1936 Model 19 Norton

 

-SG- John has sent us a photo of his latest 'in use' Model 19 - a 1936 'bitsa' version which he says goes very well and - mostly - starts first kick!

It's my bike !

-JdK- I've always wondered about the history of my motorcycles so whenever I see old photographs I look for something familiar. The photo above (from TwistGrip) was taken on the 7th of May 1950 and these are members of the Moto Club Châtillonnais. The photo was taken in Chartres, a small town close to Paris.

The photo caught my attention for two reasons: the picture was taken in France and it contains a few interesting Nortons, one probably an Inter but the other one - on the right - also somewhat special due to the chrome plated tank and what appears to be a larger front wheel.

I have a 1936 Model CJ Norton with a chrome plated tank and a 20" front wheel that was sold by agent Psalty in Paris, see the dealer plate on the number plate above. The photo's below were taken in February 2013 by the French dealer from whom I bought the machine.

The motorcycle is quite original so I left the paint alone as much as possible but what I did do was remove two large flat bolts that covered two holes in the left hand side of the front mudguard. I used some weld to close the holes but it is still visible. I have no clue what the holes were used for and I've never seen holes at this position before. So I was pretty surprised that the Norton in this old French photo also has what appear to be two bolts at exactly the same position!

When you look more carefully there are more similarities, most notably a scratch in the black lining of the tank and I've highlighted the similarities in the photo's below. On the left side you see the bike in in 2013, on the right in 1950.

Do bear in mind that by 2013 someone had fitted the 20" wheel at rear and the 19" wheel at front which I corrected again. Also after 1950 someone fitted a different headlight, a speedo and a brake plate with a speedo drive. And yes, when I bought the bike it had a different registration but there is another number lurking beneath and I should remove the paint to confirm.

I'm already pretty convinced as the chances of finding another Norton, in France, close to Paris with those two plugged holes in the mudguard at exactly this position and the scratch in the black line with exactly that shape must be close to zero.

Also fascinating that the previous owner of my bike may also be in this photo; I think it's the chap wearing the helmet, third from right!

PS. Rich contacted us as he has the original of the French photo and better copies of the Norton and a copy of the rear of the pic are provided below.

W.G. Wright and his 1936 Model 30 Norton

 

-JdK- Martin in Walsall in the UK contacted us about his 1936 Model 30. "I recently purchased a 1936 SOHC Norton. The bike came from an estate clearance in South London and appeared to have been used as a cafe racer. Upon looking at the Norton despatch records it is listed as racing specification and was sold via Ron Harris's shop in Maidenhead to W.G. Wright from Peterborough who then entered the Ulster grand Prix a few weeks later and came third. The next racing event I have found him at is Brooklands where he won the 1937 mountain championship race. Apart from these two races I have no other information on W.G. Wright. 

As for the bike I have the original petrol tank, oil tank and gearbox and intend to do an oily rag restoration. The frame, forks gearbox and engine all bear the correct numbers as confirmed in the despatch records held at the VMCC.The worst part appears to be the original crankcase which is quite badly corroded due to moisture, a great shame so should any of your readers have a spare set of longstroke magnesium cases I would be very interested. Anyhow I enclose a picture of the bike as found and a picture of W.G. Wright on the bike at Brooklands supplied by Niel Allman who is helping me with details of originality. So if any one could help with magnesium cases this would be greatly appreciated.

I also hope someone can shine a light on W.G.Wright. He has a small mention in Norton's 1937 and 1938 brochure, for his achievements at Ulster and Brooklands and after all he managed to buy a brand new race bike through Ron Harris, so he was an up and coming racer it appears. Maybe the second World War finished his motorcycle racing? Or maybe he just wasn't that good? Hopefully someone may know the answers and come forward with some information on a young racer that tried his best but never made works rider status."

PS. Simon reports that, as an afterthought, he has had a look at some scans of programmes of Donington events in the late thirties. W.G. Wright is shown as competing on a Norton.  He apparently came from Peterborough.  Not much help really!

A sunday afternoon with the CJ

 

-JdK- It was a sunny Sunday afternoon so I took a Norton for a spin, this time my 1936 Model CJ that I've owned for almost 10 years now. I've completely rebuilt the bike and it goes very well, especially since I fitted a smaller sprocket to the crankshaft. Being a 350cc and an OHC there's little torque and it only goes well when you rev it hard.

One thing that has been puzzling me is that Norton literature suggests that a 1" carburettor should be fitted; the inlet stub's outer diameter is however too wide to fit a 1" type 6 or type 276 which must be the reason why it came with the 1 1/16" Amal that is still on the bike. The inner diameter of the inlet stub is however 1", all of which makes little sense to me. Please contact us when you think you can explain!

Crasher White, Model 40, 1936

 

-JdK- Provided by Dennis; J.H. ”Crasher” White, 2nd, Junior IoM TT, Quarter Bridge, 1936.

