1913 advert

-SG- Peter Thomson has kindly forwarded a scan of this 1913 advert in The Motor Cycle.  1913 seems to be one of the years where we don't have any postings to date! Worth noting that just four models are listed ... Thanks, Peter!

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."

c1912 Model 3 1/2 Norton

-Martin-  These pics come from George Brooks of the Sporting Car Club of South Australia who published a series of picture books of early vehicles in South Australia. Book 4 cover motorcyles from 1899-1930, and these two are nice early examples. One is a Norton the other a Norton engined bike built by a clever engineer. (Pics from the 'Marticelli Collection and SCCSA')

Pitcher Bros catalogue

-JdK- Reece in New Zealand sent a copy from Pitcher Brothers (from Christchurch, New Zealand) catalogue of about 1909-1910. Click this link for all pages.

1910 Model 3 1/2 Norton

-SG- There aren't that many early Nortons about (and one or two are perhaps not what they are cracked up to be!) but at the VMCC's Banbury Run  this year was the 1910 single speeder that its owner Andrew had brought all the way from Western Australia in order to ride in this and other events while he was in UK. I failed to catch up with Andrew on the day but fortunately Alan was more on the ball and took some photos for me. Andrew provided the interesting fact that this is the Norton restored in the late seventies by former between-the-wars speedway star Eric Langton. Eric retired to Perth, W Australia and died there in 2001 aged 93. As well as being a very good rider in his day,he was also a time-served engineer and the skills learnt as an apprentice in the twenties served him in good stead in his Norton restoration. He wrote a long and interesting article on the subject  for the VMCCWA which can be accessed on line - 'My Unapproachable Norton by Eric Langton'  - which I strongly recommend.

1908 Model 3 1/2 HP Norton

-Dennis- Above is an advert from the 17th June 1908 copy  of The MotorCycle.

c1910 Model 3 1/2 HP Norton

-SG- My good friend Peter Thomson (Thomson Motorcycle Museum, Palmerston North, NZ) writes that he  recently obtained a quantity of cycle (pushbike) stuff from an estate and amongst it was this Norton advert. It's not clear what periodical it first appeared in but it seems to date from 1910 or a bit earlier as the vee twin engined machine is also mentioned in the advert. Doubtless someone with access to appropriate sources of reference can date it precisely so let's be hearing from you!

c1909 Model 3 1/2 HP Norton

-JdK- From George's book, a picture of a c1909 Model 3 1/2 HP Norton at Brooklands.

-George- The picture was taken at the easter meeting at Brooklands in 1909. From left to right: Pratt on a Norton, Godfrey on a Rex and Femi on a TT Triumph. The number plate on the Norton (O164) was the same as on Pa Norton's Big 4 combination!

-Roger- I can find no trace of a Norton racing at Brooklands before 1910 and I am not convinced that this was taken at a race meeting. The lack of spectators in the spectators' enclosure on the other side of the track supports this. In 1909 the BARC official events would have used colours for the identification of riders but all of the riders are wearing the same clothing. The Norton has the 1904 registration O164 which indicates that it was a works machine and it was in use by the factory for a long time.

-John- The Rex has been modified for use at Brooklands as the front forks are solid with no springing at all from a c1904 machine, even though the machine in the picture is either 1909 or 1910.

Norton at the 1914 Isle of Man TT

This photo was taken on Ramsey Promenade during the 1914 TT races on the Isle of Man. From left to right: Dan O'Donovan, the Braid Brothers, James Norton and his father sitting inside the sidecar combination. The motorcycles would be TT Model 9's or 3 1/2 HP models while Pa Norton brought his Big Four. This is another pic of Ossie Braid on this very machine.

...same day, same people, except for James' father.

...and looking at the rider's number (59), this must be Dan at the 1914 TT.

1908 Model 3 1/2 HP Norton

By Martin

I have recently found another image of an early Norton in an album of early vehicle pictures from the state of Victoria, Australia.  I think this is one of the first Norton-engined 3 1/2 HP machines from circa 1908 but as ever, I stand to be corrected by others more knowledgeable than me! I suspect the background is a painted country scene rather than an actual outdoors view.

