Hi,
I am restoring an early B33 1952 rigid frame (pre-March 52). This specific bike was made during the "chrome restriction" period and had a painted tank, Devon red top & side panels and gold lined. Rims were silver with devon red centres. Now to my questions: Where the red centres on the rims normally also lined gold (as the tank) ? Guess that the tank was silver instead of chrome (except the red fields) ? Anybody having a suitable replacement colour spec for the devon red ? I read somewhere, can not just recall where, that one could get some colour samples from, I think, an Australia company, anybody heard about that ?
Any answers appreciated

Hi Richie,

Sorry I can't answer your question regarding the lining of the wheel rims. However, in my notes I have a modern eqivalent of BSA Devon Red listed as Ford Imperial Maroon code AZ. Beside this information is (GB), so I guess this is telling me that it could be a European colour as opposed to an American colour. At least you have something to check out now and good luck with the restoration.

Beezageezauk.

Thanks for the reply. The Maroon colour was used from 1953 and is quite often being replaced with the, in your mail, referred to Ford Imperial Maroon. However, the red used on earlier models was Devon red which is much lighter & brighter(maroon is almost dark brownish-red). I also have some other replacement colours specs for bikes like A10 -Gold / A7 - Green & Fushia red etc.. BUT, nothing for Devon red so if anybody out there has some good suggestion I would appreciate it,

Hello again Richie,

Sorry about the mix up between the red and maroon!
Do you have a parts list for your bike? If so, check the part numbers for the wheel rims. These part numbers often had a suffix showing the finish codes. The finish code for Devon Red is number 34. Devon Red on Chrome is number 142 and Devon Red on Chrome with Gold Lining is number 12. I don't have the codes for 1952 when the nickle shortage prevented chrome plating, but you might be able to work out the answer as a process of elimination.
Beezageezauk.

Hi and thanks for your reply. I had another look in the parts list but it only gave me 65-6263 without a suffix. However, based on your tip I found in some long forgotten documents a description of the rims and it gave number (12) as the "finish code". Thanks for that, one down and one to go,
Rgds- Richie