1939 RH 'R' stamping

[Vincent.vanGinneke]

Or maybe it's just the personal O.K. stamp from the workshop foreman ?
My engine comes from a 1940 VH

[adrie.degraaff]

Or maybe it's just the personal O.K. stamp from the workshop foreman ?

Or the guy who did the work to it so if not good they could sack him, you see the same on HS frames from the man who has taking the luggs off.

[Richard Kal]

You might be onto it Vincent,
A friend who worked in the engine assembly area at BSA told me that the builders all had their individual stampings for the bottom ends.

His trademark was 4 small centre punch marks in the shape of a diamond, on the crankcase of BSA singles.

Richard.

[alan.moore]

Keep the ideas coming chaps.
It would be interesting if anyone with say a 1938 to 1940 VH could have a look and see if you have such a stamping and report back if you have.

If it is an individual assemblers stamping then there should be other letters for different people? or maybe it was just one chap who did it to engines he assembled.

Cheers
Alan

[alan.moore]

Funny they have the same part number. The VA, VB has an extra hole for oil to drain from the tappet area. VA VB VG VH of the period all share the same engine prefix. Nev

Well the parts book does say specify if OHV or SV when ordering so if you wanted one for a SV you got the extra hole....good info Nev

Cheers
Alan

[nevhunter]

I have no idea whatsoever about the "R" on the Ariels. cases.. Military Matchless got extra numbers etc stamped on them every time something was done to them. Interestingly the other day I found a "small" regulator with "LEAD ACID" clearly stamped on it's base. As a mere kid I worked on a Daimler of about 1916 vintage and the crankshaft was drawfiled all over and stamped with the worker's name . A magnificent vehicle with the LARGE gearlever and hand brake lever outside over the running boards Nev

[chris.vredenbregt]

What about the "r" of repaired maybe these engines were overhoaled?

[Brian Petheram]

It would be interesting if anyone with say a 1938 to 1940 VH could have a look and see if you have such a stamping

I have an October 1938 (1939 model) VH which is disassembled enough to confirm there is no trace of an R stamping on any of those locations on my bike. Must be either an individual worker or code for replacement, rebuilt, etc.

[PeterW]

I'm on holiday but pretty sure my 1950 NH350 has an H between the pushrod tubes.

[will_curry]

1939 500 Crankcases with rollers and steel flywheels and the little 'R'.