1931 CJ Norton engine

 

-JdK- An email from Frank: "I bought this 1931 CJ engine from a dealer in the Netherlands last summer. It originally came from a millionaire in Germany. The motor has been cannibalized over the years. Initially, it was supposed to go to someone in England, but the deal fell through. The buyer wanted to take it apart, but the dealer did not have the right tools and the piston was stuck in the cylinder. I spent 2 weeks to get the cylinder off. It seems to be a non-standard engine with a high, domed piston and a head made of bronze. There are oil scrapers fitted in the cases close to where the crankshaft runs. The crankcases are being repaired now. The crankshaft is ready. I have found and bought some parts already in the meantime. I still have an empty cambox ... Before I go screaming to Molnar for an oil pump, I would rather try to find a good, usable original Mazak pump. If you have one that you are willing to sell to me, please contact this website. Greetings from the Netherlands, Frank Kuyl."

New Zealand Inters

-SG- Early in December we posted a pre-war photo of (probably) Dick Lawton and his mid twenties Model 18.  Peter Thomson (Thomson Motor Museum) came up with Dick as being the likely rider in the photo and he has also sent me copies of some Box Brownie snaps taken mainly at lower south island racing venues in the thirties and forties. Richard has had a look at these prints for us (all depicting OHC Nortons) and his comments and the photos follow on.  Thanks to all concerned. 

The machine above is a 1932 Model 30 that has seen some racing modifications from it's original specification. The engine has an early type positive end-feed cambox, as used on the works machines. The carburettor looks to have twin float chambers and the rev counter would be a much latter fitment. Other mods include the large muff fitted on the front brake drum, and the larger looking petrol tank which might have been made as a one-off for this bike. The centre stand was not fitted until late 1935 on production machines, but was designed to fit the existing frames and can easily be fitted to earlier machines. 

This Inter above looks to be around 1938 and is fairly standard except for having the larger racing specification petrol and oil tanks. There are some other minor mods, such as racing mudguard etc., but it is not to full racing specification.

Above is a fairly standard 1934 or 1935 CJ Norton that has had a few parts changed for off-road competition with possibly a narrow pre-war trials petrol tank. Norton could supply any model to Trials specification, but this is does not have enough competition parts to be one of those.

Above is a 1936/7 Model 30 fitted with the optional bi-metal head and barrel, and also a positive end-feed racing cambox. The carburettor looks to have twin float chambers, so might be using alcohol fuel. The oil tank is from a 1932/3 model and the petrol tank looks like a pre-war trials type. The rest of the bike looks fairly standard, but stripped for competition.

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.

1929 Model CJ Norton - SOLD

-JdK-  Michael in Austria would like to sell SOLD his CJ Norton race bike, in his own words: "The bike is a 1929 CJ in race specification. Numbers match and it is in good running condition. According to the works records it was delivered in racing trim to a mister Hans Davids from Rotterdam. He was a famous dutch driver, both bikes and cars. My asking price is 28.500 Euro ono. The bike is located in Salzburg Austria and buyer must pick up or arange Transport. His Telephone number is ---------------"

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!

Model CJ barrel - For sale

 

-SG- Ian has in his collection a 1929 CJ and this spare barrel is surplus to his needs.  It is plus 0.020" and seems from the photo to have been sleeved.  Offers to Ian direct if you are interested - ianloram@gmail.com.

1929 CJ Norton frame - SOLD-

-JdK- Malthe is selling SOLD his early 1929 CJ (Camshaft Junior) frame. It is in very good condition and could be used as is, if one wanted to build an early camshaft bike with patina. Or it would form the basis for a perfect early camshaft build. The CJ frame will fit a CS1 engine too. The frame number stamping is clear and crisp as the frame has never been blasted clean or re-painted. Please get in touch for more info. Asking price is 2900 Pounds.  

Parts for the 1929 CJ and JE models

-SG- One of the least common parts lists in Ian's collection is that covering the 1929 CJ/JE models. I have never seen one before and until this one appeared, was doubtful if it even existed.  It is not illustrated  and there is a  bit of water damage to the crankshaft bearing details and JE Pushrods and fittings, by the look of things. But none the less, here it is! Many thanks for the loan, Ian!

1931 Model CJ Norton

-SG- Ian has added to his already large collection of Nortons by purchasing a 1931 CJ. This was restored prior to Ian's acquisition of it by the Sammy Miller Museum workshop and, all in all, it looks like a reasonable effort. Ian has some doubts over the tank panels and we have steered him to what little literature is already on the site in an effort to provide some guidance. The bike was despatched in April 1931 to London dealers Taylor Matterson and appears to have matching frame/engine numbers.

1929 Norton Model CJ parts - For sale

-JdK- FRAME SOLD Tony has these 1929 Model CJ parts for sale; one frame and two engines. Strangely enough neither engine started life with the frame, which seems to have been part of a CJ sent to Europe. The consignee's name - T Mielmann - is hard to read so may be incorrect but was perhaps in Germany, Austria or Switzerland.

Contact us for Tony's contact details.

Juris in Latvia has clarified the illegible consignee of the above frame -  seems it is THIELEMANN, the Latvian Norton agents pre-war.  He goes on to explain:

I REMEMBER I SOLD A CJ FRAME TO THE UK A LONG TIME AGO AS I HAD NO HOPE OF FINDING OTHER PARTS TO REBUILD A COMPLETE BIKE. I FOUND THIS FRAME WITH A CS1 ENGINE FROM 1929 IN IT. IT HAD BEEN RACED IN LIEPAJA, A CITY IN THE WEST OF LATVIA IN PRE-WAR YEARS. AS YOU KNOW I LATER FOUND THE PROPER CS1 FRAME IN VENTSPILS, SO THE ORIGINAL ENGINE AND FRAME WERE REUNITED...
THE CJ FRAME ON SALE MAY WELL BE THE SAME ONE AS IN LATVIA A FAMOUS NORTON DEALER WAS NAMED THIELEMANN WHICH IS VERY CLOSE TO WHAT YOU HAVE COPIED FROM THE DESPATCH BOOKS…

SMALL WORLD , ISN'T IT?

A 1929 Model CJ Norton ...

-SG- ...pictured in Yorkshire in 1935. This pleasing photo comes from the photograph album of Calum's (purveyor of the 1930 Amal booklet just posted) grandfather. The chaps on the bike were just a couple of his grandfather's friends. He has promised to see if there are any other Norton related photographs in there. Meanwhile, thanks for this one!

A glut of CJs

-SG- Due to their comparative scarcity we have not had many postings on the early (1929) CJs, and now, we have news of three, all in the space of a few days!

In chronological order, Ian down in Devon has added a restored '29 CJ to his Norton collection. It appears to have been fitted with later Norton girders but looks very usable. It is, nevertheless, a matching numbers bike despatched in April 1929.

Then Michael has sent in photos of his CJ which has appeared on the site before, when he acquired it in an incomplete state several years back.  He has gone to considerable trouble (and doubtless expense) to bring the bike up to the state it probably was in when it was first shipped to Holland. This included obtaining a set of the enclosed spring Druid forks to replace the Webbs which were fitted when he acquired it.  The very handsome oil tank - if new - looks to be a very good copy of those fitted to the works bikes at the time.  If original, then how lucky to find it!

And finally Tony has  acquired  a CJ project with one frame and two engines plus the necessary extras to put one bike together. He has sent photos and numbers. Strangely enough neither engine started life with the frame, which seems to have been part of a CJ sent to Europe. The consignee's name - T Mielmann - is hard to read so may be incorrect but was perhaps in Germany, Austria or Switzerland.