Harold Daniell

-Roger- An obituary from 'Motor Cycle', 26 January 1967, reporting the death of one of the most famous Norton racers, Harold Daniell.

-SG- Despite what it says in the obituary, the Shell History of the MGP says Daniell competed in 1930 for the first time, on a Senior Norton (retired) and then tried again in 1931 on ostensibly the same bike which had been updated by the works with a new two stay frame etc. Again he retired. Then in 1932 he was second on a Senior Norton and in 1933 he was first on a Senior Norton ... by which time the powers that be noticed he had talent and the rest, as the saying goes, is history.

1937 Model CS1 Norton - For sale

Currently on eBay, in the vendor's words: "A 1937 Model CS1 Norton. Engine, frame, fork and gearbox numbers verified as original by the Norton factory records. Original registration number on V5C (ECD 121). Sold new on the 3rd of July 1937 by Redhill Cycles, Redhill, Surrey. Been in a shed on a farm in The New Forest, Hampshire for many years."

It looks very nice, original and complete to us; when you're looking for a cammy Norton, forget the rebuilt Internationals and go for this one; and please don't restore!

Norton sprinter

This photo - taken in the 1960s - depicts a Norton sprinter. The machine could be based on a late-1920s Model ES2 Norton.

Moore's inspiration?

-SG- I have often thought that the Moore CS1 engine was pleasing in appearance from the timing side and a bit of a mix-up on the drive side, with the magneto sprocket threaded onto the mainshaft, and, when the production models appeared, yet another sprocket on the back of the engine sprocket to drive a dynamo if fitted. Perhaps this was where he got his inspiration - it had been done before on an early twenties 16H, but not, I think, by the works!

Andy's c1935 Model 30 Norton

Before...

-Andy- I got this project about 18 months ago and now it's almost finished. It’s a 1934 Inter frame with a 1936 engine and 1939 forks. According to the Works records, the engine left the factory to full Manx specification. Because of this I aimed to restore it to look like a racing bike of the day, as well as making it comfortable and useable. I have retained the Manx cams but have set it to road bike timing and used a lower compression piston. It starts 2nd or 3rd kick and goes very well!

-Richard- The engine does look to be an early 1936 racing specification type. By the time the TT races  for 1936 came most racing Inters had magnesium engines. The crankcases on Andy's bike are the racing alloy type and if you look closely you can see there is no oil tell-tale as there is on standard Inters. The cambox is also aluminium but has a magnesium bevel cover which has probably been fitted at a later date.

In general this bike will pass as a 1935 model as the engine was available then and the standard frames were the same for both '34 and '35. The Norton gearbox and the petrol and oil tanks are also O.K. for 1935. The only major parts which are not quite in period are the 1939 forks (rubber mounted handlebars and right-hand side brake) and front wheel, which should be the narrow type, and the later carburettor; but as Andy says it's good he has got the bike together and is using it.

An ES2 Norton fitted with Earles front forks

A nice photo of what could be a late-1930s Model ES2 Norton fitted with Earles front forks from perhaps a BMW or Douglas Dragonfly. I'm not sure why you would want to replace fine Norton girders with a construction as heavy and clumsy as these; unless the reason is to fit a sprung luggage rack where the headlamp used to be. All of this will not improve handling of the machine.

Bat Byrnes again

-SG- Ken in New Zealand has sent in another photo of Bat Byrnes - on the same Norton - who won the 1939 Senior GP at Bathurst, Australia - included is the report from the 'Australian Motor Cyclist.'

1933 Model 40 Norton

-JdK- Thomas in Germany took delivery of a very nice 1933 Model 40 Norton. It's a matching number machine that was delivered in March 1933 to a Mr Nick Schmitt in Nürnberg, Germany.

The petrol tank is not correct and will be replaced. Further, the original Sturmey Archer gearbox has been fitted with a later cover and Thomas is looking for a correct one; he has an original early Norton rear wheel to swap.

One very large tank

-SG- Robin has sent me the attached photos of an extra large CS1 - or perhaps ES2! - oil tank for a '27 to '29 Model. It's overall width is no less than 11 inches (just under 28cm) and I am told it smells strongly of Castrol R. It would seem to have racing origins even though the filler cap is on the 'normal'  - right-hand - side. Anyone have any ideas or seen one like it before?

c1935 Model 30 Norton

From Dennis' blog: Bat Byrnes at Bathurst, New South Wales on the Mt. Panorama circuit, end of the 1930s.

-Richard- The bike looks like it started life as a 1935 racing specification machine as the frame has the flat bottom cradle, low front engine lug and lightened frame lugs. The picture dates from no earlier than 1939 as the engine dates from at least this year and it looks like a 500 as it has an 11 fin barrel and the cambox is tucked well up under the tank. The forks are 1936-onwards standard Inter' but fitted with parallel racing check springs and the front brake is a 1937-on conical type. All this is typical of how these bikes were up-dated during their racing lives and can lead to a bike's original specification  becoming blurred.