Identify Grandad's 1920s Motorcycle

[LHDeYNoR]

Hi, could any of you help identify the motorcycle my grandad's posing on?

We think the side-on photo was taken in 1927, but the other has no date evidence at all. The only other hint is that he lived in Coventry, so it might be a locally-made motorcycle. Or not.

Is the vertical cylinder behind the headlamp something to do with powering the headlamp?

Thanks for any help!

[TGR90B]

That registration number was issued in Worcestershire between Jan. 1904 and Aug. 1921.

[L.A.B.]

Is the vertical cylinder behind the headlamp something to do with powering the headlamp?

Yes.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbide_lamp

https://uwaterloo.ca/wat-on-earth/news/carbide-willson-was-great-canadian-inventor

[R]

Thats an early one - looks like could even be teens. ?

The 1st photo looks like just a slice of an original photo.
Do you have a more complete view you could post. ?

[LHDeYNoR]

Thanks for the information so far!

I did write to the DVLA, but they said they have no information on the registration number in the photo.

The "sliced" photo is as much of the motorcycle as was in the original (which was relatively short and wide). I decapitated grandad and took off the buildings and sky from the top - but that's all there was in the original photo. The second, rather scratchy photo has a more complete view of the motorcycle.

Looking at old photos on google, it seems to look something like the 1910s Norton Classic as at http://www.vintagebike.co.uk/pictures/pre-1912-norton/ - judging by the springs and bends of the front forks and sloping front of the petrol tank. But the mudguards aren't the same (even between photos). But, then, a Triumph H (to my eyes) also has similarities.

[mini-me]

Forget Norton, but it seems to me that the sides of the tank are actually curved, and you can just make out a logo that seems to be 3  letters, BSA is first that comes to mind,but there were others such as AJS, NUT. Not sure either would fit here.

Cycle stem handle bar fitting; rim front brake, I can't see a gear lever so possibly single speeder? A lot of air under that tank which might be a clue. Side valve engine with exhaust held on by a nut. There is a cable running to the timing gear chest [valve lifter?] same as my Sunbeam but I don't think it is a Sunbeam though.

[R]

I've been trying LMC and TDC and AKD, since they almost fit what's on the tank ?
Some years/models these logos were in block letters.
ChaterLea possibly made the frame parts, although it would have been helpful to see lower down,
and the forks are druid.

Any chance of a bigger scan of the tank logo.
If you can zoom in in the scanning, this sometimes makes it quite readable.

?  Wrong tank logo

[LHDeYNoR]

I'm afraid the scan was already at the highest resolution my scanner can manager.

The middle letter looks like a lower case "r" to me.