Motorcycle Discussions > British Bikes
Watney m/c
mattsccm:
Hello. New to elderly motorcycles so I thought I would start here.
I have acquired a Watney.
http://www.sungreen.co.uk/lydney_forest_of_dean/watts_first_garage.html
Built just down the road. Its the bike in the pic, obtained from a close friend whose father had it for decades before he died. I have all that you can see except the rear rim and the front number plate has been cleaned off . grrrr. It is in big lumps plus some extras eg tank, lighting etc.
Where do I start?
Can't find a frame number and the number on the engine, it's a Blackburne, that I have found looks wrong. DB329. Number on the Burman box is E17 5 or 8 9 . Both turn over and feel fine.
I am hoping that some film of it running turns up with the reg number visible and identifiable people etc. Just may help getting it registered. I am assuming that a log book is long lost.
Expect this to be long winded unless someone points me to a better place !
Cheers, Matt
cardan:
Hi Matt,
If you've got all the parts in the photo, you have a very interesting, and very restorable, motorcycle.
This type of machine is pretty typical of the era. The mostly likely scenario is that Watts would have bought in most of the parts - motor, gearbox, forks, saddle, frame lugs, wheel parts, etc. - and assembled the bike themselves. Probably a bit less likely is that they bought the complete machine from a manufacturer with their Watney brand painted on the tank. Either way, it's pretty sure that few were made.
I have two suggestions: join the Vintage MCC, and find someone local who is familiar with restoring vintage bikes and who is prepared to help you out. The VMCC has a Blackburne Marque Specialist who can provide info about the motor. The Brampton Bi-flex fork, the medium weight Burman gearbox, Brooks saddle, probably British Hub Company hubs etc. are all pretty standard, so the restoration mostly depends on the level of wear and decay.
Don't be in a hurry to pull everything to bits, don't sandblast everything, and avoid powder coating and chrome plating.
Do your research first: found out whatever you can about Watney motorcycles, and also about the bits it is made from.
Plan your restoration: even if you're not going to do it all yourself get a copy of "The Vintage Motorcyclist's Workshop" by Radco.
Above all, enjoy!
Cheers
Leon
cardan:
http://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Watts_of_Lydney
mattsccm:
Thanks
It was an assembly by Watts job. My father is a mate of the current boss there who is searching old records. Only blasting done is to mudguards and front wheel which show signs of black paint on spokes but I don't know if that was original. One tank was blasted and patched but I have the original with the logo very visible if oil stained.
To be honest, if I had a rear rim ( haven't found a source yet) and tyre I could make it into a roller in a day or two. Suspect that it might make sense to check engine has clear oilways etc and I am darn sure that the mag needs work.
The plan is to create a runner before any paint is done and that will be minimal as its only the guards that need it.
Any idea where a frame number might be if at all? Its not where I would expect to find one on either motorcycles or cycles.
cardan:
It may not have a frame number. I guess you've looked in the usual paces: on the saddle lug, on the steering head lug, on one of the engine mount lugs, on the gearbox lug. Almost never on a frame tube.
Leon
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