Frame numbering

[Clinton]

Is this a legit number?
What model would it be?
Alledgedly an A10.
Thanks for any info.

Clinton

[MikPowl]

Hi, The frame number shows up in the Bacon Twins & Triples book as a 1958 swinging-arm A-series frame. CoulD have been an A7 or A7'Shooting Star' (500cc)  or an A10, either the 'Golden Flash', or the 'Super Rocket' (both 650cc) - these all used the 'FA7-' frame number prefix. The engine number would have been completely unrelated to the frame number. The numbering sequence starts from 101 - yours would be number 500 in the series.  Can't see why it wouldn't be a genuine number - what would be the point in faking it?  Records seem to show that it's in the correct place for that year: on the headstock. Any help?

[RogerSB]

Hi Clinton, Looking at your number compared to when it changed to 8522 in 1959 I would say it's 1958. As MikPowl says it could have been for any of the models specified on this chart's heading. If you know the engine number it'll tell you what model.
Rog.

[RichardL]

It is odd that it also has "2458" stamped vertically. I haven't seen or heard of that before. Maybe some P.O. found out the date of manufacture and wanted to include it.

Richard L.

[trevinoz]

Richard, not knowing which country this frame is in, the N.S.W. police bikes had this type of number stamped on the headstock.
It denoted the year and the numbers on the number plate issued by the registration authority.
My 1958 Flash has these numbers on it.
I have found that the owner is in Cairns, QLD.
I would hazard a guess and say that it is originally a N.S.W. police bike.

[Clinton]

Thank you all for the info.

Yes it was the vertical numbers that threw me. Never seen that before
It was a NSW bike and I still have a number plate although the NSW rego draws a blank. No records that far back
The engine cases put it as a rocket then?

Clinton

[MikPowl]

According to Roy Bacon's book your engine was out of a 1959 Super Rocket. So a '58 frame and a '59 engine, but could easily have been an original pair if the frame was made earlier and stored for a while before the bike was assembled.  But if the headstock extra info is correct and it was a '58 police bike then maybe a replacement engine?

[Clinton]

Thank you.