I have an old photo of my self as a young baby sat on a Triumph Twin M/bike Reg No EBA 631. there was a web site mentioned on this list where one could check the registration date. Any ideas? Regards Bazzer Portchester Fareham Hampshire www.clarkeology.com

The first registration marks were made up of one letter with one number, the first (A1) being issued by London Council in 1903. Later formats were comprised of two letters and four numbers. These series were replaced as and when they were exhausted. So, whilst the Liverpool series KA lasted for only two years between 1925 and 1927, the series SJ was still being issued by Bute Council in 1963. By the mid 1930s, the two letter/four number series of registration marks were exhausted in some areas, and new three letter/three number series were introduced. AAA 1 was issued (by Hampshire County Council) in 1934 through to AAA 999 and the commencement of the BAA series in 1936. This process continued until the mid 1950s when marks were reversed to three numbers/three letters. Between 1963 and 1965 councils began to issue "suffix" registration marks - three letter/three numbers and a year suffix. The registration year ran from 1 January - 31 December until 1967, when the suffix change was moved to 1 August. In 1973 the appearance of registration plates was changed for the first time since 1903. From 1 January, vehicles were required to have reflective number plates - black on white at the front and black on yellow at the back. Reflective plates were introduced so that unlit vehicles could be seen more easily at night. The regulations also provided for the size, shape and character of registration marks. Prefix registrations - 1983 saw the completion of the suffix format of registration marks. and the beginning of the yearly PREFIX series "Q" marks -Also in 1983 Q marks were introduced. These are issued to vehicles of indeterminable age, e.g. kit cars which are built of major components from more than one donor vehicle, or imported vehicles where the date of first registration cannot be established. 1999 Prefix plates now run twice a year http://www.ukcar.com/features/reg_year.htm EB by the way is for Peterborough the A and the numbers are just local and could mean the first cars in the EB area were A1, A2 A631 etc. I have a 500cc Matchless which I changed for an Ariel Square Four 1,000cc!! Later had an Arial Leader 250, went in the army and then bought Hondas! As the old Brit bikes were too expensive in the 70s!! Chris ----- Original Message ----- From: "Bazzer" <baz@baz2000.freeserve.co.uk> To: <HAMPSHIRE-LIFE@rootsweb.com>; <ENG-HAM-PORTSMOUTH-GOSPORT@rootsweb.com> Sent: Sunday, April 01, 2007 12:46 PM Subject: [HAMPSHIRE-LIFE] Moter bike date I have an old photo of my self as a young baby sat on a Triumph Twin M/bike Reg No EBA 631. there was a web site mentioned on this list where one could check the registration date. Any ideas? Regards Bazzer Portchester Fareham Hampshire www.clarkeology.com *************************************** When replying to this message, please spare a thought for your fellow list members, and anyone searching the archives in the future. SNIP everything which is not essential for comprehension or continuity (including the footers which will be put back anyway!) ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to HAMPSHIRE-LIFE-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message --- avast! Antivirus: Inbound message clean. Virus Database (VPS): 000729-2, 03/31/2007 Tested on: 4/1/2007 11:28:11 PM avast! - copyright (c) 1988-2007 ALWIL Software. http://www.avast.com

> EB by the way is for Peterborough the A and the numbers are just local and > could mean the first cars in the EB area were A1, A2 A631 etc. > > I have a 500cc Matchless which I changed for an Ariel Square Four > 1,000cc!! > Later had an Arial Leader 250, went in the army and then bought Hondas! As > the old Brit bikes were too expensive in the 70s!! Thanks Chris, My family were brought up on motor bikes. Dad had bikes all his life. one photo taken in 1931 looks like it had a carbide headlight! (maybe not).It had twin fishtail exhausts one over the other and an oblong tank. He also had a Panther with a double adult sidecar.I remember he nearly broke his leg when it kicked back on him. he was laid up for weeks. There was a knack to kicking it over! My brother's and I have had allsorts, Francis Barnet, Royal Enfield, Matchless G12( with bullet s/car) Triumph T/Bird (also with sports s/car). One brother built his own Triton. My last bike before I retired was a Harley Regards Bazzer Portchester Fareham Hampshire www.clarkeology.com