59992-52 License plate support

Production K Models

59992-52 License plate support

Postby hennesse » Tue Jan 02, 2018 1:30 am

When was this part used?
59992-52.jpg
1954 - 1963 Spare Parts Catalogs - "Fits 1952-1954"
59992-52.jpg (19.28 KiB) Viewed 13292 times


It does NOT appear in the 1953 Spare Parts Catalog (October 1952).

It does appear in the 1954 (June 15, 1954) and the 1956, 1957, 1959, 1953 Catalogs as "Fits 1952-1954".

Did this appear on 1952 production bikes and just got left out of the catalog?
Did this appear on 1953 production bikes and just got left out of the catalog?
Did this appear on 1954 production bikes at the beginning of 1954 or towards the end of 1954?

Enquiring minds want to know! Stan, Roger, Scott, alii. - what you think?
Dave
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Re: 59992-52 License plate support

Postby starcain » Tue Jan 02, 2018 10:01 am

Dave, I have never seen the support bracket on a 1952. The '52 Museum K does not have it. I have seen them on 1953 models. You almost have to assume that they had problems on the 1952 models with cracking license plates so they came up with this bracket to solve the problem. The 1954 museum KH has the bracket on it so it's probably pretty safe to assume that all 1954's used the bracket. The odd thing is that even though the 1955 models used the same early taillight and license plate bracket the 1956 parts book does not show the support bracket as being used on the 1955 models. I'm going to guess that was another parts book screw up but can't verify that one way or the other. I just haven't seen any good original '55s in pictures or otherwise to be able to tell.
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Re: 59992-52 License plate support

Postby JerrryR » Tue Jan 02, 2018 11:51 am

The September of 53 Enthusiast clearly shows no lower bracket, the 54 September Enthusiast clearly does show the bracket (see below). An observation I've made looking at the images I have is the early "rivetless" rear fenders don't have the lower license plate bracket and the riveted fenders do have it. More data points are needed to make any sweeping conclusions here but a working theory for now until more definitive samples are viewed would be that the lower bracket was a model year change in 54?
September 53 K, 1.JPG
September 53 K, 1.JPG (317.36 KiB) Viewed 13245 times


September 54 K, 1.JPG
September 54 K, 1.JPG (299.41 KiB) Viewed 13245 times
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Re: 59992-52 License plate support

Postby EKHKHK56 » Tue Jan 02, 2018 12:15 pm

My 54 has the extra tab. My 53 & 52s do not.
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Re: 59992-52 License plate support

Postby Vintage_hds » Tue Jan 02, 2018 12:25 pm

Hi Jerry,

On a non-related point...Look at the differences in the exhaust support tube for '53 vs. '54. Note there is not an attaching point on the '53 K for the exhaust clamp at the muffler to pipe point.

Dave
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Re: 59992-52 License plate support

Postby JerrryR » Tue Jan 02, 2018 12:40 pm

The following 52 factory photo clearly shows the clamp support in question. I believe the 53 Enthusiast drawing is in error?

POL_1952-19791-72-1500x1200 factory photo 5.jpg
POL_1952-19791-72-1500x1200 factory photo 5.jpg (417.92 KiB) Viewed 13232 times
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Re: 59992-52 License plate support

Postby EKHKHK56 » Tue Jan 02, 2018 12:57 pm

Jerry I'm only seeing the main bracket in the photo... :shock: anyway my OP 52 does not have it or hole for it.
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Re: 59992-52 License plate support

Postby hennesse » Tue Jan 02, 2018 2:48 pm

Vintage_hds wrote:On a non-related point...Look at the differences in the exhaust support tube for '53 vs. '54. Note there is not an attaching point on the '53 K for the exhaust clamp at the muffler to pipe point.
Dave


Good eyes, Dave! Has anyone ever seen one of these on a bike? I suspect the September 1953 Enthusiast photo was really a prototype 1952 bike. Speaking of rivet-less fenders, any ideas on when they changed from rivet-less to rivets?
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Re: 59992-52 License plate support

Postby EKHKHK56 » Tue Jan 02, 2018 3:26 pm

Mid 53. Mike L mentioned to me.
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Re: 59992-52 License plate support

Postby Lisa » Tue Jan 02, 2018 3:57 pm

My 55 KH had the lower support.
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