c1924 Model 18 Norton

A c1924 Model 18 Norton; with a few extra bits and pieces fitted that may have to do with the electric lights? Martin: "The ER numbers were first issued by Cambridgeshire in July 1922, and finished in September 1928 when the VE series started." Simon: "Note the usual Best and Lloyd oil pump but the outlet from it does not go to a Y-piece for dripping onto both inlet and exhaust cams - as later - but just goes to a single union above the exhaust cam..."

c1924 Model 18 Norton

This picture shows mr Karel van Berlage and his Model 18 Norton at the very first Dutch TT held in 1925. Fifteen motorcycles competed in the 500cc class, six of which were Nortons. The race was won by Piet van Wijngaarden on his 1925 Model 18.

Karel's Norton looks a bit outdated compared to Piet's Model 18; is it a 1924 model?

1924 Model 16H Norton

Sent by Kevin

Please find attached a picture of a 1924 16H on the 2009 Vintage Irish Rally.

1924 Model 16H Norton oilpump

By Simon

Regarding the 1925 16H from Kingston upon Hull, is that an oil pump driven from the exhaust cam - and is this (see photo) another of the same? This Norton is in a private collection in New Zealand, unrestored, very original and a year older. Perhaps someone recognises the oil pump type - which I don't!

Note added: refer to this blog entry for info on the oil pump used.

Bert Denly, c1924 Model 18 Norton

Simon: "This is Bert Denly at Brooklands. The silencer makes me think the picture was taken in '26 or so, even though it still shows the early 'straight' rockers."

Roger: "Bert didn't join O'Donovan at Brooklands until April 1923. The Brooklands can rather than the "python" exhaust puts it later than 1924. The cycle parts look very much like the pictures of the Monza record breaking machine in 1924 so I would date the machine as 1924. It is remarkably clean for a Don Norton so that would rule out 1926 making it more likely the pic was taken in 1925."

1924 16H Norton

Mail from Stephen in the UK: "Please find attached photograph of a very original 1924 16H Norton"

Brown & Barlow Ltd carburetters

Giulio, owner of this 1924 Model 18 Norton sent me these pics to enquire whether this carb should be fitted to his Norton.

Simon: "The carburetter is a B & B but not the type fitted to OHV Nortons in 1924 as far as I know. It is an earlier version and I think was used on some Nortons and doubtless many other bikes, up to and including 1923. Above an excerpt from the 1924 B & B brochure which shows the 2 lever Sports Model used on most OHV Nortons during the mid twenties. The illustration shows the carburetter fitted with a top feed float chamber. Nortons used the bottom feed version."

1924 Big Four Norton outfit

Another great photo from Martin in the USA, where does he get them!?

Martin: "Since you have been posting sidecars I thought you might like this one. Not a very good pic of the Norton but I feel there is enough information to make an identification. The Rudge sidecar looks special. What should we call this? A "fore and aft"? I love the man's jacket and gauntlets! The back of this unused card only says, "the family" handwritten in pencil. It sure looks like a happy Norton family"

The shape of the tank identifies the machine as a Big Four model and by the look of the handlebars and the size of the front break drum I would suggest it was made in 1924.

Roger: "1924 could be quite right as the Fife registration is from late 1924. The tax disc is visible and isn't banded but this probably means that it was a quarterly one as only the annual ones were banded. The sidecar looks as though it has grown with the family and that may be why they needed to step up from a Rudge to a Big Four."

Martin S.: "The SP registration number was issued in Fife, Scotland and the last such number (SP9999) was issued in April 1925, so the Norton is probably a 1924 model. As a long standing Rudge owner as well as Norton owner, I checked and scanned (below) the relevant page from an original 1922 sales catalogue which shows a tubular chassis and body very similar to the one shown in the photo, even down to the Rudge logo on the side of the nose!! The flat steel strip chassis was introduced from approximately 1925, whereas this one would of course be earlier than 1924 as it probably is on its second motorcycle! The extra seat in the nose is definitely a modification, with extra footwell as well... Cosy!!"

...and Howard: "This Big 4 outfit has P&H lamps fitted including a pair of P&H side wings to the headlamp. I can also see the top of a Cowey horn bolted to the top tube of the frame. Both of these accessories are fairly rare and very expensive nowadays."

Giulio's c1924 M18 racer

Finally we found out that this Norton lives in Italy and is owned by Giulio who now sent me a photo of the left hand side of the machine; clearly a very nice Norton! The colors of the bike and the wall are amazing.

Giulio made a modification that I have been thinking about for a while; the inlet valve guide may wear at an alarming rate and diverting the crankcase breather to the valve guide should get enough oil mist up there for proper lubrication.

Note the early type of cylinder head; the photo below compares an early head (on the right) to a later one.

...and a comment from Martin:

"This is a nice picture of an attractive early Model 18 although quite a lot of it is not 1924, as I suppose happens with such bikes. But dating the head is an easy task as Norton conveniently stamped the date of manufacture in small numbers beside the inlet stub, on the thick part where the inlet rocker support is bolted. This is the year and month of manufacture. I have an early head stamped 2310 which is October 1923... This is often not very visible as the numbers are small and often obscured by the black coating on the head, but a polish with a Dremel or similar will reveal it."

R.T. Grogan winner of the 200 Miles Solo Event

This photo depicts Mr R.T. Grogan on his Model 18 Norton after winning the 1924 200 miles Solo Event at Brooklands. Summarized, he raced a standard looking Model 18 Norton for two and a half hours at an average speed of 80 miles per hour. He won from the famous tuner Victor Horsman (on a Triumph), all of which did not affect his hairdo at all!

A report on the race can be found at page 28 of a Norton's publication entitled 'A Year of Firsts':

"Almost ideal weather attended the 200 miles Solo Motorcycle Races, held at Brooklands, on Saturday, September 6th and some exciting races resulted. Though the entries were comparatively few in the 500 cc class, the only Norton machine taking part - a 490 cc OHV Model ridden by R.T. Grogan - took the lead from the start. The end of the first lap saw Grogan leading with the second man close on his heels, and it was already evident that the race would develop into an exciting duel between these two - Grogan and another well-known racing man, Victor Horsman. The two leaders were both gradually drawing away from the rest of the field and lap after lap saw Grogan still leading with Horsman in close attendance, and by the time 20 laps had been covered excitement ran high. The duel between the two leaders was fast becoming the only thing of interest in the race, and when at 36 laps Grogan drew up at his pit to replenish, Horsman at once took the lead. The feverish haste at which " filling up " was tackled can well be imagined, and after what seemed minutes, but was in reality only seconds, the Norton was once more going - and as consistent as ever. After another six laps - with the Norton a close second - Horsman stopped at his pit and Grogan readjusted the position by again taking the lead - a position he held - and increased - until the end. The finish of this decidedly thrilling race resulted in a win for Norton's. Grogan's time for the 200 miles being 2 hours, 31 minutes, 49 1/5 seconds, an average speed of 79.81 miles per hour, against Horsman's average of 73.24 m.p.h."

Model 18 racer

This looks good! It is pretty close to 1924 specification although it's not clear how the footrests/brake pedal attach to the frame properly and I suspect the frame could be '26/'27. It has the early type rockers (not Norton's cleverest idea: the inverted cups of the rockers don't retain lubricant as the original seals have usually gone missing long since...) and I think the oil tank may be a repro job. Carb is an Amal and the inlet stub is much later. Also, the tyres look a bit fat - perhaps bigger than 26 x 2 1/2 x 2 1/4? None the less it looks 'fit for purpose.' Cheers S