Dad's Nortons

 

-JdK- Kim in the UK contacted us and sent us the attached photo's of his dad's Nortons.

A genuine 1938 Norton sidecar chassis

 

 -JdK- An email from Alain in New Zealand: "I have a 1956 Norton 19S 600 single, a genuine barn find. Due to age/balance/ailments, etc. I tried to find a suitable sidecar, as you well know the 19S was designed to lug one. After a number of false starts, I found the chassis pictured above, in the North Island. Turns out to be a genuine Norton chassis. Barry Stickland from the NOC has one on his girder Inter. He found another, as well as knowing somebody else with one.  In other words, a grand total of three in UK (at least known of), plus mine here. Barry has the numbers of the other three and mine falls in between those from which we can make out mine is approximately 1938. It's a bit grim, but hopefully some TLC will revive it. The 19 inch tyre has plenty of tread and on the side wall is stamped "Reid Rubber made in NZ for Avon Tyres". My sidecar wheel is painted silver in the middle with the usual two red pin stripe lines. The agricultural lumps and lengths of angle iron have been removed and a very good friend of mine is repairing the odd hairline crack or two. Unfortunately, have no idea where the sidecar body, if there was one, has gone."

Dad's Norton

 

-JdK- David in the UK sent us this photograph and provided the text that follows: "I have a photograph of my father taken in 1938/39; he would be about 19 years old. He is sitting astride a Norton Inter. I think it is a lovely period image, it is black & white, he is dressed in collar and tie, tweed jacket and baggy trousers, and he looks as pleased as could be.

The story goes that he collected the bike from the “Low Level” railway goods station in Wolverhampton and rode it to his parents home in the suburbs of Wolverhampton. He was and remained until his death a fanatic for things motoring."

Richard had a look and comments: "It's always good to see photos from the time these bikes were used daily. The bike is either 1932 or 1933 but the interesting thing is it has a racing end-feed cambox. These were only fitted to the competition engines in the early 1930s so the cambox was probably fitted at a later date. I also see the front tyre is a trials pattern, so possibly used for grass track or sand racing before David's father bought it. The registration number is for Edinburgh, Scotland so it seems the bike had moved around. Note that it has a few non-standard bits and seems to have a dynamo run from the crank like the Moore OHC engines."

1929 Model 19 Norton barrel - wanted

 

-JdK- Dan in Australia is looking for a barrel for his 1929 Model 19; please contact us when you can help. In his own words: 

"The project is a basket case. Engine number 423xx and Frame number 588 S392xx. According to Chris Streather the engine was despatched to Australia in Jan 1929 and the frame in Sept 1929. So a bitsa.

I have a good frame, engine mount plates, tank, oil tank, Magdyno, guards, footpegs, brake pedal, levers, seat frame and handlebars. Webb forks are incomplete, front wheel has been sourced but I haven’t got it yet, engine came with some bits of barrel but none of them are any good. Besides the barrel I need pushrods and all the nuts and bolts. I have a later model big end (1” mainshafts) in good condition and a rusty big end with the correct 7/8” mainshafts which I’m hoping to resurrect. Piston I can get from JP Pistons in Adelaide, they have the pattern

The gearbox and clutch are missing various bits, but I’m hopeful I can source those locally or fabricate them myself from a pattern.

Apart from that its all the little bits, fuel and oil lines and fittings, cables, nuts and bolts, chains and sprockets etc etc etc.

But the biggest hurdle is the barrel. 1929 Model 19. Bore 79mm x stroke 120mm"

Moore CS1 Norton

 

-JdK- Klaus was clearing out old paperwork when he came across a pile of VMCC magazine from the 1980/90s. Inside one of them he found this little article containing workshop pictures of (probably) Mr Moore and his CS1 engine.

Moore CS1 oil pump gears - For sale

 

-JdK- Klaus in Germany has had new oil pump gears for the 1928/29 Moore CS1 and ES2 models made. The gears are made from Rotguß RG 7 and cost 95 GBP including postage to the UK. 

Klaus is looking for a very good Sturmey Archer Main Gear Wheel No. 4565 to suit the 3 speed SA gearbox of his CS1. 

If you need an oil pump gear or can help Klaus with his gearbox part then please contact this website.

Norton bits for sale

-SG- Here are a few items Barry has knocking about and no longer needs! His phone number is in the first picture above.

1931 Model CS1 Norton

 

-JdK- We've been contacted by Olof who is looking for the dimensions of a positive stop mechanism for his 1931 CS1 Norton.  It has a three-speed Sturmey Archer box fitted. Please contact us when you can help. His story is as follows: 

"Above a picture of my bike probably short after the war around 1946-48. It had been resprayed Maroon red and the wheels in Ivory. The CS1 started as a racing project in the early 70s. After the original fenders were found in an attic, it was suddenly an almost complete original bike. That's how it came into my possession but dismantled down to the smallest detail. 

I first test-drove it in 2015 and found it very pleasant to ride apart from the original Norton oil leaks from the cam housing and the annoying gear mechanism (below). One detail that has made both previous owners and me wonder is the many satin chromed small parts. Screws, nuts, footpeg details and fork links. They look to be Norton factory quality, mysteriously.

Otherwise, I discovered during the work that the rims and lamp housings are date stamped 1930. The rear hub is Enfield with original spokes but new nipples and the front hub is Horton with new spokes and nipples. The original saddle is still there but not mounted. The front fork is Norton's own with numbers according to the factory information.

According to the factory it was equipped with foot change. For the moment I use a TOR aftermarket mechanism. This is rather clumsy. I have managed to get descriptions and spare part pictures of the SA positive stop mechanism but no dimensions. I would be very thankful if anyone could assist with the dimensions. My workshop is quite complete and I believe that manufacturing a replica is entirely possible."

1928 Model CS1 engine - For sale

 

-JdK- Kyle in Australia is looking selling his 1928 CS1 engine, in his own words: "It has all the main components but would need a complete rebuild. This engine was delivered to New Zealand, dispatched 9 February 1928. It was a spare engine for a Mr Syd Ayling of Invercargill,  he had a CS1 he raced and was an acquaintance of Burt Munro. My father purchased the engine off the family in 2013. It is in very nice condition, it will need a repair on a lug casting. Located in Brisbane Australia. $ 11,000 AUD or best offer." 

1924 16H Norton

-JdK- From John: "Gday Simon and John. Have recently finished this 16H, a largely mechanical only restoration. This bike was featured by Rod back in August 2013. I acquired it from him a few years ago."