54 NH no factory records

[Ian.Taylor]

My friends 1954 NH who he inherited from his Father in-law Jock
always claimed this was a factory built rigid with a 2 port head.

The Ariel Club did the Dating certificate recently but it seems frame # KW197 and engine # PB159 are "Not Known"
I know AJS didn't record all their frame numbers, did Ariel also do the same ?
Would there be another explanation ?
Thanks

[Roger Gwynn]

The entry for these numbers is blank in the despatch books. In theory Ariel and I suspect AJS did record all bikes, however employing humans means that sometimes a bike is missed, perhaps the clerk went for a comfort break (unlikely), perhaps the bike was collected direct from the works and was missed, perhaps it was snuck out by a naughty employee. We shall never know.
The numbers are correct for a 1954 rigid NH, I did a bit on these in cheval in the last couple of years when 2 of these turned up in Cyprus, which is where most of them went. It used to be thought that all the singles except the VB and Colt went into s/arm frames but there were 36 rigid NH made with rigid frames. There are 5 recorded in the register, 3 in Cyprus, 1 in Australia and your friend's, presumably in Canada.
I did a dating certificate in 1994 for this bike, name not recorded, your friend's dad perchance?

[Ian.Taylor]

Thanks Rodger
Jock Graham was the last owner. He owned the bike for many many years.
I remember seeing this bike at our National Rally In Paris Ontario since the 90's.
I suspect then it was Jock who asked for a dating certificate

The previous owners name was Frank Malin.

[Roger Gwynn]

Hi Ian,

Thanks for the information on your friend’s bike

Here is the entry from the register at the moment, is this correct?

Date Name Town Country Engine Frame prefix Frame number Engine Frame Original?
Jan 1993 Frank Malin ? Canada PB 159 KW 197 1954 NH 1954 NH Y
Jan 1994 Jock Graham ? Canada PB 159 KW 197 1954 NH 1954 NH Y
Aug 2024 Jock Graham ? Canada PB 159 KW 197 1954 NH 1954 NH Y
Sep 2024 Jock Graham, son of ? Canada PB 159 KW 197 1954 NH 1954 NH Y

[Ian.Taylor]

Thanks again Roger
I've passed the info onto the NH present owner