Featherbed frame ID

My Dominator wideline 1957 has a five digit (all numbers) frame number, if that helps

Quick google on Norton frame number.

P = 1959, 122 = Dominator 88

Should be a wideline

Likely a wideline, but there are slimline 1959 bikes. The top frame rails will tell you.

The factory recorded all the component numbers

Would surprice me more if it had the inferior Triumph clutch and gearbox.

There appears to be a little inconsistency in the number. P is 1959, as stated, likewise 122 is a Model 88. However, according to Roy Bacon's book, numbers commencing '82' would be from 1960. The end number for 1959 is shown as 80488, the last for 1960 being 87038. Is it definitely a 'P', not an 'R'? One would expect all 1960 twins to have slimline frames. They are easy to tell apart, as the top rails of the latter are noticeably waisted at the back of the tank.

Ian

One of my Nortons, made in April -59 has number 819xx, so maybe Bacon is not altogether correct. Factory records is probably the way to end guesswork. Nice thing with the NOC.

Mike

HELLO WELL THERE IS A DATE STAMP ON THE LUG RIGHT UP NEXT TOO THE TOP OF THE HEAD STOCK LIKE MY Norton Manxman 650 1/12/60 its has stamp marked on it in very small numbers you may need a magnifierto see them, And I foundRoy Bacon To be well out on number dating like the first 650 in his book Number 18-100200 dated 1962 which he was some 26 months out of date the first 650 now found and unearthed and I now know the owner, its Number 18-93601 with the shop number 7 and the second Manxmanwas 18-93602 with shop number 1 , I have now some 53... 650 Manxman's recorded on my files worldwide and some 11 of these in this country so you see these motorcycles are rare and recording is on going in but the club should now trying to find and record all Models of early Nortons right from 1907 to 1963 and 1963 to 1966/7 when Plumstead closed and then the Andover years of commando 750 and 850 and this records what has survived and what has not survived keeping a track record on Norton machines So if one is replicated the club then know is a fake!!! Has Norton prices are now on the rise, Has I have seen some dodgy look Nortonsout there so be very careful of what your buying and always contact the club record officer if in some doubt, yours anna j

Attachments
IMG_0475.JPG
IMG_0514.JPG
tec

I think the stamping on the lug for the headsteady, that Anna mentioned is made by Renold, when they made the frame. My April -59 bike is stamped 1-59.

The japanese just-in-time philosophy of not having capital costs for parts in stock was not invented then. Read somewhere that Manx engines could be stored for years before assembly.

My 99 is a 1960 model - prefix R - but was manufactured in October 1959 with a frame number 85787. The head steady lug is stamped 10 59. It is one of the first slimlines. So Patrick's details are all correct for a 1959 wideline.

Mine is 59 bikes later than yours Gordon.Built 59 but reg as a 60. Nice if I could get it accepted as 59 (which according to the legislation it is, then no MOT.