torquewrench wrote:One major problem is that the 100,000 frame number series is confusing.
Tessera shows - 100,001 to 108,772 from January to October 1959.
Davies shows - 100,001 to 103,261 in 1959 and 103,262 to 107,464 in 1960.
BLA shows - 100,001 to 108,773 in 1959.
So Tessera and BLA are pretty much in agreement, and Davies numbers are very different.
Then, Tessera and BLA show 200,001 to 203,260 or 203,261 from October to December 59.
As you say, if you have a 106*** without the rib, then Tessera and BLA numbers appear to be incorrect.
It would be interesting to know if we have any owners with frame numbers in the 103,261 to 104,000 range without the rib.
There is clearly something curious when Davies says 103,261 as the last 59 machine, and the others say 203,261 as the last 59 machine.
Hi, I'm just tagging onto this thread (and am new to this so hope I have done this correctly!) as I appear to have a TV 175 Series 2 which is inside the time and frame numbers for being a "ridgeback" but there is absolutely no sign of any "ridge" or "Rib". I noticed there was quite some debate about frame numbers and whether or not Innocenti actually recalled machines for strengthening or not. There also seemed to be some discrepancy as to when the second series 200,001 actually started Late '59 or '60?
My original English registered TV 2 has a frame number 104917 and as I said it definitely has no ridge. All numbers are clear. I also have the green V.E. 60 continuation logbook. The logbook is very clear that this machine was first registered on 4th August 1959. So, unless I've misunderstood the various comments by "torquewrench" and others, then there are indeed some errors in the various data resources records.
Davies states that 1959 production finished with 103261. My 1959 machine being 104917 and first registered in England in August 1959 appears to show this must be wrong?
Also, I think if 104917 has no rib, perhaps this confirms or adds weight to the idea that there must have been a recall? It looks to me as 104917 must have been sent out for sale and registration in June/July 1959 but was never recalled for the cutting and rib welding?
I'd be grateful for any thoughts on this from people who are more expert than me. I am currently very carefully restoring this bike with an original Bambini Sidecar and I'd like to get it as correct as possible. Most of it is original and it is clear that it was Oriental Yellow, but I'm not too sure about the colour of some of the rubbers. Is it correct to have all grey cables and rubbers, with a cream rear light rubber, grey footbrake, grey handgrips and black stand feet and black kickstart rubber?
I hope my post and the fact that I appear to have a 104,000 range without the rib is useful in this debate.
Regards
Mark