Featherbed Slimline frame number

Hi.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but I'd be worried too. The 'N' prefix applies to 1958 models - i.e. pre-slimline frame. The font used for the N is different to that used by Norton (see my pic) as well. This and the remains of the second frame number tends to indicate that all is not as it should be. From the look of the font, the vertical frame number on the left appears to be the genuine one.

Norton stopped using the pre'fix letter after 1960 (R) so your frame may not have had one. Sadly, however,the frame number would have been the key to dating it and would have told what model it was.

The piece welded into the frame is in the spot where a 'loop' would be put in if someone wanted to put a BSA motor in - it needs this modification to clear the oil pump housing in the crankcase. Maybe this has been done in the past and someone has 'un-modified' it

Here's a picture ot that frame prefixnumber on my own 1958 99 thatI'm restoring at the mo'. It's been in the family since 64 and I'm as certain as anyone can be that its number and fontis genuine.

Regards.

Ian.

Your frame is a pre-1965 Slimline with brackets for fitting a single cylinder engine.

Do you know if the originalengine for your bike a single or twin cylinder?

Twin cylinder engine had two sets of mounting brackets on the down tubes.

It could be an ES2 frame or for aModel 50. These were both built up to 1963 using Slimline frames.

The numbers on your frame do not look original. Some of the stampings are from a modern die. Also,there appears to be another set alongside. The letter 'N' would normally indicate a frame built in 1958. In which case it should be a Wideline frame.

According to the NOC records,the frame numbersfor January 1960 onwardsstarted with 87***. 1961 from Jan on were mostly 94*** up to 100***, 1962 were 101*** onwards,1963 onwards, began104*** and 1964 107***.

I suggest a serious chat with the seller of this frame might be a good move.

Hi Stephen,

Don't want to be a nit picker but I don't think its a single cylinder frame, it would have a flat on the top right-hand frame rail if it was, I think its a twin frame that's had the bottom front engine lugs removed and the top ones inverted, the slimline single frame had a completely different arrangement at the front.

If you just want to date your frame, all is not lost, when Renolds made the frames they put a date on the top head steady lug, right on the edge looking upwards 3 or 4 digits month and year, have a look.

Cheers.

Niall

May 1962, don't know what the M signifies, possibly an inspection mark, or the build standard.

Now I don't wish to be a harbinger of doom, but you are going to be very lucky to get anything other than a Q plate, you have no factory frame number and your frame has been modified, the DVLA have no sense of humour and absolutely no leeway is given. Better to accept this now, or buy another frame, and even then you will struggle to get an age related on a Triton, unless you build it up as a standard Norton first. Read the rules, you can download from dvla.gov.

I know something about this as I tried to register a very nice 1958 Earles Fork BMW R60 that I'd built up, it was fairly standard but the back suspension mounts were rotten, so I replaced them, and used shocks off a 75/5, for this and other reasons, even though I had a dating certificate (FROM BMW!), the bike had been inspected, and no suggestion was ever made that it was stolen, I could not get an age related and even to get a Q plate I was going to have to go through Single Vehicle Approval. In the end, even with a BMW it was cheaper to find another frame and use that, I cut the other one up with an angle grinder because I was warned not to sell it.

I tell you this not to dishearten you, but to advise you to sort this out first before spending a lot of time and effort on it, and then have to break it up, like I did.

Cheers,

Niall

Steve,

I can only advise you that it's a criminal offense to to re-stamp a frame number, if you go down that route you are supposed to get the DVLA to issue a 16 digit VIN, which has to be stamped on and also on a rivetted on plate, where an MOT examiner can see it, the original frame No. is then supposed to be cancelled with Xs, but then you will almost definitely need to go through SVA and have a Q plate. But in order to get them to issue the VIN you to have to have a bike built up for them to inspect! Catch-22, its the best there is!

I'd hang fire if I were you, all the LVLOs are closing this year (cost-cutting) and so far no-one knows what's going to happen about inspections etc, if the clubs are going to do it there may be a little more common sense.

Cheers

Niall

Previously wrote:

hi all, Ive recently picked up a slimline featherbed frame as abit of a project (triton) and im having trouble with the frame numbers, as some kind soul has decided to drill through the left frame gusset! Basically the last digits are there, but the second digit down (what i think is model code?) is missing, i dont have a log book, or plate, so im guessing i have to get a dating certificate, to get a log book once the bikes built? it looks like this.

N1 - (Note, the "one" is a different, thinner font compared to the one below it) 1 *---- missing 7 ---- can only see the bottom. 6 1 - faint, and different font (same font as the No'1 next to the N) 62 - faint, and different font (same font as the No'1 next to the N) 3 5

Can anyone help me try work out what model of bike this frame is from? i think someones restamped the frame number along side it, but this makes it seem to long? 1216635? or is the seriel number "76635"

Ive takensome images that may help.

This is the frame.

[img]http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f215/stesewell/20130127_102736_zps2acbf0f5.jpg[/img]

This is the bottom r/h frame rail, that someone has welded a piece into, didnt some come with a loop in :?:

[img]http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f215/stesewell/20130127_102746_zps5512d20a.jpg[/img]

This is, whats left, of the frame number...

[img]http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f215/stesewell/20130126_155547_zpsa32bb2be.jpg[/img]

[img]http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f215/stesewell/20130126_155605_zpse9b92cca.jpg[/img]

[img]http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f215/stesewell/20130126_155614_zpse6bc8987.jpg[/img]

[img]http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f215/stesewell/20130126_184615_zpsc8ec8802.jpg[/img]

I really hope this helps, as im starting to worry a little now!

many thanks, Steve

Hello Steve Well I have looked at the photo buckets And You can forget all the numbers on this frame. There not the right size for a start .As I have The Bracebridge Street Stamps punchs all 40 so this frame as been stoled at some time. it as two sets of punch mark and both are over stamped. there in the wrong place on the frame the only way to find out is have the frame metal x-rayed you then see 3 set of number the original set will be in-between the ones that you can see the original one you cannot see as they have been ground back .And I can tell you 10 better engines to put in this frame than a Triumph Twin from the 50s and 60s one being a Norton twin To start with. the other would be a Z900 or z1000 these engines are bullet proof .and will go for 100k with no troubles yours ajd