Postby bicyclepassion » Mon Sep 02, 2013 12:57 pm
Just had a look at other Austral numbers that I have recorded in with Malvern Star numbers.
Up until the prefix numbers, say 1940 onwards, (1M xxxx) they dont seem to line up with the Malvern Star numbers at all. Once M Star went to the prefix numbering system, the australs seemed to have done so as well.
Pre 1940, the australs do seem to comply with some numeric sequence of their own though!
I have recorded the following Austral numbers:
3128 Road racer 1935/6
10833 (yours) Roadster, rear- pressed ends, front- brazed in roadster ends. 1936?
12682 Club racer C1936
12741 Road racer C1936
I have dated the above from lugs and ends, being similiar to equivalent year for Malvern Star models with identical features.
If yours was a Malvern Star roadster, with those fork ends and lugs, and BSA parts, I would have said it was mid 1930's, regardless of what the number was.
I believe that your austral was built in the Malvern Star factory, and if you substituted the maps with stars, it would be identical, right down to the paint colours and scheme, and about 1936.
Warren