For some strange reason about 1/2 the Hoske tanks that people find are missing their tool box lids. I thought it would be a good idea to print some photos to help in the search or reconstruction of one. I'm not aware of anyone that is making new lids yet in reproduction form, so you'll still have to get creative in solving the problem. This is also a good view of the two mounting points for the kneepad brackets (which are also often missing). I'm not aware of anyone making the kneepad brackets yet either - sorry.

Another view of the same tank. The screw that holds the lid closed is the same thread size as the style used on the /2 sport tanks, or any of the 1950-55 BMW bikes.

Even with fooling around with old BMWs for 30-odd years, I still get surprised with interesting 'new' finds now and then. So when I saw this tank I made a bee-line over to take a closer look.  A short conversation with the seller confirmed my suspicions though... this one is home made.

...but this one WAS a new find. I only had a second to snap the photo because the hand reaching in was just about to take it away. From what I could see it appeared to be a /5-/6 era tank. I know Hoske was still making some tanks early in the 1970's, so this may be one of them. Hopefully one of my viewers can comment?

The details are important when it comes to Hoskes... When I first saw this tank I noticed the late style flat kneepads and said "Ah, a nice looking late /2 Hoske". Then I did a double-take and saw the front mounting brackets were way down low (circled in red). That makes this a Zundapp Hoske tank.

I often get photos of Hoske tanks that people have found, and the number one question is "What does it fit?". It's actually very easy to tell if you know what to look for. I always tell them to look at the front mounting bracket. Assuming that there is one (see above), measure the distance from the edge of the welded seam that runs all around the tank to the tip of the bracket. On the plunger Hoske tanks (which this one is) that distance is about 48mm. See next photo.

...but on a /2 (1955-69) era tank the bracket is much shorter, and only sticks out about 33mm. Once you've seen both of these in person, you'll never have a problem telling the two style tanks apart - even without a ruler.

A few screens back I showed you a reproduction tank in red prime that was being sold in Germany. This is the same tank as in the earlier photo, but before assembly. I recently came across these stampings, which were for sale, at a bike show in Europe.

This Schorsch Meier Sport tank was interesting in that it was still in original paint, and it's a good example that even when new, you didn't always get a great striping job! The lines on this tank don't flow in the normal graceful way, following the general ourline of the tank. In the area of the tool box lid and the back corner, it is very angular. There was still a Schorsch Meier label in the tunnel area that I also tried to photograph, but it came out too dark to use.

A interesting view of a rather large /2 era Hoske.