BMW R12 front lamp holders

[Lukasz]

Hi,
does anyone know till which production year of R12 the front lamp holders were made from aluminium?

[vechorik1373]

I cannot tell you exactly what year they went from the aluminum to the stamped steel ears, but I can give you this info.
Interestingly enough, as late as 1940 both were still listed as available The official bikes turned over to the government were not equipped with more expensive parts the government was not willing to pay for. Such as the stylish art deco fenders, and a charge indicator light in the headlight bucket, and the cast fork ears. During the war, after all twin cylinder production went to the government exclusively, the cast ears were discontinued. Likewise, early civilian bikes had upper triple plates, had a cast in boss for the removable fork lock cylinder, and a receiving boss welded to the steering head for the shaft of the lock.
Authority government bikes were not equipped with fork locks, it added to the cost.
Keep in mind, that the government early in the beginning of the war did confiscate civilian bikes for the war effort.

The 1940 parts book shows:
212 1 82 204 0 right hand headlight bracket for civilian which is cast aluminum I am 95% sure
and
212 1 82 205 0 right hand headlight bracket for official which is stamped steel
Likewise:
212 1 82 214 0 left hand headlight bracket for civilian which is cast aluminum I am 95% sure
And
212 1 82 215 0 left hand headlight bracket for official authority which is stamped steel.

My 1936 R17, which shares the same frame and body parts as my 1936 R12, has the aluminum cast headlight brackets, yet my 1936 R12 which was delivered to the government and was deployed with the Condor legion to Spain, has the stamped sheet metal headlight ears.