Fido
Lovely bike. I see you have the tank with the speedo hole, as fitted to the very first rigid models.Do you know much history of your machine? 8)
You are right. Early 1946/1947 A7's came with this tank. Also early frames for this model were rigid and came with a center stand. I couldn't find an explanation why my frame is a plunger, being number XA7 etc, which also has the center stand (Which I was unable to restore it) . So either was exported as a test frame, o was modified by a previous owner.
A long story short: I bought this bike in my 20's, 1970/71. The frame and engine were completely dismantled, stored in wine boxes in a patio, getting along with chicken and ducks. During the break time in my economics studies, I learned how an explosion motor worked. I was able to put it together, painted military green, and run it for a couple of years. Then the marriage came, also 5 children, and the bike remain at my parent's home.
Three years ago, a boyfriend of my daughter willing to buy a bike, asked me about the brand of mine, and how it looked. So I just googled images for BSA A7, and the page of Erling cropped out.
After viewing Earling's material and reading some stories, my wife asked me: why wouldn't you put your bike on the road again?
Her desires where orders for me, so here we are....
Regards
Fernando