Hi, I have accepted 'til recently that my bike is a 1948 model T35 but a recent publication suggested that the last production of T35's occurred in 1947, succeeded in 1948 by the Mark series. I bought the bike in 1999 from the guy that restored it here in South Australia. This guy to my knowledge and belief took pains as a LDMCC member to determine the model and the year of production and this seemed to check out by proximity of frame and engine numbers that he pointed out to me within the LDMCC Machine Register.
The numbers pertaining to my bike are.... (a) frame = T35/S/2962, (b) engine = T35/S/2652 and (c) gearbox = B1861. The motor has domed pistons and semi-spherical combustion chambers and the rocker covers are indented with the Douglas name. I am assured that the cylinders only, ie., not heads and pistons nor rocker covers, were replaced during restoration, the replacement cylinders being sourced in England from what was a stationary auxiliary engine. That the bike is of 1948 vintage appears to be true as the numbers align reasonably close to those listed for 1948 T35's in the LDMCC Machine Register. Tending to confirm the production year is the fact that my original Mark series, I think Mark III, was bought in South Australia during 1949 or very early in 1950 suggesting a 1949 production. As far as I can recollect this had domed pistons as my present bike but I am not entirely certain about this. However, I am certain of my recollection regarding the rocker covers is correct in that these did not have the Douglas name indented.
Would you comment about this please? Are there other features that may help to make a more positive identification of my current bike and quash my doubts? A photo of my bike is available
here.Alwyn