Sent by Yoshikazu in east Japan.

"This Norton belongs to a friend of mine. I think it's a 1937-1938 Model 40 International. The engine number is 82XX, the frame number is 833XX. Note the magnesium crankcase and "cut" framelug"

Bill's 1938 International

Bill bought himself another Norton; it's a 1938 Model 30 International (or Manx?).

1938 M40 Nortons

When this photo was sent to me the caption read: "The RAC motorcycle racing team in Llandrindod Wells, Wales, UK, for the International Six Day Trial in 1938".

The motorcycles are Internationals and by the height of the camshaft tunnels could be 348cc M40's. With the exception of the knobbly tires the Nortons should be more suitable for fast road racing! The bike on the right has a wrap-around racing oil tank fitted.

c1938 Model 20 Norton

Martin from the USA sent me this postcard. The photo must have been made in Holland, suggested by the Dutch licence plates, the bicycles in the background and even the man's haircut. On the back of the unused postcard it reads: Reportage, A v Beurden, Hof fotograaf, Tilburg. Tilburg is a town in the south of The Netherlands and mr van Beurden must have been a professional photographer by approval of the Queen herself.

The bike on the left is a DKW RT, a 98cc two-stroke. Many were built, for the only reason that they were very cheap to buy and run I guess. The bike on the right is a 600cc side valve BMW; strikingly, it seems to be almost completely covered in chrome. The BMW is a type R6 or R61, depending on whether it has rear suspension or not, which is not clear from the picture. Both BMW types were produced after 1937.

The Norton is a brand new Model 20. The M20 has the 500cc engine from the M18 but with a twin port head fitted. It's a trials version. In the 1930s, any model could be ordered in trials trim for a few pounds extra. These extra's included things like more ground clearance, a sump plate, high level exhausts, wider front mudguard, foldable kickstart and competition tyres. A very luxurious bike, with the tank panel and all that chrome.

The pushrod tubes still run parallel to each other and the headlight is the 8" Lucas. All of this suggests a 1935-1938 model to me. (Thanks  Martin and Chris!)

c1938 16H Norton

Wim from Belgium sent me pics of the c1938 16H Norton he rebuilt together with his father. Wim's father had known the bike for decades before he could persuade the owner to part with it. The previous owner had used the Norton to power a woodsaw; the rear wheel had been removed and the rear chain connected to the sawing table. A hole had been chopped in the primary chain case to run a ventilator, via a belt, to supply the engine with cold air. Restoration was still quite straighforward. Nice one, Wim!