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| Royal Enfield motorcycle frame for sale on eBay. |
I didn't expect there to be a literal connection, however. There is.
An old Royal Enfield motorcycle frame, for sale on eBay in Arkansas, displays the initials M&B stamped into the headstock. The frame number 3054 is stamped next to it.
To Graham Scarth, chairman of the Royal Enfield Onwers Club UK, the number 3054 identified the frame as having belonged to a 1955 Indian Trailblazer made by Royal Enfield. The club has the original factory records.
Graham is no stranger to the "M&B" mark, either.
"M&B are the initials of Mason & Burns Ltd., suppliers of malleable castings (such as the headstock) to Royal Enfield," Graham told me.
"Mason & Burns Ltd., Moat & Cyclops Foundries, Pleck Road, Walsall is the full entry in the Royal Enfield suppliers list records."
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| Small Mason & Burns anvil. |
These anvils come up for sale occasionally, and at least some of the anvils are stamped with the firm's location on Pleck Road, Walsall.
That puts M&B in the Midlands, not far from Redditch, original home of Royal Enfields.
Royal Enfield: Made Like an Anvil?
Nice story; especially for parts wonks that absolutely have to know every supplier, what they made and when.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed this one. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteRoyal Enfield: Made Like an Anvil?
ReplyDeleteOnly when it won't start !!!
ReplyDeletei worked at Masson & Burns from the age of 16 years old, my father was a grinder bobbing the ends off the castings.
He got me a job in the maintenance dept where I worked repairing the plant etc until I left ages 18 and 9months.
Great days learnt so much and turned from a boy into a man
I'm From Odisha,India
ReplyDeleteMy uncle is having a 1955 350cc Spring Frame chassis which has a clear M&B stamping.I complete agree with the above statement.M&B chassis is one of the stronest frame ever made
Regards