versions of that decal ?

That exhaust looks like a real leg burner ??

14
Identify these bikes! / Re: L'il Villiers
« on: July 25, 2026, 11:53:06 PM »
The frame number on my postwar Waratah is vertically on the left side of the steering head.

Prewar Excelsior.
Named Fred !
I can vouch not for its authenticity - 33d6 ?



We see that someone has opened the bidding in that auction...

15
Identify these bikes! / Re: L'il Villiers
« on: July 21, 2026, 01:56:35 AM »
Hmmm, not a whole lot more info  !

https://australia.hibid.com/lot/312716531/original-waratah-barn-find--rare-sydney-made-bike

Lotta minor details are different to my 1945/46

Not sure its even worth that $500 opening bid.
But mabbe being 'rare' will make it worth it ?


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