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Bikes using
frame numbers starting with 49 used lightweight Metal Profile (MP)
telescopic forks from 1950
Some very early bikes had WEBB type pressed steel girder forksRoughly 1949~1953/4
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Bikes using
frame numbers starting with H56~H60 used DOT's own leading link forks.
These used a cast link from 1956 until the new version in 1962.
Some bikes still used the Earles forks into 1956
The only machine to use a different code was the road
going Mancunian, it used M56#### for all of its production run, regardless
of year of manufacture |

½ width British Hubs |

Full width Grimeca Alloy hubs circa 1959
British Hubs were used as supplies dictated |
FRAME NUMBERS post 1949 |
Bikes using frame numbers starting with H53
used DOT's own design of Earles Type forks.
NB the standard fork was still the MP type Earles type being the option
Roughly 1953~1954
For 1955 ~1956 the dampers were a single piece chrome cover
Note that frame numbers up to H531121 used a
different head stock bearing later frame numbers
Though you could have specified MP forks instead
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From 1962 an all new frame and forks machine was
introduced, using a modified front forks and spring steel links.
The frame used a square section tube along with round
tube for the forks
nb Very early models did use cast links |

SQUARE FRAME 1962~1968
Though possible to get later square
frames with MP telescopic forks circa 1965 |

MINARELLI trails 1968
These used REH front forks |
First letter of the frame number
A = 1962
B = 1963
C = 1964 etc etc
As in AA 0123
Second letter is a month identifier, but you need to know the code to
work it out.
Best bet is to contact the club and for a fee they will produce
an A4 wp letter listing the bike's credentials
The number is just a serial number
There should also be a letter T for trials or S for Scrambles just
to the left of the main frame number |