The Amazing History of Norton Motorcycles: Early Days Part One

The Amazing History of Norton Motorcycles: Early Days – Part One

By Mr Ghaz, November 8, 2010

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The Amazing History of Norton: Early Days – Part One

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In The Beginning

The Norton Story begins in 1898 in Birmingham, with the formation of the Norton Manufacturing Company. James Lansdown Norton, who had served an apprenticeship as an engineering toolmaker, set up the company to produce  components for the booming bicycle trade which had been established in the Midlands. Although he was involved in the production of pedal cycles he was more interested in the possibilities resented by the internal combustion engine, then in its infancy. He had plans for a motor-assisted bicycle of his own design but these were shelved when he became involved with Charles Garrard, British importer of the French Clement engine. At the time, there were successful British engine manufacturers and it was common practice to fit imported units to domestic frames. The hybrids built by the Norton Manufacturing Company could be supplied partly or fully built and were sold under a number of brand names; again, a common practice.

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Produced in 1905 with a 500cc Peugeot engine, this is probably the oldest Norton in existence. It is believed to have been James Norton’s own machine.

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1902 Norton The ideal position for a motorcycle’s engine had not been universally agreed even by 1902; James Norton had it more or less right with his Energette.

It was not long before James Norton produced a machine with his own name on the petrol tank. Called the Energette, it was little more than a strengthened bicycle with a 1 1/2 horsepower (143cc) Clement engine ‘clipped on’ to the front down tube, but no better and no worse than most other machines available in 1902. This first machine was composed of various components bought in form manufacturers and suppliers in Birmingham and assembled by Norton. This system enabled the company to offer a range of models over the next few years, including a version of the Energette with a twin-cylinder Moto Reve engine, and other models powered by both single- and twin-cylinder Peugeot engines.