model 50

I'm not 100% clear on exactly what your asking, but I often get asked similar questions, or I get asked why this ES2 / Model 18 / 16H part won't fit this model ES2 / Model 18 / 16H etc.

After a long ownership of multi cylindered Nortons, I had the opportunity of acquiring a true Norton of the single cylindered variety and ventured into the real history of Nortons and their real bikes. The single I bought was scattered all over the garage floor of the seller when I first saw it. The gearbox was still in one piece and a set of girder forks were still connected to a rigid frame, the rest was in more pieces than I thought possible. With both pockets full of over enthusiasm I jumped straight into it boots and all, paid the money, loaded boxes and boxes of the stuff onto my trailer and off I went home to try and explain my enthusiasm to a bewildered wife.....

I had very little idea of what I'd bought. Some said a Model 18, some said an ES2. Bogging through it all I soon realised there were parts missing. Start the quest for the missing parts. In the end what I had was most of what was to be a 1946 Model 18. The beginning of a very bad infectious disease with these great single cylindered motorcycles.

http://wristpin.multiply.com/photos/album/1/1938_-_1947_500cc_OHV_Series#photo=2

In looking for parts for the engine, I was offered bits and assured that these were for an ES2 and they would fit. They were not the right bits and would not fit.... WHY..

The first Model 50 was in 1933 and continued up to WW2. Then, after a lapse, it was kicked off again in 1955 and would of had the single down tube frame, looking just like an ES2

Norton always, with a couple of exceptions, called their bikes Model..somethings.. Model 1, Model 2, Model 18, Model 19, Model 16H, Model 50 etc etc etc. Look at the 'Models' section on this web site, read the history pages, look at the model numbering charts and you'll see.

So, in 1959 the Model 50 got a big update which included the wideline featherbed frame and in 1961 got the slimline featherbed, and went on till 1963 when it was finished up all together.

When someone says they have a Model 50, or a Model 18, or an ES2!! What do they have?

My Model 18 was made from 1922 untill 1954. Was it always the same bike across 32 years?? The ES2 first saw daylight in 1927 and finished in 1963, was it the same bike across 36 years? Is an early '60's Model 50 the same as a 1933 Model 50? With the passage of time there were lots of changes as the models progressed and evolved, so naturally there were differences in different years. The changes are fairly well documented in all sorts of publications so are very easily researched. This is why 2 models which are different end up being referred to as model 50's.

Your single downtube 1965 model........????...mmmmm I think a bit extra research needs to go into that one, remember, not all people who advertise things know what it is they are advertising or talking about. They can be genuinely making a mistake, in the end you'll have to figure it for yourself.

The Model 50 Mk.11 as depicted here on the NOC web site models page says it was made from 1965 - 1966 and quote from the page "This machine was essentially a Matchless G3 or AJS Model 16 rebadged by AMC who were by then producing both ranges, although it did have a few Norton parts such as the hubs and front forks". So, if you saw a side photo of this Model 50, it may have looked like a single down tube frame, but may have been a twin downtube Matchless frame. It will have a 350 Matchless engine in it as well. As the NOC site notes say, the only Norton thing about it was wheels & forks. have another look....

Bob

Hello Adrian,

I don't know anything about the post - 63 AMC 'Norton' singles, apart from no one thinking they were worth a second glance.

Does the model you are talking about look anything like my attached photo? This one seems to have it's front brake adjuster wound up tight, perhaps to stop it rolling away...

Worth remembering that when a bike is firstput onthe road, that doesn't mean it's the current model forthe date of registration.

Paul

Adrian Gidney previously wrote at Saturday 4th September 2010. 23:08hrs:

hi , could someone explain how 2 models which are different end up being referred to as model 50's please , we seem to have a featherbed frame model , wideline of 1960 vintage ( i thought the widelines stopped in 1959 eeerrrno )seems i was wrong on that score, now i see a model 50 advertised , 1965 but not a wideline , nor even a slimline , but a single down tube frame with a 350 cc norton single engine fitted , coil ignition , with matching numbers ??? is it a genuine model or one made up please.lt would appear not but ??? thanks

Adrian,

Here is a link to a 1966 Matchless G3 story:

http://matchless.mongeese.co.uk/history.html

I'm also going to try to attach a .pdf of the AMC catalogue for 1966, which has the AMC-Norton Model 50 Mk2.

