Hello Al ~ This is a tremendous help. Many thanks for your input. You've not only answered my question about the next serial number plate date change, but also put it in context.
As a "paper engineer", and being involved in publishing, I'm well aware of the book productions limitations that you mentioned. Wouldn't it have been an incredible gift to the collector community to have been able to produce and disseminate as comprehensive a version of the book as the available allowed? Due to printing cost and marketing realities, the end result rarely reflects the work as conceived and developed. I'll print out your detail and put it with my Triumph. Thanks again for this insight and All Best Wishes, Andy On May 2, 2008, at 1:59 AM, ClockworkHome at aol.com wrote: > Greetings Andy: > > When George Frow and I did the first book in 1976 printing costs > were so high > that much was left out and a great many expensive photos were > eliminated. > Such was the more fine dating of early models. Luckily we now have > the Internet > with the ability to share information instantly. > > The Triumph appears to have made the transition from Spring Motor > around > serial 30000. I say around because I have seen a Spring Motor with > a serial of > 29906 and a Triumph A with a serial of 29319. These all have the > last patent > date as May 31, 1898. You won't see the last patent date change to > November 17, > 1903 until around serial number 40000. Your machine is very likely > made in > 1901 since the serial is just 31700. > > I hope that helps. > > Al > > > > > **************Wondering what's for Dinner Tonight? Get new twists on > family > favorites at AOL Food. > (http://food.aol.com/dinner-tonight?NCID=aolfod00030000000001) > _______________________________________________ > Phono-L mailing list > http://phono-l.oldcrank.org
