Found something

Not my area of expertise, but I would say late 1920s model 18 ohv sports bike,very desirable and valuble ,look around for the magneto that may have been put somewhere warm and dry. You lucky devil.

Check very carefully for detached or spare parts as they will be unobtainable and have to be made if missing. Do not wash it. Do not throw anything away as useless parts will be needed as patterns for making new.Look for the magneto and its drive parts,Look for any paperwork and old riding clothes. Do the lottery, how can you be this lucky??. PS the forward mounted mag may be just out of picture. 1927?.

Previously simon_oneill

it's going to be a monumental task to get it out.

I'm sure there are many who will be willing to help - I'm across the pond but I'll start swimming now

ðð - Oh you lucky man !

You lucky chap!

As Robert says, it's a valuable machine. Don't let it go cheap (unless you sell it to me!)

Preserve as much as you can. Take DOZENS of photos, so if you take it apart you know exactly what goes where - all those awkward things like spacers, wiring clips, which type of fastener goes where, cable runs etc etc.

Remember don't throw any of it away. Original tinware is highly prized even if it isn't as smooth as modern replacements. Details like original grease nipples, the saddle cover... If you get a new cover, make sure you hang on the old one...if you fit new parts then hang on the old ones - As Robert says, they'll be useful as patterns but also a new buyer might want to put them back.

Original finish is highly prized by many but of course that's your call!

I thought at first it has a flat tank, but it looks like a saddle tank. (Flat tankers get higher prices but there aren't enough of any 1920's singles to go round).With the alloy primary chain cover that suggests 1929. Assuming it is 500cc (stamped 79x100 on the left of the crank case) then with open valve springs and one exhaust pipe it is a Model 18.

The magneto should be out of shot fixed in front of the engine. Behind a rain cover (preferably alloy).

If it has any paperwork, so much the better. You might get the original number back.

If you want someone to take it off your hands, don't let it go to quickly - unless you want to let me have it!

1929 ohv - suggest you take a look ar vintagenorton.com - will have all the info you need.

Rgds

Alan

Hi Simon,

It looks like the original mag has been replaced by a later Lucas mag/dyno fromthe 1940s/50s. I think the cable you can see is the advance and retard cable coming from the mag. As regards the year of the bike, this type of petrol tank was used on the Model 18 from late 1928 to the end of 1930 and all the Model 18s of this age had their magnetos at the front. You can get a full factory record from the singles records officer.

Regards, Richard.

It's a very desirable ES-2 with the rear 3 stay frame only used on ES-2's & CS-1's. Looks late 1929 but dating officer can confirm this.

In the late 20's machines were sold without lighting as a norm. It would appear that someone has taken off the orriginal mag and fitted a magdyno? . Could this be an even rarer machine, a model 19 from around 1929?.

Hi Simon as Ian says an ES2 circa 1929/1930 ,i can see it has later girder forks and front wheel and also a post 1935 gear box both possibley ex wd military items having said that still a very nice bike

The ES2 mag should be behind the engine. So if that is the mag then presumably it's an 18.

Or a 19!!, Been looking thro the books, lots of changes at that time.I think the primary case might help date it. We need more photos plus engine numbers.

From the brochures it looks like the saddle tanks arrived in 1928 (I thought it was 1929...) but they still had the black enamelled chain cases as for the earlier 1920's. In 1929 they gained the nice looking alloy case, with a black disc over the clutch. Then in 1930 if the brochures are to be believed the clutch cover part of the case went to alloy?

ES2 chain case had a weird rising camel's hump to go over the end of the magneto. So it's not an ES2.

Was the Atlas the first Norton that actually spelled out to the world in letters what model it is?

I'm still rooting for a model 19, But I'm only a Dommy man.

.....and the winning prize goes to .........my money is going on the attached picture. So I may have to split my winnings with Ian. There is a left side exhaust, front mounted dynamo and the hint of an alloy primary cover.

Don't think so, if you look closely there is a timing side mag drive cast alloy chaincase going forward. Same as pictured in Sheldons EMU. Could be 588 cc, two models 1 sports ,1 sidecar. I guess if Simon finds the paperwork we will know.

Shouldn't need the paperwork, at least not for id purposes. Bore and stroke should be stamped on the crankcases? That should sort out the 499(ES2/18) or 588(19) question.

Ian McD

Hi all,

I think a lot of posts in this thread are at cross purposes. The picture of the 3 stay ES2 is not the same machine as the one Simon has unearthed and belongs to a collector who lives in Berkshire and the photo was taken at Brooklands Museum about 5 years ago.

Simon's bike is almost certainly a diamond (2 stay) frameModel 18 as the engine doesn't look tall enough for a Model 19 as this is about 1.5" taller and many had the 4 speed cross-over gearbox. No cradle frame bikes everleft the factory withfront mags as the down tube is too close to the front wheel.

Regards, Richard.

After spending far too much time (beginning of unhealthy expensive obsession)looking at pictures of devastatingly beautiful old bikes I have concluded that my first (uninformed) guess was right its a 1929 model 18, Just thinking about riding such a creation has got me looking at my finances and frowns from the wife. I agree with you Richard.

The bike is much more complete than it looked in the first shots. A time machine.

Perfect, You are going to have to do something about the drive though, No patina, A little work with a pickaxe and some oil stains will soon sort that. A bit of artfully stiched potato sacking for seat covering ,some air in the tyres ,a rub with an oily rag , fresh oil and petrol and you have it all. The local blacksmith can sort out the footrest.

Looks like you father in law was a resourceful man. Imaginative battery location... and did he fit a speedo into the top of the tank to the right of the filler?

Previously simon_oneill wrote:

I think the batter was fitted there because that's ware the acetalene gas generator would have been

The Battery location was a std arrangement seen on many other late 20's Nortons, Speedo's were not a legal requirement at that time.