Hitchcocks Forum

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Royal Enfield motorcycle tank motifs 1955-56


More about tank badges really, but some interesting comparisons in bike finishes.



The 1955 catalogue listed the range of motorcycles (and paint colours)as:-



150 Ensign (Maroon)

250 Clipper (olive green)

350 Bullet (Silver-grey Polychromatic)

500 Bullet (Maroon)

500 Twin (Silver-grey)

Meteor 700 (Maroon)



The paint finish for the above consisted of the main colour (listed), but with two others being optional extras. The three colours were olive green enamel, deep maroon enamel or silver-grey polychromatic.







All the models had an "Attractive metal tank motif of modern design" as seen on the Meteor 700 from the 1955 catalogue shown above.



By 1956, things had changed somewhat. The Meteor 700 was now the Super Meteor, the whole range was only available in deep maroon, the other colours having disappeared altogether, but interestingly, all models (except the 150 ensign and 250 Clipper) had a "New attractive plastic tank motif".



So what do we know about these new plastic tank badges? Not a lot, other than they first appeared in the 1956 catalogue. Oh, and they were generally coloured as per the pic below.






This is the modern one, but I guess it looks the same as the originals.



But now comes the mystery. I have now come across three sightings of the above tank badges, but in two other colour schemes. These are the 'Maroon' badges. Was there a period of experimentation at RE, as they tried to decide the best colour combination for the new badge? With the whole range of motorcycles changing to maroon at that time, a similarly coloured tank badge might well have been produced. One example (shown below) has a maroon surround, with 'Royal Enfield' in gold, which is a complete reverse of the usual tank badge. Looking closely, the gold looks to have been hand added, which was often the case in prototypes, Could this badge be one of them?






One of a pair.




Having received more info from Mark M (Thanks Mark.) I went looking for 1956 Burgundy bullets, in search of more evidence of maroon tank motifs. Look what popped up!









Above, a 1955 Super Meteor (or 700 Meteor depending).


Clearly a different variant, this also has red (or faded maroon?) lettering, as well as the surround. Does this badge indicate another version that was tried out in the early days of these tank motifs?We all know that bikes tend to change over the years, sometimes making restoration quite a challenge if you are trying to get it back to original, but could the tank motifs on the bike above be correct for it? Certainly, the name change for the bike was between the 1955 an 56 catalogues, as was the introduction of the plastic tank badges and maroon only colour scheme, and this would be the most likely time that experimentation on the tank badge colouring would have taken place, before settling on the gold surround version we know so well today!



If anybody knows more, or has any of these maroon motifs, please let us know what colours they are. It would be interesting to see if there are any more variants.












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Shown here for comparison









Tabellarius de verbis ostensor gaudium



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Guys, should I try submitting all this junk that I write to "The Gun", or would they just laugh???





Send your ideas on a post please!

I think they would find some of it very interesting. If some made the magazine I'm sure you would get more information back on subjects like this as there is a lot of members experience of older models.

Not much help, but I once acquired a red type tank badge. It came with some spairs when I bought a 1960 350 Bullet. There was only one, so thinking I'd never find another I sold it on e bay for 99p! I then bought two repo ordinary ones. Just out of interest, that late type Bullet was actually a reimport from India and had been originally sent to Madras Motors in 1960

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In one of those typical "Falling over the stable door, before the horse had bolted it" type situations, I made a "assumption" cock-up!



Those maroon badges above with the gold writing? Well, now that they have arrived here, I have discovered that the writing is not gold. It is; in fact; not anything, as the crown, lettering and the three 'dots' below are just clear plastic, never having been painted. I was misled by the auction photos which must have been taken with the badges sitting on a gold or yellow background.



So, having finally arrived... Let's take a look.






Silhouette, showing the transparent areas.














Showing the areas where the silver (and red) have settled on the unmasked edges. I assume the different colours had their own masks, so that the spray would only go where it was wanted. this would explain the perfect edges to the unpainted areas.







The Maroon and Gold side by side for comparison.






The mouldings really are the same, but a little hard to see the profile of the transparent letters.






We get a better idea here.








Maybe it was left transparent, to allow the comparison of different background colours, without having to keep painting a new one for each?




Who knows? But there was one last thing I needed to do. I had promised Kevin, and I was not about to let him down. I took off the gold motifs and very carefully, installed the maroon ones, just finger tight. Kevin posed for a few photos, but as I did not want to risk possible damage by tightening the screws up, there was no way that Kevin was going to 'take them for a ride'.



The result was stunning!
















Compare above and below. Personally, I think the maroon badges have the edge on this colour bike!












This leaves me with two trains of thought. The first is a wish to have some copies of the maroon badges made so that I can put them on Kevin without having the worry of possible damage to what may well be a pair of prototype motifs. The second thought is that i should try to remember not to wear ridiculously short French army shorts, when taking pictures that contain chrome reflective surfaces!


Mr H, would it be practical to make some of these, or have them made (with gold or possibly red letters)?

Well I've just been looking at our hosts used spares and, low and behold there, is one. Look at 'petrol tanks' and then '56/57 bullet/twin tank' That tank looks to have one red, one gold. Maybe Mr H might be persuaded to part with it? Pity I didn't keep my single one, you could have made a pair, but it was about ten years ago.

Wow Chris, well spotted.



I am going to have to wait until next week, have to rush out.

anyone else maybe just happen to have one or two sitting in their shed, waiting for a maroon Meteor Minor to claim it?