13 replies to this topic

[Johan Willaert]

I thought you would all like this picture....


It's from the liberator page of My Webpage

Enjoy,

Johan

[Arthur Fliegenheimer]

Did the photographer survive?

[Hawkeye_Joe]

How much do you want to pay for it? I know where one is totally restored for just over the price of a Westie '28 ......

[faabala]

Sorry, Joe my WLA is not for sale. Although I would trade it for a Colt 1921. Anybody interested?

[Hawkeye_Joe]

Hey Dave, That wasn't your's but of course you know that .. *L* .. A man knows his own bike.....that's the one I found in New Jersey for 14K. But I'm too busy buying 4 pocket blouses and MkII STen guns and 42 GPW's to buy it ..

[Zamm]

Hawkeye_Joe,
Nice knuklehead, springer fork, stick shift, hardtail....
Manin olive drab, what more could you want!
Z

[Zamm]

QUOTE

Well, maybe flame painting on the tank, a chrome sissy bar, mud flaps with reflectors, a fish-tail muffler, white-wall tires, an Evolution engine, and a Joe Devine certificate of authenticity stating that this is exactly the configuration in which it was parachuted into the Ardennes Forest in 1945.

Phil,
Everybody knows they used Hondas in the European theater!
Z

[full auto 45]

Nice. I haven't seen one of those for a year or so now. The only thing I didn't see was the Thompson and the leather scabber for it on the bike.

[Hawkeye_Joe]

QUOTE

Phil, Everybody knows they used Hondas in the European theater!  Z

Not quite, but they did copy a BMW for use in the ETO...

[Johan Willaert]

In fact the 42XA probably never saw use in the ETO....

To get back to TSMG....

Here's my WLA bike with TSMG and scabbard...



For show rides, the scabbard holds a wooden model made to the dimensions of my M1928A1....
Onlt the stock and sling are WW2....



The BAR was made when I was a kid....

Johan

Edited by Johan Willaert, 12 May 2005 - 01:00 PM.

[full auto 45]

Hawkeye, about 4 or 5 years ago, I saw one of those at the Indy Auto swap meet at the Marion County Fairgrounds. never know of them before. It even had the shaft drive. About 4 or 5 weeks later I saw another one for sale and it was pricey. I asked about it and the Harley guy told me the story behind them. Very interesting. I should have tried to buy the first one I saw. That has been the only ones I've seen ever. Now I have the guns to go in them, now I need a bike. Looks funny on my Ultra Classic with a Thompson on the side. gets lots of stares. Wonder why?

[Johan Willaert]

QUOTE (PhilOhio @ May 12 2005, 07:53 PM)

Johan, That is one beautiful rig. Just curious, since I love working with leather, but did you do the seat? Are the bags original or recent custom? They look nice. How about the scabbard?

The saddle is an original seat pan covered with new leather...
The bags and TSMG scabbard are original..

Johan

[Hawkeye_Joe]

Johan,

I read an article in a history magazine by a vet who was a dispatch rider. He clued me in on the XA's, he had one in North Africa and lost it in the Med when his ship was sunk. He got another one because he loved the shaft drive and the lessened vibrations.. I saw a real one in Dayton, Ohio in the attic of a Harley shop unrestored. I knw the dealer knew what he had but I don't know why he didn't have it fixed up..

[Johan Willaert]

Interesting story about the 42XA in North Africa....
I don't recall ever seeing a photo of a XA in the ETO but of course it's possible....
There will not have been many though....

I have seen about 4 or 5 XA's in the last 10 years...all were in the US or just imported from the US....

Johan