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The Norton Manufacturing Company started in 1898 by James Lansdowne Norton with the production of items (chains) for bicycles. In 1902, the first Norton Motorcycle was born; it was a motorcycle with a Belgian Clement engine. Five years after, a Norton with a Peugeot engine ridden by Rembrandt Fowler won the first Tourist Trophy (TT) in 1907. In spite of the fact that James Lansdowne Norton was a good engineer, the business decrease and in 1913, R.T. Shelley & Co., the main creditors, intervened and saved it. Norton Motors Ltd. was also formed.
During the WW1, the British government launched a contract for the sale of Norton motorcycles to the Russian Army and in 1916 the famous Norton logo appeared. After the war, in 1918, the power of the Norton (the Big 4 with 633cc introduced in 1908) was recognized.
In 1920, a Norton Motorbike with 3 speeds and a chain transmission the first TT took the second place.
James Norton died in 1925 at the age of 56.
He was very respected throughout the industry for his really engineering ability and his integrity. In Europe, on many race tracks, Norton bikes equipped with saddle type petrol tank, won several races or finished well places. One year after, the road bikes were equipped too and at the 1926 London Show, equipment like internal braking, four speed gearboxes and an automatic chain lubrication became standard. This year, a Irish pilot called Stanley Woods, won the TT on his Norton.
The Norton company, decided to create a new powerful engine called OHC; Bennet with a Norton bike equipped with OHC engine won the TT 1927.
In 1932, at Montlhery (France), Bill Lacey put the one hour record to 110 mph. The Model 50 and 55 arrived a with four speed gearbox, interchangeable wheels in standard. The customer could choose the wheels change system: by hand or by foot. In 1934, Norton introduced his oil bath primary chaincase which equipped bikes until 1970.
16H ArmyIn 1939, the factory produced only the military 16H (with a 1937 engine) and the BIG 4 (for sidecar). During the War, about 100,000 Norton bikes were produced and only military.
In 1946, the production restarted with the other bikes like the OHV Model 18. Bill Mansell, who managing directors since 1927, was replaced by Gilbert Smith and Dennis Mansell, his brother, left Norton too. In 1948, Norton introduced the new 500cc Model 7 designed by Herbert Hopwood.
Dominator 1957 To export bikes to America, Norton launched a team in the famous Daytona 200 race with two American rider Steve Lancefield and Francis Beart. It has been a success since 1952, when the OHC engine was forbidden for the competition but Norton continue to dominate the racing scene in USA and in Europe. In November 1951, the Mode 88 Dominator was introduced but only for export.
The 1952 Senior and Junior TT, were won by Norton.
In February 1953, after financial problem because of the non sale of old models, Associated Motorcycle Limited buy Norton Motors Ltd. The new company was not enable to produce enough machines to move Norton into profitability. Ray Amm won the TT and raised the one hour record to 133.71 mph. In 1958, for 60 years of Norton, a new engine ("Jubilee"), a 250cc OHV twin was produced and combined with AMC cycle parts. During the year 1959, the production of the 19S model ceased and the other models (Model 50, ES2, Model 88, Model 99) were better equipped. In 1960, AMC and Norton launched the Navigator a 350cc bike similar to the Jubilee and at the end of the year, the new version of the Manxman with 650cc. The sale of Norton bikes became better because of the well race results, but the company was definitely not in a good level. The 1961 Senior TT, was won by Mike Hailwood who take the race record with 100mph with a single cylinder bike. The production of the Model 99, 88, 50 and ES2 were stopped between 1962-63.
AtlasIn 1963, the Dominator (Atlas for the export )was enlarged to 750cc and the 88SS was modified too (head and ignition). Because of the bad sales, AMC decided to close Bracebridge Street (Norton's home since WW1). In 1964, AMC was sold to Manganese Bronze Holdings Ltd.
After a few years, in 1966, Colin Seeley bought AMC race shop and sold the Norton part. Originally interested by the G50 and the 7R, he decided to produce the Manx T3 (300cc) and T5 (500cc). At the end of the 60s, as a result of the cafe racer fashion, Norton put a Triumph Bonneville engine into his famous Featherbed frames to create the Triton.
Commando 1969 750ccThe P1 a hybrid bike between a Norton and a Matchless, created by Berliner, was introduced in 1967. The production of the Mercury was stopped in 1970. The Commando idea was born in 1967, when Bernard Hooper decided to use an Atlas engine in a new massive top tube frame. The design was very particular, and the Commando was characterized by a full equipment (triplex primary chain, fibreglass …) in standard. The production begin in April1968 and his name was Fatsback and 'S' Type. In 1968, the factory move, the manufacturing to Wolverhampton and the test development in an aircraft hanger on nearby Thruxton Airfield. In 1969, after 60 years in Plumstead, the factory was left and demolished in 1971. The new version of the Commando, the roadster appeared in 1970.
In 1972, Norton rejoined the BSA-Triumph Group to formed the NVT, Norton Villiers Triumph. Many bike modification are issued from the partnership for the race or for the road. About the race, NVT introduced a 500cc twin Cosworth engine. In 1973, because of the public reticence about the use of same device for 3 company, the production of 750cc bike stopped. In 1974, the company entered in his bad period with the use of only 2 of his 4 production site (Wolverhampton, Small Heath). During the strike, workers blocked the Small Heath site (that produced Trident) and the company lost £20,000 per week and finished the year with £3M deficit. In 1975, the British government refused to give more credits to NVT like a £4M loan and one year later, saved NVT from the liquidation and rename it NVT Engineering Ltd. The NVT Engineering Ltd was in liquidation in 1976 and in spite of this trouble the production of Commando never stopped until 1977.
The Norton company had lived during 90 years and will stay in our heart forever. British Motorcycle History |
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