1936 Norton Model 30 and Hawker Typhoon

-JdK- Jon recently found the attached story regarding wartime pilot Lewis Park and his Norton. He instantly recognized the registration number as the Inter he bought from George Cohen in 2008. The 1936 Inter was bought new by Mike Lane who owned the bike for over 60 years according to a V5 document that he has. The link below tells the story of F/O Park and the Hawker Typhoon, which may be of interest https://www.thetyphoonproject.org/438/Lewis%20E.-Park.html.

Linwood Wiggins and Robert Sparks

-JdK- Barry Brown writes from Canada; "I had the good fortune to purchase several of Linwood Wiggins photo books and found this particular photo interesting. Lin Wiggins was something of a genius when it came to tuning Nortons and he helped Robert Sparks win the notoriously dangerous 1939 Langhorne PA dirt track race. Robert on the bike and Lin on the left."

More Robert Sparks info in the cuttings below.

Jimmy Guthrie, 1936 Senior TT, Model 30

-SG- Photos of the great Jimmy Guthrie are not that uncommon and this action shot of him landing at Ballaugh Bridge in the 1936  Senior TT is certainly no rarity.  None the less it shows a good view of the bike and gives a good impression of a man in a hurry!  Guthrie won at an average of over 85 mph.

1936/37 Norton racer

-Richard- Dan just added this machine to his collection. It has been in Sweden for the last 60 years. Lots of mods over the years and last run in early 2000. It is a replica of a 1936/7 works racer, as it has features from both years. The frame has all the features as used on the 1936 works machine and is possibly a genuine item or at least a very accurately reproduced copy. It is difficult to see the front forks clearly, but the top yoke and handlebar clamps are from a 16H. The wheels and petrol tank look to be racing specification from 1937/8. The oil tank is of a shape similar to the ones made by Francis Beart in the late 1940s, but is much larger capacity so probably a one-off. The engine and gearbox look to be post-war, the engine having had replacement crankcases which was quite common in the 1950s. Also the clutch lifting mechanism has been modified, possibly because of the oversize oil tank.
   Generally, this is a very desirable machine which, with some component changes, will be a close replica of a works machine and I look forward  to seeing it at an event in the U.K. soon.

Dan is looking for the following parts (or drawings) to complete the bike: a  correct works type engine shock absorber, six spring clutch and also the correct forks or parts. Please contact us when you can help.

The 1936 Norton pricelist

-SG- Thanks to Ian, here's the 1936 pricelist - another awkward document to copy to the best advantage.

The 1936 leaflet

-SG- Thanks to Ian, here's the 1936 leaflet - another awkward document to copy to the best advantage.  This is side one, with two overall views of each half and then each of them split into three for better legibility.

Charlie's bikes

-JdK- Steve sent these pics of Charlie Cockcroft, his father-in-law, on his bikes. The Norton (XG4849) is a c1936 Model ES2 Norton and it looks quite new. XG3961 is a Triumph and Hans, who has a similar machine, wrote the words below:

"XG3961 is a 1935/36 Triumph Model 3/5 (350 c.c.) or 5/5 (500 c.c.).  The /5 models were the specials in the OHV range with higher cams and a high compression piston. The petrol tank for these models were  finished in chrome and plum, very attractive. All models in this range were designed by Val Page. What is interesting is that this machine seems to have only one exhaust pipe on the right hand side while the /5 models always had, to my best knowledge, two-port cylinder heads."

1936 Model CJ Norton

-JdK- This is the 1936 Model CJ that I bought two years ago. These are the pics made before the restoration.

While it looked fine on first sight it needed a full rebuild as usual. The engine wasn't worn that much but incredibly dirty. All bearings, the valves, guides, piston and cams were replaced. One of the 'ears' of the gearbox had broken off and a new one was welded on by Juris who also repaired the top bevel chamber. The girders were bent and needed straightening. Wheels and brakes were rebuilt using new parts. The old paint (probably applied with an old brush by a French farmer over half a century ago) and chrome were left well alone.

It may not be the most spectacular cammy Norton but unlike most 'Inters' this one is still quite original. The numbers of frame, forks and engine are matching. The petrol and the oiltank are correct; it left the factory without lights fitted. The 20" front wheel and Dunlop saddle are correct. The gearbox shell and footrests are from a later 16H Model and the Amal carb is postwar. The records do not provide details about the magneto and I've fitted a BTH KD1 to replace the magdyno it came with.

And it's fun to ride! It does not have the 'punch' of a CS1 but will still do 60 mph easily and it's very comfortable. It revs easily and feels and sounds a bit like a big Honda C50 and that should be considered a compliment!

1936 Model 30 - Manx - Norton engine

-JdK- Edmondo in Italy sent this photo of his 1936 Model 30 Manx engine. The engine came from the factory as an 'engine only' and was already marked as a "Manx" in the records. The significance of this is that all Norton literature suggests that the "Manx" name was first used after WW2; apparently the name was already in use by the factory 10 years earlier to identify racing spec engines ...

The engine was delivered to Amal Ltd. and one can only guess it was used for testing their carburetters.

Eddy is now planning to build a complete Model 30 (Manx?) around these crankcases and has sourced a frame but is still looking for an alloy barrel and a set of parallel front forks. He has an iron M30 barrel and a set of 1946 ES2 front forks available to swap. Please contact us if you wish to talk to Eddy