tank transfers

[Paps]

And even with factory spare parts, design changes have taken place, with no change in the part numbers, as the years passed by. Paps

[pete reeves]

Tim and Paps.

I agree with what both of you say,
Factory photos can not always be relied on to prove what is correct. But you also have to be careful when you use NOS parts as evidence. It’s possible that the spare part was manufactured after the production year. I accept that is possible that the closed end decal was used in 1936/1937 but from the evidence I have seen it’s more likely that 36/37 Harleys had the open front end.

Pete Reeves. 860

[pete reeves]

Tim.
I think that’s probably a Question that Chris can answer with his collection of factory photos. he would prove if they existed and the date on the photo would give an indication when they first started to appear.
The only original bike that I can recall seeing with the filled in section at the front was the 38 wl at the Harley Archive But this could be an early restoration?
The picture of the knucklehead with the filled in section that Flthead posted is interesting Could this be a late 37?
This decal also has a black line at the rear that is not present on the earlier decals
Pete Reeves 860

[flthead]

37 Pic

the pic i posted is of a original paint knuckle ,bike was in oley and davenport . not sure who owns it but could find out

[Chris Haynes]

They all look the same to me.

[pete reeves]

Thanks Chris. This discussion is all about a small black line at the front of the decal.

From the pictures Chris posted it would seem that the open front decal is correct for 1936 and 1937.and that the closed front would be correct for 1938 and 1939. There could be some cross over of decal types between late 37 and early 38.My thoughts are that they adjusted the decal to improve the appearance where the single stripe joins the decal on the 1938 striping scheme

Tim I think the line is on the decal of 1939 gas tank in the last photo but the dark background makes it difficult to see.

Flthead do you know what the engine number was on the original 37?

Pete Reeves 860.

[George Greer]

How about the open lines at the ends like photo 1 and 2 show...(by the H in Harley)

And and closed on photos 3 and 4...

Are they not different??

OR are my eyes getting worse than the doc's say??

George

[Chris Haynes]

How about the open lines at the ends like photo 1 and 2 show...(by the H in Harley)

And and closed on photos 3 and 4...

Are they not different??

OR are my eyes getting worse than the doc's say??

George

Maybe my eyes are bad as I don't see a line on #4.

[exeric]

Does the 1938's gas cap look shorter that the other 3 ?

[Chris Haynes]

Does the 1938's gas cap look shorter that the other 3 ?

If you will notice that is a 45" oil cap, not a gas cap.

[Matthew N. Olse]

My dad and I did a 38 a couple of years ago, and it had original paint tanks with it. These tanks had the black lines at the beginning and end of the tank decal, but they were painted on with a brush. The original paint blue tanks that were on ebay six months ago had the two painted on stripes too. Sorry to add to the confusion guys,

[Chris Haynes]

Speaking of there transfers, who is now making good water soak reproductions? My source has gone away.

[Paps]

Chris...Try "sleeper" over at FHP. He was dupicating transfers. I think he needs a sample to do them though. Paps

[exeric]

"If you will notice that is a 45" oil cap, not a gas cap."


Duh, that explains it.

[Chris Haynes]

[QUOTE=Matthew N. Olse;72733]My dad and I did a 38 a couple of years ago, and it had original paint tanks with it. These tanks had the black lines at the beginning and end of the tank decal, but they were painted on with a brush. The original paint blue tanks that were on ebay six months ago had the two painted on stripes too. Sorry to add to the confusion guys,


No confusion Matt. Good eye.
Bruce and I were looking at 1938 factory photos this morning. It was apparent that the lines on some were wider that others leading us to believe that they were indeed hand painted. The reason for this on 1938's could be the stripe coming out of the center of the transfer.