1910 Model 3 1/2 Norton

Sent by Andrew in Australia

This Norton is an original machine. It belonged to Eric Langton (brother of Oliver). It came out of South Australia about 40 years ago. It had corroded crankcases and Eric made a pattern and cast new ones but I have the original cases in my shed. I took these and lots more photos in the ally way behind the house where it is stored. I then took it home and fixed the magneto and rode it a few times. It went really well. I spent a far amount of time talking with Eric about pattern making and lots about riding for the Scott factory in the TT and then lots about world champianship speed way racing, all very interesting. I have just about finished a pattern for the cylinders for this machine if someone needs one.

c1910 Model 3 1/2 Norton

Joan from Barcelona sent these pics. I'm not sure about the year or model, perhaps one of the readers knows more about this motorcycle?

Howard: "As soon as I spotted this Norton I knew what it was, or to be precise what it is not. And it's not a Norton! Take a good look at the frame lugs.....its a lash-up. This bike is a replica built up by the late Bill Fruin. Bill has been dead for many years and this bike was sold at auction along with all of Bill's other bikes (many Nortons as well), and it sold for reasonable money so someone was taken in at the time. I cannot find my copy of Bill Fruin's auction catalogue but I am sure it is the same bike. I know it did the rounds for a while."

John from the UK: "I think this was a ‘fake’ stuck together by Bill Fruin and sold in the Auction of his machines in the 1980’s. I seem to remember Titch Allen covering it’s somewhat dubious history in the VMCC magazines at the time."

Simon: "Not sure if this is the Fruin fake or not - his fake was a 350cc machine not a 3 1/2 hp (ie 500cc) bike."

The Braid brothers in 1914

These are the Braid brothers during the 1914 TT on the Isle of Man.  The model numbering system has been in use since 1915, so while these motorcycles look like TT Model 9's they could be 3 1/2 HP models. Large boxes are fitted to the saddle tubes; are these oiltanks or toolboxes? The old Norton logo is still used.

Roger:"The Nortons have a two speed epicyclic gearbox on the end of the crankshaft. The lever changes between the two ratios without a clutch."

Bigport:" I think the machines are fitted with Brampton variable gears. The construction widens or closes the pulley flanges, thereby varying the gear ratio. See the description above.

Ossie Braid on his Model 3 1/2 HP Norton

Howard sent this photograph of a gent on an early Norton. The logo on the tank identifies it as a machine built before 1915; the smooth appearance of the crankcase suggests that it dates from after 1912. Before 1915 the Norton models were listed by description and not using the familiar numbering scheme (e.g. Model 7, 8 or 9) and this would thus be a 3 1/2 HP belt drive model. Note the 'gearchange' lever on the tank that operated the Phillipson pulley on the crankshaft.

Howard: "I think it is a pre 1913 model. The "SP" registration number is from Fife, Scotland. No idea who the rider is....bought the photo on eBay. I notice an acetylene generator bolted up on the handlebars so the bike looks to have been on the road and then stripped down for racing. It has a Senspray carburetter fitted. Great looking machine....wish it was in my shed!"

Who can add to the description?

Roger: "The picture is of Ossie Braid on the machine that he rode in the 1914 TT. He was part of the O'Donovan works team and this picture is of the same machine as the gear change handle is taped up as in the 1914 TT pictures. He is in his racing leathers and helmet. I suspect that he used the machine on the road after the TT which is why it is fitted with an acetylene generator. The composition of the picture suggests that it was taken by a professional photographer when he returned home after the race which is why the background is blurred out. "

Stephen's 1910 Model 3 1/2 HP Norton

Stephen (from the Bracebridge Street Norton Register) sent a photo of his 1910 Model 3 1/2 HP Norton:

"This was a trip down to Brighton with a load of other veteran bikes on the Pioneer Run. It was not an easy ride as she is very high geared for speed and not for going through congested towns. A hundred year old Norton and still going strong, here is to the next hundred."

1912 3 1/2 HP Norton

One of the most famous Nortons ever, 'The Old Miracle'; again a brilliantly clear postcard contributed by Martin from the USA. As Martin remarked, little can be said about this bike that has not been said already. It's a 1912 3 1/2 HP model with a 500cc side valve engine and direct belt drive that secured some 112 speed records before the first World War with a top speed of over 80mph. Note the incorrect 'Curly N' logo on the tank.

Below a pictures of a similar 3 1/2 HP machine.