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Oil bath decal - what years?

Submitted by jonathan_newton on Sat, 25/07/2020
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Nortons - General

Can anyone cast some light on when the above decal was applied to the primary drive cover? In browsing the pictures in our gallery and sales brochures there is no obvious answer. Were there different styles? Don’t want to fit one if it’s incorrect or wasn’t used on my bike (61 M50).

Thanks 

Jon

Submitted by peter_mcdermott on Sun, 26/07/2020

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Hi Jonathon,

I had a three year old 1957 M50 which I don't recall having a decal on the primary case.  Looking through the Norton Brochures of that time however, images for 1956 show no decal, nor do the pre-war brochures 1934-39, whereas that for 1957 does.  I would guess therefore sometime during 1957.

With regards your 1961 M50, one can safely say it would have had a decal.  Pasted below a page from the 1961 brochure showing one just visible.

Hope this helps.

1961 M50

Pete; on closer inspection of the brochure (Work screen is far bigger than my Ipad) what we both thought was the "decal" is actually the foot brake pedal.

 

Its ordered now so its still being fitted...

Cheers

Jon

Hi Jonathan,

when it arrives it will have the patent number on it. If you check the number with the patents office it is a fair bet that that was when the decal commenced.

Regards

Dick

You're absolutely right Jonathon   -   D'oh !  

I guess the factory brochures are not the best source for this sort of detail.  The profile images likely to have been artistically enhanced/simplified in the process.  Actual photos show the decal on machines from the mid 30s to the early 60s.

What is more, I should have been only too aware that the alternator primary case only really allows the decal to be positioned at about 4 o'clock to the filler cap, well away from the foot brake pedal, so the 1961 M50 image had to be nonsense  - mea culpa !

Drive side original photos are in the minority but the image below of a 1961 Dommie shows the correct position.  And attached my own 1960 ES2 showing similar.

1961 99SS

Attachments
IMG_0553.JPG

Pete, nice to see the green in use. 

The basis of my Model 50 shows signs of previously being Green and "Dove Grey", alas the frame was black so there was no way I could return to that colour scheme without a major strip down.  But I kept to two tone as I've now sprayed Black and "Dove Grey".  

Decal location noted and reasoning understood.

Isn't it funny there are so few drive side photos of our machines...  what a vain lot we are, only  showing our best side.  

Anna;  Thank you for that snippet it makes sense also.

Its a lock down project so not broke the bank but its a very pleasant machine to ride, needed to  look a little better than it did.  Ideal for the older rider as its easy to handle around the garage  and all the manners of a featherbed twin with performance that is ideal for A and B roads.

 

Thanks  all

 

Jon  

Submitted by richard_payne on Sun, 26/07/2020

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The transfer was definitely in use before the war, probably from the introduction of the Oil Bath itself which was standardised across the range in 1935. I have no idea when it ceased though.1935 Drive Side

Submitted by jonathan_newton on Sun, 26/07/2020

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...I’ll fit one.  I note the slightly lower location on the 61 model Pete. Let’s hope the E5 fuel leaves it there.

 

Cheers

Jon

Submitted by Xanna_jeannett… on Mon, 27/07/2020

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hello I have a rare export model a Norton Manxman 650 and these had the oil bath transfer on the chrome primary cover  just below the inspection cover  and these motorcycles where built from November 1960 to august 1961 in 3 batches   were delivered  to the USA  hope this may help put light on things  and I do believe  that the oil bath transfers were  stop after everything was moved to Plumstead London and as history servers   after Norton moved to Plumbstead they tried to simplify every part cut down on models  to just  3 heavy twins the model 88ss the 650ss and 750 atlas and 3 light twins but this no good as AMC were facing financial  short fall and with the next 3 years  went in to receivership  in 1966    only to be bought out buy  manganese bronze  and dennise poor                 yours  anna j

Submitted by hugh_coombs on Tue, 28/07/2020

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Mine is a 59 Dommie 99 and the oil bath transfer is in the same place. Nice looking machine. Regards, Hugh

 

 

 

 



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