Norton Model 18 1930

There are quite a few vintage Norton aficionados out there so hopefully someone will correct me if I'm wrong but I'm saying a Model 18 from 1930.

1930 Norton Model 18.

Fifties scrambles meet

Terrible photo but interesting just to see the field in a late fifties / early sixties 250cc scrambles event. Looks to me like the majority of the runners are Greeves.

Ear, ear! Loads of Greeves.

Classic Racing Watercolours

The last couple of watercolours from Gie in Belgium. Thanks again Gie.

Douglas flat tanker

How did they both get there with the bike when it has no pillion seat? Period photo of a flat tank Douglas. I would guess the model as an EW and the year as 1927 though if there are any Douglas experts out there who know better please comment. The EW was available as a 350 or 600, both fore and aft horizontally opposed side valve twins.

Douglas flat tank EW model.

Same bike different rider.

Rob North Triumph Trident watercolour

One more painting from Gie Goyvaerts in Belgium. This time a Rob North Trident.

Rob North framed Triumph Trident watercolour.

1923 James racing cycle

c1923 James racing cycle.

Many of the well known motorcycle manufacturers began with bicycles and in many cases continued with their cycle range alongside their powered two wheelers. James was one such manufacturer and whilst they were never known for sporting motorcycles their bicycle range always had something for the clubman.

Resilion cantilever brakes fitted.

The James has information folder which includes a letter from well known cycle specialist Hilary Stone. The background to the cycle is more in depth than I can give and there seems little point in paraphrasing it so here it is verbatim:
"This c 1923 James racer is a rare and important machine - it is one of the first factory built machines in the new lightweight style after WW1 - brazed up straight tapered chain and seat stays, 26in wheels and lower bottom bracket. This style copied from Bastide by the small lightweight builders immediately after WW1 spread to some of the bigger manufacturers such as James and New Hudson by 1923. The special quick release was the fashion of the early 1920s; the fishtailed lugs were one of the many improvements adopted around the time."

Very distinctive James chainring.

Points I would like to add are that the Resilion cantilever brakes are not an original fitment - they were not introduced until 1929. It is more than likely that the machine had no brakes at all when new, the addition is however a very sensible mod! The lamp bracket is a nice touch but the J on it stands for Jagrose (a cycle accessories brand) rather than James. The hubs are original though the rims have been replaced and respoked when the old ones rotted away and finally the toe straps are copies of originals.

Jagrose light bracket.

The James is a thoroughly useable bike if you don't mind fixies. The ride is not significantly different from a machine thirty years its junior. All in a fine piece of cycling history.

Well used 'Ideale' brand saddle.

Neat serrated quick release chain adjustment.

Lovely swan neck stem and curvy drops.

Early style toe straps.

Seat post is very small diameter with adaptor fitted in frame.

Nortons on tour

This pair of photos came fron a family album of a grand tour of Europe from the early fifties. A bit of a shame that the album was broken up but that's what the owner wanted to do and I didn't want to spend so much money as to buy all the photos individually. They show a solo Norton and a combination travelling each two up. The snap of the camp is particularly evocative.

Trans-European Norton tourists on the road.

Camping fifties style.