Replica DT Norton

-SG- The dirt-track museum 'Cinder to Shale' in Scotland, has been brought down to Ledbury in Herefordshire where I understand it was auctioned last week. It is thought to have been the biggest collection in the world. 

One of the lots was a replica DT Norton built some twenty five years ago by Jim Gregory.  Not having an original DT Norton engine, Jim used an early 1930 Model 20 unit, which looks very similar. He told me that he never actually ran the bike before he sold it to Ian Paterson, the 'Cinder to Shale' owner.  And indeed Ian may not have run it either. Of course, the Model  20 engine will almost certainly have been used during its life but how much is open to query! It will be interesting to see if the new owner gets it going!

Norman Gledhill

 

-SG- Back in December 2012 we had a posting about Norman Gledhill - amongst other things, winner of the 1932 Senior Manx. He looks understandably cheerful although somewhat bedraggled after a wet ride!

Many thanks to Paul. who in the last few days  has sent us half a dozen further photos taken at Norman's home farm after returning from the IoM. The other chaps are local friends of his - the Livingstone brothers. The  MGP Winner's Trophy looks pretty impressive!

Who is he?

 

-SG- Thanks to Adam for the attached early twenties shot of a 16H in distinctly sporting trim. It appears to have one of the rare racing CS gearboxes as well as a Binks rat-trap carb. It was apparently taken in the IOM but who is the rider in his smart cricket jersey? Anyone got any ideas?

1926 Model 18 - Dan Maloney

 

-SG- Thanks to  John who has recently sent me the print of a 1926 Model 18 attached ... he tells me: "this was owned by a friend of mine's great uncle, a chap call Dan Maloney and this was his first Motorbike! Very nice too! Dan went on to race at the Gatwick Speed Trials, Brooklands and Crystal Palace (but on a 350 Velocette)." We wonder if  the Norton (YN3804) has survived!

Another bargain !

-SG- I am too idle to check but I think I may have mentioned my 1930 Model 18 before - bought for the massive sum of 25 shillings (£1.25) in 1956. Seems like they did not fetch a lot back then - thanks to Walter for the 1994 photo of his example - also bought for 25 shillings but a little later on - 1967. And yes, he still has  it!

My 1931 CS1 Norton

 

-JdK- This is my 1931 CS1 Norton and actually the bike that started this blog 15 years ago. I bought it from Paul d'Orleans, in bits, which made it easier to ship it from the US to the Netherlands. Before Paul crated the bike it looked like below; look carefully at the welded magneto chain cover for a confirmation.

I've rebuilt the engine three times now, not because it exploded but because I thought I could do a better job after the first and second build; same for the gearbox that got a new sleeve gear and bearings last winter. The engine is slightly later, 1932, with a bronze head and hairsprings probably dating from 1934. The gearbox off course is a late 30's Dolls Head Norton

The bike came as a pile of bits with an Indian rear wheel, the correct Enfield hub has been fitted now. At front it has a slightly earlier but very good Webb 650 and an 8" Enfield hub. All tinware is replica. The oil tank I fabricated myself. The petrol tank is an Indian made Manx tank that I modified by cutting and welding in a new bottom half.

It's far from original and probably never will be which doesn't bother me at all, it's a lot of fun!

A nice pair of vintage Nortons

 

-SG- David has just sent me this recent photo - and his message hereafter! "Thought you might like to see this very original unspoiled pair which recently appeared at the Marston Sunbeam Club’s event at Metal Bridge near Gretna. Trevor’s ’24 16H and Derek’s ’25 Model 18. They don’t come much better than this."

A bargain ?

 

-SG- My attention was today drawn to the upcoming Bonhams Auction 29273 and to Lot 87. This is an incomplete 1929 Model 18, none the less with matching numbers.  It is missing tanks, mudguards, wheels, clutch and carb. Anyone wanting to embark on the Vintage Norton trail might  be interested ...

OHV pushrod / rocker covers

 

-SG- What you may ask, has a 1928 photo of a chap on a Francis Barnett got to do with Nortons? The answer is simple - not really him but his dad! 

I knew John Newman back in the seventies, when he was running the local garage in Chobham, Surrey. He still had an early two-stroke  (I think a Velocette) and was interested in my 1930 Norton - by then fitted with a 1929 engine, with of course exposed valve gear ... this led to his recollections of his father's early OHV Norton in the twenties which was fitted with the first inverted cup rockers - see scan. These of course did not retain any lubricant as originally supplied and John's dad used bits of rubber tube to try and remedy the situation! 

Move on to November 1928 and Norton's had seemingly woken up to the needs of pushrod end lubrication and mentioned it in their publicity material! Again - see scan. None the less, they do not appear to have mentioned any seals in the 1929 Parts List.  Meanwhile the Desmo Company had started selling  'Flexi -Lubricovers.' While Desmo did not mention any specific brand they considered to be in need of the Lubricovers, the engine outlined in their ad. is without doubt......a Model 18!!  Thanks to John for the 1928 stuff!

Egypt!

-SG- I was pleasantly surprised to receive a scan of a 1928 Mobil advert from John - for which many thanks - which mentioned a TT event near Alexandria in October of that year.  And the winner  and second place man were both NORTON mounted! 

Maddie at the VMCC library has kindly located the brief  report that followed a few weeks later, in 'the Motor Cycle' - also attached.

What/where next?!!