Title w/o paperwork?

For the past year I've been putting a buddies '74 BMW R90 back together. He bought it from one of his neighbors around 7yrs ago, and both he and his son had a go @ getting it running, before bringing it to me. By the time it came to me it was a literal basket case. Well I got it back together and running a couple of months ago. So now that I've got it runable, my buddy went looking for the title, and can't find it. He went back to the person he bought it from and found out that he'd died. The widow is cooperative and will help out in any way she can, the problem is that in MD you MUST at least have the title #, in order to have a new title reissued, no title, no title #, no title # no way to register. I think some of y'all have mentioned that there are states that will register an old bike w/a bill-of-sale. Does anyone know if any of the states surrounding MD (Va, De, Pa, W.Va) allow this type of registration. Or do any of y'all know another way to get this bike finally legal? If we can get a legal title in one state, it shouldn't be a problem getting it regestered here.
Any info would be appriciated, thanks

There is a a company out of Maine that will register your bike...fundamentally, you sell it to them and they sell it back to you with a Maine title...don't recall the name, perhaps someone will leap in now...

If the title was never transferred, the widow "may" be able to get a replacement title, then sign it over to your friend. If she is cooperative, and he does all the legwork, it may be the easiest route.

www.its-titles.com

Thanks for the suggestions, guys.
The problem, Limey, is that there are only 2, owner, documents that have the title # on them, the title and the registration card. My buddy lost the title and I doubt that the widow can come up w/a registration card.
I stopped off @ the State police barracks on my way home, and the officer, behind the desk at the time, said if I got the PO's full name and DOB, he MIGHT be able to come up w/vehicles registered in that name. Then we can get the title # and she can apply for a lost title. Steve is getting the information. I can only hope that when I get the info, it's the same officer. He said, it's so old, the short VIN was actually useless.
Kawtoy, that ITS looks very interesting and would be a better option than getting a salvage title. Might even be a better option than finding a local state that will register it. Much cheaper than I expected. I'll let Steve know. Have you ever used them?
I'm still interested in info on surrounding states...can never have enough options.
Thanks, again.

I wanted to let y'all know, in case someone else can use the info. The trooper came through:cheer: I gave him the name and DOB along w/the VIN and he not only gave me the title # but the last tag # as well.

Come to Canada, if you've got a bill of sale it's yours :laugh: