1935 Trials Specification Model 18

 

-SG- When I look back at our web site I am surprised at the few postings involving Trials models despite the fact that Norton riders such as Jack Williams and Vic Brittain were at the top of their game in the thirties - mostly with Trials versions of the Model 18. There does not seem to have been a leaflet devoted to Trials models specifically but the 1937 Brochure included a paragraph and illustration on the subject.  For the (then quite high) sum of £5 one could order any model in Trials trim. And this included - amongst other things - chromed mudguards and rims, 21" front wheel, narrow forks (ie Inter dimensions), chromed primary drive cover and chain guard, frame with increased ground clearance, and 'nobbly' tyres.

Richard's grandfather, a policeman in Penicuick, Scotland, acquired a Trials spec. Model 18 probably in the mid forties and the NOC details show it was originally  delivered in December 1935 to Alexanders of Edinburgh.  The retail purchaser is not shown in the records so whether it was used competitively in its early days is not known.  But by the time it was bequeathed  to Richard in 2014 it was in rather a sorry state - see photos above. 

He had decided to keep it in the family and that he would get it professionally rebuilt before passing it on to his son Jon - a US resident of California. This task was put in the hands of Rob Gibson of Bainbridge, Indiana, who specialises in rebuilding post-war British bikes and it was in fact his first involving a pre-war machine.  Judging by the photos Richard has sent he looks to have made a pretty good job of it and literally all of the items which were replaced have been salvaged and saved. Worth just  mentioning that the raised handlebars are fitted to make it more comfortable to ride - both Richard and his son being over 6ft (1.8M). It was ridden part of the way from Indiana to California by them both after the rebuild - only part of the way as some milage was on the trailer due to vile weather!

Richard has said that he would be happy to make contact with any Norton enthusiasts in California - let us know and we will forward contact details on. 

1935 CS1 Norton - top yoke bracket wanted

 

-JdK- Leon contacted us with the following request: "The original top yoke that is fitted to my 1935 CS1 is the same as the one I have just purchased (below) but the handle bar bracket section was cut away from my yoke,  WHY?,  I think to fit an Inter type fuel tank.

In their wisdom they then altered the top yoke to accept the WD16H type alloy handle bar brackets seen in the photo but they failed on one important point and that is to get them level. When I did find the correct panel fuel tank I found it would not fit with the handle bars bracket currently fitted as the clashed with the tank,

So I was left to find another top yoke, which luckily I have but as you can see is still missing the little bracket to be able to fasten the handlebars down with."

If any reader has one of the clamps spare and is willing to sell, please get in touch!

1935 International Norton

-JdK- John in Melbourne had some extended  shed time in the last 2 months which resulted in getting his Inter together. Photo shows how he acquired the frame in 2003, then gathered parts to complete over a few years.

Jimmie in 1935/36

-JdK- Sent by Barry - and many thanks for that - a few photo's of Jimmie and different versons of his  record breaking machine.
-Richard- The second and third pictures are from the second Guthrie record attempt in October 1936. The team took 2 machines, a 350 and a 500 to attempt all records up to 1 hour duration and these  pictures show the 350 with the 1936 plunger sprung frame, and this broke the 350 records at over 107mph. The 500 was on target to break the 1935 record of 114mph but ran out of alcohol fuel a few minutes before the 1 hour record deadline due to a leaking carburettor float leading to excess consumption. Fortunately records up to 100km were broken at over 117mph, but it was the 1 hour which was the publicity goal.

1935 Model CS1 Norton road test

-SG- Martin sent this copy, dated 14 August 1935, containing a CS1 roadtest which seems a very balanced and well written piece which might well be appreciated.

Mid-thirties norton model ES2

-JdK- From the Red Devil Motors blog; a picture of what appears to be a mid-1930s ES2.

Bob Spreadbrow's Cup

-SG- Back in May we had a posting about Bob and his Brooklands activities aboard his Model 30.  Graham has now kindly sent a photo of his silver cup and also his flying kilometer speed certificate from April 1935.  Many thanks!

The 1935 Instruction Manual

-SG- Another instruction manual from Ian's collection.  This appears to be around 1935 as the sideways view of the Model 18  on page 7 shows a Norton gearbox rather than S/Archer and the exhaust pipe is on the right.  Many thanks to Ian for the loan.

Guthrie and 1935 Senior TT

-SG- The records show that Jimmy Guthrie finished second - by 4 seconds -  to Stanley Woods (Guzzi) in the 1935 Senior. Here's a rather grainy photo of premature celebrations by the Norton chaps when it was thought Jimmy had won.  Needless to say, it was not used overmuch at the time!

Norton outfit

-SG- John in NZ has sent in the attached photo of a Norton outfit racing at Alexandra Park, North London, in June 1935. Many thanks!

1935 Model 50 Norton

-SG- We don't have that many postings for the 350 OHV models on the site and a good reason for that is that they did not sell that well!  I was therefore pleased to see what seemed to be a very original example at the recent West Kent Run in UK and here are a few of my 'usual standard' photos of it. It was shipped out in October 1935 and went to a buyer in Cradley Heath. In view of the despatch date it may perhaps have been a 1936 model. The tank top panel is shown in the despatch book entry as an original fitting.

1935 MGP - Dr J K Swanston

-SG- Dr Swanston - who died a year or two back at over 100 years old - told the story of his 1935 MGP win in his contribution to the History of the Manx Grand Prix 1923 - 1998.  Co-author Bill Snelling has kindly given permisssion to reproduce Dr Swanston's article and this is attached (below).

It is interesting to note that, despite all the fuss over amateur status which caused the demise of the Amateur TT and the start of the Manx GP, six years earlier, Dr Swanston relates the substantial help he had from the works during his racing activities - and all for the sum of £10 ... almost a case of 'plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose'.

One of Dr Swanston's earlier bikes - I think his rather special 1931 Senior mount - has survived and has been restored.

'Ctrl-right-click' and 'open in new window'
for a large version

1935 Model CS1 Norton

-SG- My good friend Leon in Australia bought a 1935 CS1 from New Zealand last year and while it was complete - last used in 2004 - the rather strange paint job on the tank (above) was none too pleasing and there were various mechanical matters which needed attention. But it's back together again (below) and going well. Leon's report on the project is below:

... the refit consisted of New Old Stock fork blades and front brake plate, all new spindles, nuts, thrustwashers, check springs and pins. New wheel hubs front and back, chromed the rims again and painted the middle black with red pinstripes. Cad plated the spokes then rebuilt the wheels with new shoes, tyres, and new rear sprocket. Fitted the correct front and rear wheel stands. Fitted the correct T shape battery, and a new original tail light. Replaced all cables and oil lines.

The biggest changes were to the seat and tank. The old saddle was made from three broken ones and the tank was decidedly odd - once the paint was removed it looked as if it could have been made up from two tanks!

So I bought one of those new tanks from India, $300 delivered to my door - painted, chromed and ready to go ... but not quite, I had to cut the tank open around the steering head as it just didn’t fit, so this meant the mounting holes were in the wrong place. Then the nearside fuel tap had to be moved ¾” back. After all that I put a liner in the tank and it and it now fits like a glove.

I sent the engine and frame numbers off to the Norton Owners Club in UK and they came back telling me it has the original frame, engine, gearbox, magdyno, and forks, which I will refurbish and get back on one day.

1935 Modell 40 Norton

-SG- Don has sent in photos of his very tidy 1935 Model 40 - which, slightly unusual in this day and age, has all numbers matching with the records. Yes, engine, frame, tank, gearbox and magdyno! It formed part of the late Ken Bills' collection before Don bought  it.

Of specific interest is the gearbox and gear-change, of which Don has taken a couple of close-ups. The box is a four speed Sturmey Archer but the gear change is the Norton version as incorporated into the 'doll's head' box, which the firm started using in '35. Don's initial re-action to this arrangement was that it might have been a tidily executed home modification by a previous owner. But Ken McIntosh in New Zealand tells me there are a couple of Inters in Australia of the same vintage with the self-same gearchange arrangement so it seems very much to be something carried out by the works for a short period. Ken explains ...

The two top studs on the SturmeyArcher box are closer together than on the Norton box, so the top of the Sturmey Archer end cover was cut off and recesses milled to accept the mounting lugs of the doll's head change.

Ken also kindly sent the 1935 Patent Application details for the doll's head change and the comment that, when used on a road bike with a relatively long gear change lever, the lever travel is excessive and  not convenient to use - with which I wholeheartedly agree!

Gordon Small and Johnny Duncan‏

'Right-click' and choose 'open link in new window'
for a large and readable version

-SG- Gordon Cadzow was the pen-name of Gordon Small - a top executive at the Scottish publishing firm of D C Thomson and Co Ltd, Dundee. As Cadzow, he started and edited the magazine Classic Motorcycling Legends which ran from issues 1 to 34 (Summer '87 to Autumn '95) and despite his - to me - sometimes rather 'schmalzy' way of writing, the magazine contained plenty of good articles over its rather brief print run. Gordon died a few years back and in case anyone thinks I am being unkind about him when he is no longer here to fight his corner, I gave my opinions when the magazine was first published and Gordon sent a very civil and good natured response.

Issue 4 contained an article about Scottish racing man J G Duncan, who was a member of the Norton team in 1935 only, after riding Raleighs, Cottons and New Imps in the preceding years with moderate success. This is provided (above) and in it, Gordon acknowledges the help he had from Johnny's nephew in Aberdeen. But the story does not quite end there ...

'right-click' and choose 'open link in new window'
for a larger version of this letter

Back in 2001 former Irish racing man Joey Wood (also no longer with us) wrote to Gordon, seemingly raising the matter of Johnny Duncan's contract with Norton's, or, rather, the breaking of the contract and the possible level of compensation paid to Duncan as a result. David Crawford in Northern Ireland has kindly sent a copy of Gordon's response on this subject, which I find well worth reading! It, too, is attached (above). While Gordon's letter gives his opinions on the compensation issue, his additional comments regarding Jimmy Guthrie's widow and brother are also of interest.

1935 Model ES2 Norton - SOLD

-JdK- Simon in the UK (not Simon Grigson) SOLD would like to sell his Norton. His description of the bike can be found below. Contact us for Simon's telephone number.

-Simon- "I would like to advertise the following bike which I have owned since June 1995. The machine was restored by a friend about 19 years ago, is in fine fettle and close to original. It runs well with the added bonus of a buff log book and it's original registration number. I would like offers in the region of £9.750.

The details are: Norton ES2, Frame no. 558XX, Engine no. 606XX, Agent or Dealer Frodsham Warrington, Retail Purchaser. J Miller 49 Waverley st. Warrington 29 December 1934, Registered 31 December 1934 in Lancashire"