I'm still deciding how much I want to spend on this project: do I do it "right" regardless of cost, or shall I cut a few corners and save some money? For instance, I have in my garage a perfectly good mid-30s hinged Ariel toolbox with the thumbscrew in the corner...but for '38, it should be the removable toolbox lid with the thumbscrew in the centre. Purist would notice...and would it bother me every time I look at the toolbox? Probably!
I used to buy all my new mudguards from Pete Lovett at Renovation Spares but since Pete retired and sold the company, it's not been quite the same. So I thought I'd buy a set of Indian-made ones on eBay. Advertised as girder fork mudguards for the VB, they looked ok. You hear all sorts of stories about the Indian-made tanks, girder forks etc but trying to find someone who has first hand knowledge of their products seems impossible. So I took a gamble and they arrived yesterday --- took about 3 weeks from India to Dorset, and no import duty, and both, including postage for £240.
Having received them, I would rate them 7 out of 10...only really let down by the terrible hinge. But that is something I can attend to, so overall quite pleased with these. Not yet had time to check them with the forks or frame, so we will see....
I will make it as close to the original hinged mudguard on my '35 Cammy...and then use this Indian hinge on my garden gate.
