Skip to main content
English French German Italian Spanish

Model 18 numbers?

Forums

Can anyone tell me what the letters CT stand for following the serial number on a 48 model 18 motor.

Permalink

Previously kevin_dean wrote:

Can anyone tell me what the letters CT stand for following the serial number on a 48 model 18 motor.

I notice looking at Bryans pictures below, that his 48 ES2 has the same CT prefix after his engine number too?

Permalink

Hey,

When I got my records search results from the NOC there was a post-itnote attached that said CT meant "Chrome Tank".

B

Previously kevin_dean wrote:

Previously kevin_dean wrote:

Can anyone tell me what the letters CT stand for following the serial number on a 48 model 18 motor.

I notice looking at Bryans pictures below, that his 48 ES2 has the same CT prefix after his engine number too?
Permalink

Hi Bryon, I am not sure who gave you that information, but I have it on good authority that it may very probably be wrong.

I have been doing some research into this, and from what I have been toldit seems the CT prefix was used on Trials machines built before the designated 500T, Trials bikes,and the CT is for Competition Trials or something similar. The whole Chrome tank argument falls apart as all bikes built at that time came fitted with Chrome tanks as standard. And I have seen proof of this, in the shape of a totaly original model 18, with only 2000 miles, that has its original Chrome tank, and no CT following the engine number, and an original Model 7 the same.

The option on Chrome tanks came later when the standard was to fit a painted tank in the 50's. and by then the CT had been dropped.

So it would seem that whoever gave you the post it note, may well have been misinformed on this, allthough I would be happy to see evidence to prove otherwise.

Kevin.

Previously Bryon Harvey wrote:

Hey,

When I got my records search results from the NOC there was a post-itnote attached that said CT meant "Chrome Tank".

B

Previously kevin_dean wrote:

Previously kevin_dean wrote:

Can anyone tell me what the letters CT stand for following the serial number on a 48 model 18 motor.

I notice looking at Bryans pictures below, that his 48 ES2 has the same CT prefix after his engine number too?

Permalink

Previously kevin_dean wrote:

Can anyone tell me what the letters CT stand for following the serial number on a 48 model 18 motor.

I have a 1946 model 18 and she is totally original matching frame and engine numbers but no CT prefix. I agree they all had chrome tanks in 1946

Permalink

That's an interesting theory:

1. Any idea what would be different about the engine that would earn it the CT designation?

2. Do all '48 machines have the CT designation?

b

Permalink

With all the knowledgeable critters hanging out hereI thought someone would pipe up with the correctanswer to the CT question...

Anybody? :)

Permalink

Previously Bryon Harvey wrote:

Good morning,

A friend in Australia suggested"Clockwise Timing".

Thoughts?

B

Bryon, I have asked this question amongst the people who know these things, and they discounted that idea. But they did say that only certain bikes in 1948 had the CT prefix, because in 1949 they produced a stand alone Trials bike the 500T, and as soon as this bike was released, the CT prefix was dropped.

 


Norton Owners Club Website by 2Toucans