Mystery part

[winchman]

I put this on several forums and I now have two people asking about buying it!
The dilemma, with my sons limited budget it would free up some money for the Model A repairs. But chances are he will never own such an early engine and gear box again, but apart form the expensive bike with the wrong engine etc on Ebay he may never find the rest to build it up, its hard enough with the model A
So should he sell the engine and box?
Split them?
Hang on until he finds the rest?
How much should he ask?

[Rex]

How much money has he got? How much patience and how much time?
I bet there's many people in the old bike world who've got that special part for "that one day in the future" project hidden away under the bench, and many others who will spend their lives waiting for that part to come along.
If the offers are reasonable get it gone and spend the money on something more "achievable", is my advice.

[iansoady]

Mine too. It's very easy to spend years waiting for that elusive part till you end up just getting shot of the whole lot.

[winchman]

Just had a good chat with hime and he is going to think about it for a couple of day but it looks like he will sell any none model A bits, what should he ask for the Gearbox?

[iansoady]

It's impossible to say. If someone is desperate for it, quite a lot. If two people are, the sky's the limit....

I would say that few people manage to break even let alone turn a profit on old bikes.....

[Rex]

He'll want to pay a tenner and you'll want to get a couple of hundred for it, so somewhere between those two points?

[winchman]

Thanks I just hope he has some model A stuff as it would be better to swap for bits we need rather than cash that easily disappears on something else

[Rex]

Yep, swaps are always a better way to go for all concerned really.
Offers to swap seems to work better than offers of cash, I've always found.

[iansoady]

Back in the day, when what are now "classics" were just old bikes, there was a thriving swap scene in Birmingham (and no doubt elsewhere). There always seemed to be someone who had what you wanted, although the transactions sometimes got complicated and involved several participants.

[vintage_keith]

You could put me down as another potential customer!
My wife and I have just bought a 1927 Ladies Model 201a Royal Enfield in need of tlc.
The mrs has got fed up of sitting on the sidelines whilst I tootle off on old bike runs (her Yam Virago doesn't quite fit in a pre 1930 run).
The 2 speed gear is not of interest (but is definitely 225cc 2 stroke variant), as by '26 a 3 speed conventional gearbox had replaced the 2 chain/2 clutch set up (my 1912 350cc v Enfield/motosacoche has one of those, but subtly different to the 2 stroke version).
Once you've decided what bits are not later model A, drop me a pm, I may be able to help with identification.
Going down to Devon to pick up the Ladies model this weekend.
Cheers Keith