ES Painted Rim Centres

Hi Al - According to Roy Bacon's "Norton Singles"the red rip appeared in 1951 ("some finished all silver with red lining." It notes no change for 1957. George

Oops! For "rip" read "strip". Apols - G

Hi Alan,

I have taken quite a few pictures of 57/58 Norton singles and never noticed one with the wheel centres lined as my ex WD 16H is.

I don't even recall centre lines on my 1955 19S that I owned in 1974/75. and that was quite original.

If I ever get the chance, I'll put some pictures together. I never even considered lining my stainless new wheels for my 57 Model 50.

I am correct in saying that my '39 ES2 would have had black stripes outlined in red ?

Hi Tony - quoting the same source as I did above it notes: "Standard models in the 1930's had silver tanks panelled with 1/2" black outer and thin red inner lines, also black rims and chrome fittings. Some had chrome plated tanks then the petrol had silver panels but not the oil which was lined on the chrome, all lining remaining at 1/2" black and thin red.With this finish the chrome fittings would continue plus chrome wheels with black centres lined red" So it looks like some did but maybe some didn't! Hope this helps! George

Hi, I have a 1955 19S with the original paint and here is the rims plated with silver center lined red. I also have a roadtest of a 1958 19S with sidecar and here is the rims plated without linings. My idea is when the 1957 model came with the new petroltank with the loose cromium sidepanels and no linings the wheel linings also went???

Svein.

Hi Svein - not according to Bacon's very well researched book "Norton Singles" from which I quoted early on. G

Well George, it will be interesting to find an original 57 with the painted centre line. I've not seen one yet and hence had my wheels built with unlined stainless rims.

Fair comment Neil but I was merely quoting from Bacon's book. Regrettably back in the fifties I couldn't afford a '57 model so my memory is restricted (!) to the slightly earlier ES2's.

Cheers George, the bike did come with painted and lined rims, but they weren't the originals. It seems most that I have seen do have the painted stripe.

I've started now, so no going back.............