*No! It's too big. However, someone has posted a link on an AMC forum, so here it is:

http://www.mc-albion.dk/AMC/Promotional/sales_Brochures/Post-war/AMC_brochure_1966.pdf

Scroll down about 1/2 way and you'll find what you need.

There is one on eBay with item number: 260623842149

Is this the model you are wondering about?

Paul

Adrian Gidney previously wrote at Saturday 4th September 2010. 23:08hrs:

hi , could someone explain how 2 models which are different end up being referred to as model 50's please , we seem to have a featherbed frame model , wideline of 1960 vintage ( i thought the widelines stopped in 1959 eeerrrno )seems i was wrong on that score, now i see a model 50 advertised , 1965 but not a wideline , nor even a slimline , but a single down tube frame with a 350 cc norton single engine fitted , coil ignition , with matching numbers ??? is it a genuine model or one made up please.lt would appear not but ??? thanks

You've gone very quiet Adrian. Have you strung a hammock in the Science Museum, until you identify that bike?

If you're still not sure, you might get some input by copying any imageappearing withthe advertised ('single downtube') '65 Model 50, then attach it here. Even if nobody is willing to admit they own one, plenty will let you know what it is.

Teasing aside, a machine like that wouldmake a good ride-to-workhoss.

Paul

Previously wrote:

Hello Adrian,

I don't know anything about the post - 63 AMC 'Norton' singles, apart from no one thinking they were worth a second glance.

Does the model you are talking about look anything like my attached photo? This one seems to have it's front brake adjuster wound up tight, perhaps to stop it rolling away...

Worth remembering that when a bike is firstput onthe road, that doesn't mean it's the current model forthe date of registration.

Paul

ah , yes i see, it is very like the pictured one, so one should not determine age of bike byreg number dates, but i thought DVLA stopped you making a vehicle look newer by reg than it actually is ? the bike in the picture is what age , approx ?

Previously wrote:

Adrian Gidney previously wrote at Saturday 4th September 2010. 23:08hrs:

hi , could someone explain how 2 models which are different end up being referred to as model 50's please , we seem to have a featherbed frame model , wideline of 1960 vintage ( i thought the widelines stopped in 1959 eeerrrno )seems i was wrong on that score, now i see a model 50 advertised , 1965 but not a wideline , nor even a slimline , but a single down tube frame with a 350 cc norton single engine fitted , coil ignition , with matching numbers ??? is it a genuine model or one made up please.lt would appear not but ??? thanks

You've gone very quiet Adrian. Have you strung a hammock in the Science Museum, until you identify that bike?

If you're still not sure, you might get some input by copying any imageappearing withthe advertised ('single downtube') '65 Model 50, then attach it here. Even if nobody is willing to admit they own one, plenty will let you know what it is.

Teasing aside, a machine like that wouldmake a good ride-to-workhoss.

Paul

i have been in a bunk, not quite a hammock , but probably slightly more uncomfortable i feel, on the rockie mountaineer in and around canada for 4 weeks, hence my silence , the rockies are ok , canada is ok , trees , trees and more b....y trees.... the highlight........saw a commado in ottowa, just about made the trip bearable ( riding the train is awful ), now had the trip been on that !!!!!

but not the subject of the question. that would have been a holiday for sure.

my other thought for the later reg.single downtubes was, maybe for sidecar work only special orders . obviously not.

Previously wrote:

Adrian Gidney previously wrote at Saturday 4th September 2010. 23:08hrs:

hi , could someone explain how 2 models which are different end up being referred to as model 50's please , we seem to have a featherbed frame model , wideline of 1960 vintage ( i thought the widelines stopped in 1959 eeerrrno )seems i was wrong on that score, now i see a model 50 advertised , 1965 but not a wideline , nor even a slimline , but a single down tube frame with a 350 cc norton single engine fitted , coil ignition , with matching numbers ??? is it a genuine model or one made up please.lt would appear not but ??? thanks

Adrian,

Here is a link to a 1966 Matchless G3 story:

http://matchless.mongeese.co.uk/history.htmlhttp://matchless.mongeese.co.uk/history.html

I'm also going to try to attach a .pdf of the AMC catalogue for 1966, which has the AMC-Norton Model 50 Mk2.

