The capacity to see beauty (…in a Royal Enfield Model CO)

Kafka said that. At least, the bit which doesn't include the Royal Enfield Model CO. Understandable really. He (Kafka) offered it as the defining quality of 'youth'.

Shown here, a youth and a Model CO. It seems pretty clear who can see the beauty in what.

Bought in 1947 by my father-in-law BP Neal, then aged about 18, the machine is a demobbed and civilianised CO that looks to be in a highly polished and certainly highly appreciated condition.

"Youth is happy because it has the capacity to see beauty…". Apposite really.

Royal Enfield Model CO parts list 1946

Dated November 1945 and priced at a bob, the Model CO parts list was just the accompaniment to a newly-demobbed Redditch ohv 350cc itching to be loved and civilianised. It's fair to say most went for ride-to-work hacks or else to youngsters dreaming of Triumph twins…

Here it is, 53 pages including covers in glorious grayscale (click on a page to enlarge it).