Service Parts Catalog for Motorcycle Chain Drive, Solo (SNL G-523) - Harley-Davidson Model WLA 30 October 1943

Washington, D. C.: The Ordnance Department. Very Good-. 1943. Updated edition. Paperback. B&W Illustrations; This is an oversized paperback book. The book is in Very Good- condition and was issued without a dust jacket. The book covers have some edgewear, rubbing and bumping. There are spots of discoloration to the front and rear covers of the book, mostly towards the foredges. The text pages are generally clean and bright, though there is some spotting throughout. The text pages smell dusty / musty. "Harley-Davidson began producing the WLA in small numbers in 1940, as part of a general military expansion. The later entry of the United States into World War II saw significantly increased production, with over 90,000 being produced during the war (along with spare parts the equivalent of many more). Harley-Davidson would also produce a close WLA variant for the Canadian Army called the WLC and would also supply smaller numbers to the UK, South Africa, and other allies, as well as filling orders for different models from the Navy and Marine Corps. Unusually, all the WLAs produced after Pearl Harbor, regardless of the actual year, would be given serial numbers indicating 1942 production. Thus, war-time machines would come to be known as 42WLAs. This may have been in recognition of the continued use of the same specification. Most WLCs were produced in 1941, and are marked 42WLC. The precise serial number, as well as casting marks, can be used to date a specific motor accurately, and some other parts bear year and month stamps. Frames and many other parts were not tagged with the serial number, and cannot generally be dated. This is common prior to adoption of the vehicle identification number (VIN). " (from Wikipedia) .