*No! It's too big. However, someone has posted a link on an AMC forum, so here it is:

http://www.mc-albion.dk/AMC/Promotional/sales_Brochures/Post-war/AMC_brochure_1966.pdfhttp://www.mc-albion.dk/AMC/Promotional/sales_Brochures/Post-war/AMC_brochure_1966.pdf

Scroll down about 1/2 way and you'll find what you need.

There is one on eBay with item number: 260623842149

Is this the model you are wondering about?

Paul

thanks , now i know here i 'd seen that points cover before

Previously wrote:

I'm not 100% clear on exactly what your asking, but I often get asked similar questions, or I get asked why this ES2 / Model 18 / 16H part won't fit this model ES2 / Model 18 / 16H etc.

After a long ownership of multi cylindered Nortons, I had the opportunity of acquiring a true Norton of the single cylindered variety and ventured into the real history of Nortons and their real bikes. The single I bought was scattered all over the garage floor of the seller when I first saw it. The gearbox was still in one piece and a set of girder forks were still connected to a rigid frame, the rest was in more pieces than I thought possible. With both pockets full of over enthusiasm I jumped straight into it boots and all, paid the money, loaded boxes and boxes of the stuff onto my trailer and off I went home to try and explain my enthusiasm to a bewildered wife.....

I had very little idea of what I'd bought. Some said a Model 18, some said an ES2. Bogging through it all I soon realised there were parts missing. Start the quest for the missing parts. In the end what I had was most of what was to be a 1946 Model 18. The beginning of a very bad infectious disease with these great single cylindered motorcycles.

http://wristpin.multiply.com/photos/album/1/1938_-_1947_500cc_OHV_Series#photo=2

In looking for parts for the engine, I was offered bits and assured that these were for an ES2 and they would fit. They were not the right bits and would not fit.... WHY..

The first Model 50 was in 1933 and continued up to WW2. Then, after a lapse, it was kicked off again in 1955 and would of had the single down tube frame, looking just like an ES2

Norton always, with a couple of exceptions, called their bikes Model..somethings.. Model 1, Model 2, Model 18, Model 19, Model 16H, Model 50 etc etc etc. Look at the 'Models' section on this web site, read the history pages, look at the model numbering charts and you'll see.

thanks , it is now very clear and i feel quite a dope .cheers to all.

So, in 1959 the Model 50 got a big update which included the wideline featherbed frame and in 1961 got the slimline featherbed, and went on till 1963 when it was finished up all together.

When someone says they have a Model 50, or a Model 18, or an ES2!! What do they have?

My Model 18 was made from 1922 untill 1954. Was it always the same bike across 32 years?? The ES2 first saw daylight in 1927 and finished in 1963, was it the same bike across 36 years? Is an early '60's Model 50 the same as a 1933 Model 50? With the passage of time there were lots of changes as the models progressed and evolved, so naturally there were differences in different years. The changes are fairly well documented in all sorts of publications so are very easily researched. This is why 2 models which are different end up being referred to as model 50's.

Your single downtube 1965 model........????...mmmmm I think a bit extra research needs to go into that one, remember, not all people who advertise things know what it is they are advertising or talking about. They can be genuinely making a mistake, in the end you'll have to figure it for yourself.

The Model 50 Mk.11 as depicted here on the NOC web site models page says it was made from 1965 - 1966 and quote from the page "This machine was essentially a Matchless G3 or AJS Model 16 rebadged by AMC who were by then producing both ranges, although it did have a few Norton parts such as the hubs and front forks". So, if you saw a side photo of this Model 50, it may have looked like a single down tube frame, but may have been a twin downtube Matchless frame. It will have a 350 Matchless engine in it as well. As the NOC site notes say, the only Norton thing about it was wheels & forks. have another look....

Bob