Correct year reference

For most of the 1950s Motorcycle Manufacturers, the start of the new model year was generally from the previous October onwards. So most bikes constructed from October 1954 on, would have all the new features of the 1955 range. Often the new range of models would be displayed at one of the big motorcycle shows, pre-Christmas, probably to encourage those with the cash to purchase a treat before the start of the New Year.

One of the best examples of new models ending up pre-dating themselves was the arrival of the Slimline Featherbed Frame which historically is recorded as being available from the start of 1960 but was in fact produced and sold 3 months earlier.

Production was started early so by the time Jan 1 arrived the showrooms had the new year models, as the US markets became more important with the longer shipping times the changeover date became earlier eg Summer shutdown.

The 1930s ledgers show that even then it was the practice to start production of the next model year after the factory returned from the annual week's shutdown in late August. However, there were dribs and drabs for a few weeks before someone took a blue pencil and wrote "all M/Cs 1939 models unless marked" or somesuch.

There are really three significant dates. For the new owner and the licensing authorities, the date of registration was important. No-one who bought a bike on 10th January was going to date it to the previous year.However, for the 1960 exemptions, DVLA will now accept some evidence of production date.

For the factory, despatch date was important but for spares / warranty it was necessary to record the model year.

To my mind, despatch date is important; It's the true age but increasingly as we become obsessed with the specification, the model year is quoted more often.

In enthusiast circles the model year is more often than not what people are interested in.

The old Peter Roydhouse records that I used to have were quite fascinating to read with regard to production dates. The major components of the Manx 350 and 500 singles were not gathered together until a frame had been constructed. So huge batches of engines and gearboxes were stored until a frame became available. Sometimes up to 2 years or longer. The consequences of this being that often the last engine built and stored became the first out to be used on a new model. Whereas, the last engine from the same batch, to come out of the store area, might be quite old in comparison to the gearbox and certainly the frame. This in turn leading to engine batch numbers not being in sequence with frame numbers. The later 650 Mercury bikes had similar out of sequence production date numberings.

Hello Well if for forums your Norton It need to be the Build Date 1954 has earlier parts would of been fitted and Norton dating has a rule of thumbwas from Septemberto September export machines fell in between like Norton 650 Manxman's were built from November 7th. 1960 on to August 1961 now the model 88 was in production from April1951 for export only to September1953 hope this may shed some light of experience on this !!!

Yours Anna J

Another daft question! My ES2 was manufactured in December 1954 but it is a 1955 model. Which is the correct year for official Forms - or club records?George