International colours

Previously Bruce Mitchell wrote:

Hi

I'm posting this for a friend who has a '48 International. The factory records say it was black, he is asking if the rims were chromed or black and if the tank was just plan black or had some silver on it. Currently the tank is black and "Norton" is painted by brush. Would anyone know?

Unfortunately he is almost blind now but still restoring bikes. I try to help as best I can so I'm posting this on his behalf.

cheers,

Bruce

Sorry, the bike is a '47, not '48. It is the tank colour he is most interested in. Would anyone know the original colour of a '47 International tank?

Bruce

Previously richard_cornish wrote:

Hi Bruce,

The lower photo Michael posted is the correct finish for post-war plunger frame Inters 1947-51.The catalogues were often subject to artistic licence and were not always a true representation. Over the years it has become common for tanks to be finished in the painted Manx style as this is the cheap option to getting a tank stripped and re-chromed. One issue for getting an original finish is the correct look of the silver paint used on the tank panels. Many modern restorations use themodern metallic silver paint whichI don't think this was available in the '40s. As far as I am aware the nearest match is Ford GB Silver Fox as used on the Cortina MK 2 in the 1960s. I don't know if this was used in the USA or it may have had a different name, perhaps someone else will know more info about this and availability or another good match. The chrome rims had black centres with a red pinstripe on each side.

Regards, Richard.

Thank you Richard!

Bruce

Previously Michael Rettie wrote:

First see here:

http://www.nortonownersclub.org/support/technical-support-general/norton-colours-and-paints

The brochure for '47 shows this scheme:

but the roadtest for '47 shows this:

Thanks Michael. Very interesting....

Bruce