Norton Motorcycle Company

Norton is a British motorcycle marque, originally from Bermingham,  founded in 1898 as a manufacturer of "fittings and parts for the two-wheel trade" By 1902, they had begun manufacturing motorcycles with bought-in engines. In 1908, a Norton-built engine was added to the range. This began a long series of production of single and eventually twin-cylinder motorcycles, and a long history of racing involvement.
Wartime WW2 production of the military Model 16h and Big4 sidevalve motorcycles was Nortons contribution to the war effort, almost 100,000 being manufactured.

Norton at the 1914 Isle of Man TT

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.

1928 Norton 490cc Model 18. Registration no. VW 4704. Frame no. 29074. Engine no. 36093. This matching-numbers Model 18 was sent to a dealer in Leytonstone on 18th November 1927 and sold new to a Mr Cox of Chigwell. Sold for £16,100 on the 24th of april 2011.

In my Memories

"It is difficult to understand why AMC bothered to expand and absorb Norton, James and Francis Barnett, for the new empire seemed to be far too much of a nuisance in a somnolent organization which took exception to, and vetoed any form of planning which was likely to further the business interests of any of the companies which had been absorbed."