Panther 1935 Model 50. 1. What Have I done?

In late March 2021 I was busy rebuilding a 1947 Panther Model 70 when I was offered a 1934 M100 for restoration. I just had to accept, perhaps foolishly. Money changed hands! Upon collection there appeared to be less there than I expected but I went ahead anyway and duly took the spoils back home.

Upon arrival

Fuel tank

Primary chaincase

As the photos show it was really the bones of a bike, but what bike? The engine Commission Number is F5046. Referring to Barry Jones' excellent P&M history F denotes a Model 50 500cc, and the 5 denotes 1935, the 46th heavyweight engine commissioned that year. The engine build number on the magneto platform is A50 2627. Referring again to Barry's book, the engine builder's code A "appears to have never been allocated", yet here it is! So the builder remains a mystery. Certainly 50 refers to a Model 50 500cc, the 2627 shows this engine to be the 2627th heavyweight engine built since September 1931.

The frame number is badly worn but appears to be 10620. This cannot be related to a date as the Panther Owners Club Registrar has no factory records from August 1934 to end of 1936, I have a log book for a 1934 Panther dated 30th May 1934 for frame number 9727. Frame numbers were consecutive for all models except Panthettes from 1924 and production seems to have averaged around 80 per month during that period suggesting eleven months from May 1934, giving April 1935. That is approximate and conjectural. Naturally there are no documents with the bike.

It has been suggested the bike is 1934 as it has the round -sump engine; The Model 100 changed to a finned sump for 1935 models but it appears that the Model 50 retained the round sump until it was discontinued in late 1935.

P&M Catalogue 1935, M100 finned sump,
M60 and M50, round sump.

So what have I actually got? What I haven't got would make a longer list! I have most of a frame, Webb forks (possibly not Panther ones), an engine, a pair of wheels (though the front one looks a bit odd), a primary chaincase (later type), handlebars and controls, a rear lifting loop, fuel tank and a pair of exhaust pipes (new). It also came with a gearbox from a Model 75 and a post-war rigid rear mudguard, (a new pattern one).

I don't have a gear box, a magneto  a dynamo, the battery bracket, a rear stand, engine hangers, footrests, toolboxes, saddle, headlamp, front mudguard, speedo, rear lamp, number plate, rear brake lever, silencers, cables or wiring. I began the long process of assembling the relevant missing parts by digging around in my pile of boxes of Panther bits. I found I had a 30s cylinder head, a suitable rear brake lever, the long engine top hanger, a Chronometric speedo, a saddle frame and an 8 inch headlamp. So I probably paid too much but where do you find another one? (Actually I once bought a pre-war Panther frame with the double down tubes at Netley Marsh Autojumble for £25; those were the days!)

More details before dismantling.

Although busy on the Model 70 I decided to tear this bike apart and reduce it to its component parts. The engine dropped straight out as it was only  held by the three bolts to the engine plates. The frame soon came apart and although many of the bolts looked rusty it all came apart quite easily. I understand the bike had been brought back from Denmark some years ago; the sidecar fitting on the right hand side of the rear frame suggests use on the Continent. The tyres are completely bald, I'm not sure how anyone could have ridden on them in that state although the back one did have some air in it. I took those off and dumped them at the bottom of the garden for now. (How do you get rid of old tyres as the pile is growing?)

I examined the pile of bits in turn, leaving the engine for another day. I do have a 1936 M100 that is original and complete so I have something to compare against.

Main Frame. this looks ok and appears to be unbent. There are no bearing races in the headstock and the frame number is almost illegible.

Chain stays. These unbolt from the main frame. They are bent slightly at the front end and the rear part that carries the rear stand has been cut off on both sides beyond the axle slot. The right hand stay is fitted with a sidecar ball confirming its use on the Continent.

Engine plate. These are both bent slightly at the back end.

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Forks. These look like Webb heavyweight type but do not appear to be Panther, they do not have the large lugs that support the headlight on a Panther nor the tapped holes in the top yoke.  Comparing the girder to that on my 1937 M100 shows that the distance between the two spindles is greater on this fork which will necessitate some spacers on the headstock stem.  The brake anchor on the girder appears to be on the wrong side.. There is a friction damper on each side but the bores on this and on the girder and top yoke appear to be unworn. The top links look to be home made and the spindles are all of mild steel with coarse threads and no hardened washers or means of adjustment. There is no steering damper. and there is only one head race present and no balls. However the fork is not bent and appears eminently usable.

The petrol tank is the correct type which takes the deeply recessed cushion type knee grips. These are unobtainable. The tank is bare, no taps or cap but still has the painted panel which will provide a good reference. It is rusty internally and needs to be checked for leaks.

The handlebars have all the control levers present but everything is quite rusty.

The wheels are rusty but complete. The rear rim is wider than that on the front and the front wheel is fitted with a large gear for a speedo drive.

Front wheel

Speedo drive gear on front wheel.

Rear wheel brake side.

Rear wheel sprocket.

That's the sum of the Cycle Parts, the mechanics can wait for another day. If anyone has any comments, particularly on the forks I'd be glad to read them.

So far, so good. My thanks to Rollo Turner (I think!)