Late1910s model 3 1/2 HP Norton

-JdK- Caroline sent this photo of her grandfather, a Norton and a calf in the sidecar. Her grandfather was born in  1886. The stirrup type front brake and the appearance suggest a late 1910s-early 1920s Model 3 1/2 HP.
Roger commented: "The Cheshire M registration ended in early 1920 so this would date the registration to late 1918/early 1919.  However, I am looking at motorcycle production after the Great War and very few machines were made before mid 1920 so I suspect that it was a wartime production used by the military as all civilian production was banned in late 1916. As the models didn't change until well after the war ended it will be difficult get get an accurate date but I would suggest 1916."

c1916 Model 9 Norton

-JdK- Martin sent these pics of what probably is a c1916 Model 9 Norton. Martin: "I have today been sent some nice original pics of an early belt drive Norton. These were given to a friend of mine by a lady who lives nearby and should therefore now be referred to as being part of the Roger Harrison Collection . 

The registration DP1577 is a Reading number issued around 1908, quite a long time before the Norton was made. The machine has rather snazzy wheel discs, a fad for a very short time.  I have no other information on the machine at this point and comments are therefore welcome."

Mike: "It has the early and very narrow petrol tank and the pre-1918 pattern cylinder. The 1915 Norton tank had a cutout for valve replacement, so not from that year while 1917 was military only, so also unlikely. That makes it 1916 and very desirable it would be too!"

Sturmey Archer Parts and Instructions 1916

Click this link for the booklet

-SG- Pre-1920 Nortons with the Sturmey Archer CS gear box fitted are pretty thin on the ground but I thought it worth copying the relevant booklet which was printed in 1916, as well as the letter (below) with which it was originally sent to an enquiror back in 1919. From this, it is clear that the firm was pretty busy with the resurgence of the industry after the end of WW1, the CS box being used by several other manufacturers besides Nortons.

The parts illustration in this list shows the layshaft as having only one set of dogs rather than two sets, as used in the twenties and perhaps a little earlier. The photo below, taken at Founder's Day (VMCC) shows both types.

c1916 Model Big Four

-JdK- George has been working on a c1916 Model Big Four Norton. Originally supplied to Russia in WW1 it was found as pile of parts in California; unfortunately without wheels which is one of the reasons for fitting later hubs and brakes. The paint on the petrol tank is fresh!

1916 Model Big Four Norton

"In yard of Queen's Head Coventry. Wartime Norton m/c on test 1916 or 1917" is written on the rear of this photo. In "Perfect in Every Part", a book on Francis Simpson.

The Norton in the picture would be a 1916/1917 model destined for the Russian army. Note the full enclosure of the rear chain the the additional set of footrests.

Simon: "A friend of mine has one of these WW1 Big Fours which came from Finland and is almost certainly one of those sent to Russia before the Revolution. Juris in Latvia has another which he acquired in Moscow a few years ago."