English French German Italian Spanish

Information of the Trade Mark used on early1930s Nortons

Submitted by robert_congdon on Sat, 15/08/2020
Forums
Singles

I was hoping that someone will know the origin of the registered trade mark found on various parts of my 1931 ES2, and also seen on other Norton machines up until around 1934 (and may be later, not sure). See attached photos. The mark has been seen on a variety of components including, crankcases, timing cases, petrol tank, engine mounts, Norton's girder forks and engine parts. The wide variety of components that the mark appears on, would seem to indicate that it was Norton's own registered mark. Could this be possible? Or was it an outside supplier? If an outside suppler, they were capable of a wide variety of production tasks. ..... Does anyone know the answer??

Submitted by ashley_cutler on Sun, 16/08/2020

Permalink

They are looking like individual foundry / forge marks, you may find them in Grace's guide. 

Submitted by richard_payne on Sun, 16/08/2020

Permalink

As I mentioned on the 16H / Big 4 FB group, Robert, I've tried to work this one out but can't. I've certainly not seen it on any specific WD parts, but they will all be post-1936.

It seems likely that Geoff Clatworthy's forks with the mark on the damper plate are from 1934.

My only example is on a side-valve plug spanner. I'd really thought that it only appeared on press-work but your crankcases raise new questions.

Do any of your stamped parts have a registered design or patent number stamped on them ? It may be possible to trace the manufacture by researching those.

It almost has to be the parent company R. T. Shelley but I can't see how. Whoever  they were, they were making complex sand castings, heavy press work and carrying out welding but also mass-producing simple stampings. Plug Spanner

Submitted by david_cooper on Sun, 16/08/2020

Permalink

Is it true that Norton did not even register their own company name...even though it says 'Reg Trade Mark' on the tank transfers?

Submitted by robert_congdon on Sun, 16/08/2020

Permalink

Hi Richard, Thanks for your reply. I also thought 1934 for Geoff Clatworthy's damper plate. My ES2 is 1931, I have heard others say that the same mark appears also on latish 1920s machines.

On my bike it appears on both the crankcases, the timing case and the rear pump mount on the petrol tank. I have seen it on others, on the front engine mount plates and believe on engine parts as well.

The mark appears with either 'REGD' or 'REGD TRADE MK'. Richard, the interesting bit is interpreting what the initials are, is it HNB, FNB, ENB etc.? My personal belief is a wide stylised capital B with a capital N over the top of the B. Could it be 'Norton Birmingham'?

For an outside company to supply casting, light and heavy pressing and machine engine parts, would be a large concern. I agree with what you say, but who else could it be?

Thanks for the photo of the plug spanner.

Submitted by richard_payne on Sun, 16/08/2020

Permalink

Unfortunately, searching for the Trade Mark in the National Archives knowing neither name of company, nor year of registration would be truly needle-in-a-haystack stuff. Even without Covid, they had recently reduced the number of files that can be ordered in a day.

The illustration on John de Kruif's site almost makes the first letter look like an 'R'...If it was 'Norton', it's odd that it appears nowhere in period advertising, nor the Spare Parts or Instruction books...what is the point of having a trade mark for which there was apparently no public awareness ?  For the sake of completeness here, I've added John's photo and Geoff's fork damper plate. Fork PlateTrade Mark

 


Norton Owners Club Website by 2Toucans