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1938 Model 18 girder forks

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Regarding the 1938 Model 18 girder forks. Were these Webb forks or Norton's own make ?

Also :-

There is the main centrally positioned spring, (#9260 front fork spring), on these girders that is common in style to most girder forks

However there are also two extra springs, (3187 front fork rebound springs), one on each side of the forks.

What is the function of these two extra springs ? Is it to stop the forks from rebounding too far ?

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Always described  as 'Norton Webb' forks.  Possibly bought in (does anyone know?), but certainly to Norton's design.  The 'check springs' you described arrived on racing bikes in 1933 or 34, and effectively turn the fork springs into rising rate springs.  Very fashionable in more recent times, but (unless someone knows otherwise) were a Norton detail.  The stiffness (force per unit deflection) increases as deflection increases, whereas a normal linear spring force increases at a constant rate as it deflects.  Allegedly they were added to reduce 'patter' at speed.  Mick Woollett's 'Norton' tells you almost all you need to know about the history of the firm and its riders and machines, and Bacon's 'Norton Singles' is a must if you own one. 

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Thanks for your help David. Also, I've ordered the books you recommended

 


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