General Information

Serial #

ZE-35T

Part Number

1

Total Parts

5

AKA

N/A

Patents

N/A

General Description

TUBULAR STEEL FRAME/ METAL PARTS/ CHROMED HEADLIGHT RIM, INSTRUMENT PANEL, AIR CLEANER GUARD, FRONT & REAR SAFETY GUARDS/ LEATHER SEAT/ RUBBER TIRES, HANDL GRIPS, FOOTREST PADS/ GLASS HEADLIGHT LENS

Dimensions

Note: These reflect the general size for storage and are not necessarily representative of the object's true dimensions.

Length

218.0 cm

Width

91.4 cm

Height

109.0 cm

Thickness

N/A

Weight

N/A

Diameter

N/A

Volume

N/A

Lexicon

Group

Motorized Ground Transportation

Category

Motorcycle vehicles

Sub-Category

N/A

Manufacturer

AKA

HARLEY DAVIDSON

Country

United States of America

State/Province

Wisconsin

City

Milwaukee

Context

Country

Unknown

State/Province

Unknown

Period

Unknown

Canada

Before the Second World War, Canada purchased and used Norton, BSA and Indian motorcycles. As the war progressed, England did not have enough motorcycles (BSA and Norton) to meet Canada's demand, and eventually Indian could not fulfill their orders either. As a result, the Canadian Army had to purchase motorcycles from other manufacturers. In 1941, the Canadian Army placed it's first order with Harley-Davidson for 45ci solo models and Big Twins; these would be known as the WLC and ELC Models respectively. WLCs were made from late 1941 through 1944 and were known as the Model 42WLC and Model 43WLC. The 43WLC was made in a 'Domestic' model for use in Canada and and an 'Export' version for use overseas. The WLC Models had two different style of Engine Numbers, either 42WLCXXXX or 43WLCXXXX. The WLC Model, although very similar to the US Army WLA, differs in a few significant ways. The WLC has front and rear wheels that are interchangeable, the front brake drum is the 'Big Twin' style, lighting equipement is quite different, the throttle is on the left handlebar with ignition timing on the right, oil and gas lines are ruber, and an auxiliary clutch hand lever is provided on the handlers. This model was manufactured between January and May 1942 as it's Engine Crankcase number falls between 42WLC10000 and 42WLC25000 (the numbers from this manufacturing period).

Function

General transportation/military duties

Technical

WLC stands for: W - to show that the motorcyle is equipped with a 45 cubic inch, side valve engine, introduced in 1937 and first used on the Model W bikes. L - stands for High Compression. C - indicated a model developed for the Canadian National Defense Forces. WLCs did not receive a frame tag or frame number during production and were identified by the engine number, embossed on the left side of the crankcase in the following fashion '42WLCXXXXX'. This was the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). Furthermore all Harley-Davidson engine crankcases were numbered during their production on the lower front side of both halves by the year of manufacture followed by the sequence in which the crankcases were mated together (ie 42-12345 = the 12345th engine assembled in 1942). The 42WLC had a 45 ci V-twin. In 1942, 9820 were produced.

Area Notes

Unknown

Details

Markings

IN CAST RAISED FIGURES ON LEFT BY HEADSTOCK IS: `ZE-35T'/ ON FRAME BY LEFT FOOTREST IN CAST RAISED FIGURES IS: `418-32'/ STAMPED INTO LEFTSIDE OF CRANKCASE IS: `42 WLC 13859'/ OVAL SHAPED FRM PLATE ON BOTH SIDES OF FUEL TANK IS CHROMED WITH: `HARLEY-DAVIDSON' STAMPED IN & PAINTED RED/ AIR FILTER HAS PLATE WITH CLEANING INFO ON IT/ ON AIR FILTER COVER STAMPED IN IS: `MOTOR/ HARLEY-DAVIDSON/ CYCLES/ MADE IN USA'

Missing

BATTERY, (?)

Finish

CHROME, FRONT & REAR FENDERS, FUEL TANK, WHEEL RIMS, HANDLE BARS, HEADLIGHT RIM, EXHAUST PIPE ALL PAINTED BLACK/ BLACK SEAT,TIRES, FOOTREST PADS, HAND GRIPS/ CHROMED FRONT & REAR SAFTY GUARD, INSTRUMENT PANEL CASE, HEADLIGHT RIM, AIR CLEANER GUARD, CHAIN GUARD & FRONT SIDE LIGHT

Decoration

BOTH FENDERS HAVE TWO CHROMED TRIM LINES, ONE ON EACH OUTER EDGE/ MFR CHROMED PLATE HAS BLACK WEDGE ABOVE & BELOW NAME