1937 Model 20 Norton

Sent by Ben in Australia

This is our 1937 Model 20. This started out as a cylinder head in 1988! A slow way to acquire a bike but very rewarding in the end. Not to mention a lot of fun!

More of Ko Konijn's Nortons

Sent by Marcel

These Nortons used to belong to my uncle Ko. They were made in the 1950s-1960s and the three pics on top show Ko with his bikes. The first photo shows Ko on an early postwar Model 20, note the wooden shoes! In the second pic he is helping a friend fit a piston to what appears to be a two-stroke barrel; there is at least one Norton cammy engine on the bench. GX4757 must be a mid-1930s Model 20 with a too small tank fitted? The Inter in the last pic was sold - or exchanged - at one stage as the engine was wrecked completely; which is a pity as it looks very original.

1930 Model 20 Norton - Sold

For sale at Bonhams and their description:

"This Model 20 has been in the vendor's family since it was delivered new in April 1930 and was used by his father - 'The Flying Vicar' - to travel around his parish. Little used after 1950, it was placed in storage before being re-commissioned and used by the vendor from 1960 to 1965. 'VK 1969' was then put into store again, remaining there until 1990 when it was re-commissioned. In regular use since then, it has benefited from a new seat (2005), new pannier boxes (2007) and new mudguards, exhaust pipes and silencers (2008). The machine is described as in generally very good condition and offered with current MoT/tax, NOC dating certificate and Swansea V5C registration document. It should be noted that the Sturmey Archer gearbox, although correctly ratioed, is not original to this machine. Registration no. VK 1969, Frame no. 41529. Engine no. 48139"

JdK: A pity they replaced so many parts as they don't fit really well; headlamp and magdyno come from a younger bike.

Simon: "It was indeed delivered 8/4/30 to the Revd. O McDonald of St John's Vicarage in Newcastle.  Not clear if this was Newcastle up North or Newcastle (under Lyme) in the Midlands - probably  up North.  Frame and engine number agree and it still has the speedo in the tank.  Also has the correct primary chain guard.  Missing the cast alloy magdyno cover (as well as the original magdyno) but not a bad lot. Note the half size oil tank - this was the usual arrangement on dynamo equipped Model 20s."


Note: sold for GBP 12.650

Max's 1931 Model 20 Norton

An email from Mike Slater

"Thought you might be interested in this pic; this is my great uncle Max's bike, pictured in 1939 (at least the license plate makes it pretty easy to date the photo). I don't really know much about the bike, apart from the fact that it seems to be a Model 20, with what looks like an aftermarket suicide shifter fitted and the tool box removed."

JdK: It's a 1931 Model 20 Norton. Note the twinport exhaust, the position of the magdyno behind the cylinder, the Enfield hub at rear, the Horton hub at front and the early Norton forks (without the typical Webb wing nuts). An interesting feature is the instrument panel mounted on the front forks. The gearbox lever for the Sturmey Archer box is original, as is most of the rest of the bike.

Pa's 1932 Model 20 Norton

An email from Pa Houlihan in Ireland: "I bought the Model 20 over the phone and collected it at Stafford show in 1995 I think. The picture shows what I came home with. I was lucky enough to find a brass carb at the show that suited. The engine number and frame number are both 1932 but very little else is. The engine got new crank bearings, rings, valve springs and an oil pump. The piston is on standard bore. The rest I salvaged what I could and not having a big budget I assembled what I had. I ended up with is a bike that goes very well and is great fun to ride. I took it to the Inchageelagh Rally this May and did 200 miles without trouble. The second picture is at the Irish National Rally in 1997."

1931 Model 20 crankcases wanted

An email from Albert in Malta: "I wonder if you could help me? I gave my 1931 Model 20 crankcases for welding as I discovered some hairline cracks around the bearing bosses. The "professional" welder I gave them to managed to ruin them for me (he did not normalise the cases prior to welding) and they are now useless, as they cracked up when cooling down. Do you know anyone who might have a spare set for sale? 1931 and 1932 Model 18 are similar. Best regards, Albert"

Anyone who has a spare set of cases or an engine  for sale can contact John and I'll forward your message to Albert.

1935 Model 20 Norton

Another one sent by Dave. This is a c1935 Model 20 Norton; open diamond frame, parallel pushrod tubes, 8" headlight and the lock on the toolbox at the bottom of the lid; and off course a two-port head, look carefully and you'll see the additional exhaust pipe on the left hand side of the machine that distinguishes this Norton from the Model 18. No silencers and a very American scene.

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!)