Thanks so much Ken,this is all great info!
My bass is a humble old thing without flashy woodgrains etc. but i like it and am really grateful!
The beech thing would make sense for the neck,i was confused a bit by how many basses seem to have maple used for the neck,but it doesn't seem like maple to me.
Looks like the G tuner been replaced. Actually theres like a filled hole above the A tuner too,which you can't see on the pic cos of a shadow and it looks on the D+G side like there was originally a plate between the machines and wood.
There's a panel been put in on the lower side,and some damage here around front and back joins.
Repair done in 1960 i would assume be to the neck by Thomas Alexander Newcastle on tyne.
The possible name thing on the outside is very dodgy though, sometimes i look and i just think it's just marks in the wood !
I will get some measurements soon as i find the thread!
I've put some more pics up here at photobucket
http://s190.photobucket.com/albums/z125/petecollins/
Thanks
Pete