Norton model identification with engine and frame numbers

A simple guide to identifying the year of manufacture of a Norton from its engine and frame numbers. "From 1945 to 1974 these should match , and up to 1960 should include a year letter code.  There will also be a number code for the model and the serial number which ran from 10001 too over 300 000 over the years." Illustrated Norton Buyer's Guide, Bacon, Roy H. (Roy Hunt), Niton Publishing. PO Box 3, Ventnor, Isle of Wight PO 38 2As England, 1991. [Out of print in Australia 1999]. Norton Owner's Club NOC

Post war models

Model Codes

Code	Model	Code	Model	Code	Model
2	16H	10M2	Manx 40 featherbed	17	Jubilee
3	18	11	International 30	18	all 650 twins
3T	500T	11M	Manx 30	19	Navigator
4	ES2	11M2	Manx 30 featherbed	20	Atlas
6	19R	12	Model 7	20M3	Commando (distributor)
7	Big 4	122	88	29M3S	Commando (camshaft points
8	16H or Big 4 plunger	13	50	50	AMC 50
9	19S	14	99	ES	Electra
10	International 40	15	77 & Nomad	ES2	AMC  ES2
10M	Manx 40	16	Nomad
Suffix D indicates de luxe twin   Suffix SS indicates Sports Special  twin   Suffix Q indicates quietening ramp cams ( some 1947 singles)

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Norton engine & frame numbers

Pre-war numbers				Post-war with serial numbers					Post-war numbers continued
YEAR	Number	NOC Number		YEAR	Code Letter	NUMBER	NOC Number		YEAR	NUMBER	NOC Number
1923		4200		1945		1001			1961	94500	99270
1924		7500		1946	A	2131	1001		1962	101060	99498
1925		11900		1947	B	7756	6550		1963	105000	104000
1926		27500		1948	C	13792	13350		1964	108000	108000
1927		32800		1949	D	20701	18600		1965	111650	111650
1928		36900		1950	E	27100	25000		1966	115870	115900
1929		41000		1951	F	35560	33943		1967	119760	120130
1930		45600		1952	G	42700	40320		1968	124300	124370
1931		49250		1953	H	48900	47300		1969	130000	129500
1932		51820		1954	J	55350	52800		1970	134700	134400
1933		54120		1955	K	60700	59200		1971	141700	141000 to 150500
1934		56410		1956	L	66600	64561		1972	200001	200001 to 216000
1935		59500		1957	M	71360	70095		1973 Jun		230558 (750)
1936		62800		1958	N	77400	75051		1973 Sep	212278	230571 (750)
1937		69800		1959	P	80488	79301		last 750		230935
1938		81500		1960	R	87038	84500		1973 Mar		325000 (850)
1939		87920							1973 Dec	300000 (850)	310360 (850)
1940		?							1974 Jun		316600 (850)
1941		?							1974 Dec	307311	326000 (850)
1942		?							1975 Jun	325000 (MkIII) 125001 (frame)	333000 (850)
1943		?
1944		?

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Model numbers for 1920s

Source: http://www.realclassic.co.uk/

Code	Model
1	Big 4 633cc, 3 speed Sturmey Archer gearbox
2	490cc, 3 speed Sturmey Archer gearbox
3	Big 4, 3 speed Sturmey Archer gearbox, belt drive
4	490cc, 3 speed Sturmey Archer gearbox, belt drive
5	Big 4, 3 speed hub, belt drive
6	490cc, 3 speed hub, belt drive
7	Brooklands Special, 490cc, direct drive with Phillipson pulley
8	Brookland Road Special, 490cc, direct drive with Phillipson pulley
9	Tourist Trophy 490cc, direct drive or Phillipson pulley
10	Touring machine, direct belt drive
11	Big 4 633cc, direct drive touring machine
12	490cc, colonial model, 3 speed hub, belt drive
13	Big 4 633cc, colonial model, 3 speed hub, belt drive
14	Big 4 633cc, 4 speed, all chain
15	Big 4 633cc, 3 speed, De Luxe sidecar outfit
16H	490cc, 3 speed, chain drive, touring model
17	490cc, 3 speed, chain drive, touring colonial model

Source: Big 4 article at http://www.realclassic.co.uk/norton04030400.html

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How to pick the Year's Models

1926	Eng. No. 13279 / 28146
1927	Flat tank, valve adjusters on tappets. Eng. No. 28141 / 35775
1928	Flat tank, valve adjusters on the overhead rockers. Eng. No. 35511 / 40515
1929	Long saddle tank. Eng. No. 41692 / 45599
1930	Enclosed push-rods and rockers. Eng. No. 45600 / 49000
1931	New design short saddle tank. Eng. No. 49001 / 51800
1932	Detachable wheels with bolts exposed, hand adjustable from fork shock absorber. Eng. No. 51801 / 54120
1933	Detachable wheels with bolts enclosed in hub shell. Eng. No. 54121 / 56400
1934	Rebound spring on front forks. Eng. No. 56401 / 59500
1935	Rubber-mounted handlebars. Eng. No. 59501 / 62800
1936	Shorter and thicker push-rod tubes and rounded timing case cover. Eng. No. 62801 / 69999
	Model 18: Push-rod engine; Diamond frame; bore and stroke, 79 x 100.
	Model 19: Push-rod engine; Diamond frame; bore and stroke, 92 x 113, or 79 x 100.
	Model ES2: Push-rod engine; cradle frame; bore and stroke, 79 x 100.
1937	Eng. No. 70000 / 79999
1938	Model 18: Eng. No. 81575 / 87705
	Model 19: Eng. No. 82119 / 87726
	Model ES2: Eng. No. 81557 / 87757

Source: Motorcycle Identification Manual (with Australian Values) Models 1927 - 1938

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