Roadholder forks (who created them)

This is a reply to the recent question posed by Adrian Gidney:

“Who designed and named the Roadholder forks?”

Thanks for that question Adrian.

I have made a separate post as to avoid losing it amongst the previous posts caused by the clubs chaotic message board software. (When will it be improved?)

Although the telescopic fork had already been invented and Norton were using one from around (1943?), a new hydraulic damping system for the forks was designed by JACKIE MOORE, an engineer who had taken over the prototype work from Edgar Franks.

Jackie Moore also worked on the night shifts during the war, which also incorporated fire watching duties. On quiet nights he had plenty of time to work without interruption.

A number of patents were taken out on this fork in 1944.

In 1943 advertisements carried the slogan: “Holds the road, the records and the reputation”

After the war Norton carried the slogan: The World’s best Roadholder”

I can’t find the name of any one person who decided to name the forks; “Roadholders”, but as the “road holding” theme was being used extensively in their advertising; it seems to have been a simple name adaption to give credit to their new patented front fork for this quality. I guess it would have been someone in the advertising department around the board table. You can visualise the nodding heads of approval.

Regards

Les H

Previously wrote:

This is a reply to the recent question posed by Adrian Gidney:

“Who designed and named the Roadholder forks?”

Thanks for that question Adrian.

 

I have made a separate post as to avoid losing it amongst the previous posts caused by the clubs chaotic message board software. (When will it be improved?)

 

Although the telescopic fork had already been invented and Norton were using one from around (1943?), a new hydraulic damping system for the forks was designed by JACKIE MOORE, an engineer who had taken over the prototype work from Edgar Franks.

 

Jackie Moore also worked on the night shifts during the war, which also incorporated fire watching duties. On quiet nights he had plenty of time to work without interruption.

 

A number of patents were taken out on this fork in 1944.

 

In 1943 advertisements carried the slogan: “Holds the road, the records and the reputation”

After the war Norton carried the slogan: The World’s best Roadholder”

 

I can’t find the name of any one person who decided to name the forks; “Roadholders”, but as the “road holding” theme was being used extensively in their advertising; it seems to have been a simple name adaption to give credit to their new patented front fork for this quality. I guess it would have been someone in the advertising department around the board table. You can visualise the nodding heads of approval.

 

Regards

 

Les H

 

  

Haa? Yes and they were fitted to Norton's first twin - A side valve for the armed forces. This machine is in Sammy Miller's Motorcycle Museum. yours anna j dixon