Sgt. Gordon Davies of 1 Canadian Parachute Battalion on a Welbike MK. I on January 5, 1944. He was apparently working in the Battalion Orderly Room. Canadian DND Army photo 27889 (LAC collection)

The Welbike is a folding miniature motorcycle and is one of the World’s smallest military vehicles. It was invented by Special Operations Executive (SOE) at Welwyn (thus the “Wel” in the name) and they used a few but most were used by airborne troops, by Commandos and by beach assault troops.

To properly identify any military vehicle you need to know the make, model, serial number and military number. With Welbikes you need to distinguish between the post-war Corgi and the war-time Welbike.

Airborne Forces display c1944 - 2 Welbikes — *Airborne Forces display circa 1944 – 2 Welbikes*

British Airborne Forces Display in WWII including two Welbikes.

Mark I Welbike WD # C4658731 in its special container – end-on view. Imperial War Museum photo H27060.

Welbike Mk I in open container C4658731 maybe

Welbike Mark I WD # C4658731 in a special container. Note that it says MOTOR CYCLE on the side of the container. Imperial War Museum photo H27061.

Welbike in container - cross-section view — Welbike in container – cross-section view

Welbike in its special container. Detail – Note that it is not the normal round CLE container.

Two airborne soldiers, one riding and one unpacking, Welbikes during traincing circa 1943.

Training with the Welbike before Nov 18 1943. Note the super rare Sten Mk. II bayonet carried by the man on the right in both photos. These photos are proof that they were issued. Circa 1943-44.

*Airborne soldiers in training, lifting a Welbike over a fence. Man on right is wearing the now rare Sten Gun bayonet for the Mk. II.*

Polish Paratroops equipped with Welbikes and BSA airborne (folding) bicycles. Circa 1943. They are carrying the Sten Mark II (T and Skeleton butt styles) which were replaced by the Sten Mk. V for airborne use by mid-1944.

1943 Pathe news film of the manufacture of BSA Airborne Bicycles and Excelsior Welbikes Mark II:

WELBIKE NUMBERS AND MARKINGS

Vehicle Serial Number

Engine Serial Number

Welbike Mk. II serial number 3839 Engine XXE 4065 on Welbike Mk. II 3839

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Colin Stevens’s first Welbike s/n 1253

Colin Stevens' first Welbike s/n 1253 It had been used by Shriners in parades motorscooter in California, USA. They painted it blue and white. — *Colin Stevens’ first Welbike s/n 1253 It had been used by Shriners in parades motorscooter in California, USA. They painted it blue and white.*

Colin Stevens’ first Welbike Mark II – since sold to another collector

Serial Number: 1253

Engine Serial Number: XXE1463

Engine SN: 1463

War Department Census Number: C5152053 (?)

Second Contract, # S.1649 Ordered 19 Nov 1942 Delivery starting in Feb 1943 at 400 machines per month.

This Welbike was acquired in the Summer of 2006 from Brian Marshall of San Leandro, California. A previous owner had painted it blue with white trim and had the number “14” on the rear fender and on the added siren. It appears that it was used by the Shriners in parades. I would love to have photos and more history on the Shriners’ use of these Welbikes – especially No. 14. Welbike Mk. II SN 1253 as uncrated, August 2006. Note the spare parts that came with it. The seat is not original.

This one was used by the Shriners in California and it is now owned by Brian Asbury in Ontario, Canada. A Mk. II. A third ex-Shriner Welbike is owned by Reg Hodgson in Edmonton. A late Mk. II.

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Colin Stevens’ Second Welbike s/n 3839

Welbike Mk. II s/n 3839, Colin Stevens' second Welbike. — Welbike Mk. II s/n 3839, Colin Stevens’ second Welbike.

It was a very late production Mark II.

Serial Number: 3839

Engine SN: XXE 4065

War Department number (original): C5154639

Third Contract, # S.1946 ordered 27 December 1942 and delivered 400 per month starting in May 1943.

Purchased from Mr. Massacci in Warren, Ohio in November 2006. He found it about 30 years ago when he was demolishing a house. He had the salvage rights and found this Welbike which had been sprayed with oil to prevent rust by a previous owner. The tires have split due to sitting on flat tires, the clutch lever is missing and the dome cover for the air filter is missing. Otherwise it is all there and all original – paint, decals and even the War Department number C5154639.

It arrived in the shipping crate 2006 August with the fantastic help of Brian Asbury of Milton, Ontario.

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Colin Stevens’ Third Welbike s/n 2348

A Welbike Mark II, purchased from Mr. Noel Soulsby in Australia, near Melbourne. The seller inherited it from his Uncle who bought it in new condition war surplus after WWII with the intention of his Aunt using it to drive between the house and the shop a few hundred yards away. Apparently it was used very little. The seller repainted it but left the WD number visible. Now restored and in the Claude Villeneuve Collection in Edmonton, Alberta.

Frame Serial number 2348

Engine SN XXE 2606

War Department: C5153148

Contract:: It has a contract data plate but I do not yet know what that says.

Reference book “From Welbike to Corgi” by Peter Miller indicates that this Welbike was made on Second Contract # S.1649 dated 19 November 1942 for 1,400 Welbikes. 302 of these were boxed for export – likely this was one of those 302. The cost per Welbike on this contract was GBP 26.18.0 (26 pounds, 18 shilllings and 0 pence). These Welbikes were delivered on 16 March 1943.

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WELBIKE PROTOTYPE OR PILOT MODEL

(Owner: Unknown. Sold by George Clark to someone in Holland)

SERIAL NUMBER: 2

ENGINE SN: XXA 23191

WAR DEPARTMENT NUMBER: May never have had one.

For many years it was believed that Bob Coult had the only surviving prototype or pilot model Welbike to survive. Estimates were that 3 or 6 had been made. Evidence now suggests 13 were made before the army contracts.This Welbike was found about 2005-2006 in Oregon at a collectors show. It was painted red, missing the rear wheel, grips, handlebar locking nut and some other items. George Clark recognized it and bought it. Rebuilt by Pat Papworth of Tsawassen, BC, Canada in 2006. Painted green with incorrect British airborne formation sign on one tank. Evidence indicating its prototype or pilot model status:

Distinctive rounded petrol tanks.
Serial number is simply a large ” 2 ” (painted over by chap who rebuilt it)
Round tubes for foot rests
XXA serial number of engine rather than production XXE number.
Front steering column release catch is fore and aft not angled to side as on later production models.
No doubt other differences will turn up.

Does anyone know the serial number of the prototype which survives in England?

NOTE: If you have original Dunlop Carrier tires with your Welbike, KEEP them even if you put modern tires on your Welbike as the original correctly marked tires are no longer available.

REPLICA WELBIKE MANUALS

Rob van Meel

(Groucho Publishing)

Fabriekstraat 10, 5038 EN Tilburg, Nederland

E-mail: rvanmeel (at) wanadoo.nl

Prices in Euros.

EXCELSIOR

100EM1 – 100/EM1 Welbike drivers handbook (30 p.)

101EM1 – 101/EM1 Welbike maintenance manual (37 p.)

43EM1 – 1649/2/1 Welbike spares; C1649 (Frame no’s: 1214-2613) (12 p.)

46VI1 1946 – Villiers Junior-de-Luxe instructions & spares (16 p.)


Maker	Excelsior
Vehicle Model	Welbike (Prototype or Pilot Models, Mark I or Mark II)
Manufacurer's Serial Number (equivalent of today's VIN)	A number stamped into the front of the Welbike e.g. 1253	IMGP5723_edited.JPG (794299 bytes) IMGP5726.JPG (582882 bytes)
Maker's Transfer (decal)	Excelsior decal (transfer) on front under the handlebars.	Welbike&BSA_Polish_Paras_1943-09JPG.jpg (155287 bytes)
Engine maker	Villiers
Engine Model	Villiers "Junior-de-Luxe" 98 cc
Engine Serial Number	Stamped deeply on right sight of the engine. e.g. XXE 1234. One has been seen XXA prefix and another with XX prefix.	IMGP5720_edited.JPG (800700 bytes)
War Department Census Number	In the British Army the number painted on the sides of the gas (petrol) tanks for identification was called the War Department (WD) Census Number. The WD number starts with a "C" for Motorcycle. e.g. C5152014	Welbike Mk. I showing WD number on tank at an 1943 R.A.O.C. Display of Airborne Forces' equipment. Welbike MkI C4658506 maybe - Airborne Display 1943 RAOC display TBS - Bouchery V1 pp102-103 hi res.jpg (766640 bytes)
Inspector's Mark? and/or Year of Issue Mark?	Stamped on the front of the motorcycle below the Serial Number. /\|\M419 (?) The arrow (called "Broad Arrow") is the symbol of British military issue. The M may refer to the code letter for year of issue re: David Gordon, where M = 1944.	Marking on my first Welbike Mark II IMGP5736.JPG (469112 bytes)
Other markings	The Polish paratroopers marked some of their Welbikes with the international driving symbol PL in black letters on a white oval background.	Welbike&BSA_Polish_Paras_1943-09JPG.jpg (155287 bytes) Welbike&BSA_Polish_Paras_1943-09JPG.jpg (155287 bytes)

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POST-WAR CORGI SCOOTERS

These had twin steering columns, fuel tank on top of frame, fenders on both wheels and lights. These are CIVILIAN scooters though a VERY FEW were used e.g. by Royal Navy on an aircraft arrier as I recall.

Corgi 1947 flyer text

Corgi 1947 flyer photos