{"product_id":"norton-british-machines-since-1898-motor-cycles-round-sign","title":"Norton British Machines since 1898 -  Motor cycles round sign","description":"\u003cp\u003eA must for the Norton enthusiast is this cast iron sign measuring 20cm diam\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003esee our other Norton and vintage motor cycle signs\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe business was founded in 1898 as a manufacturer of \"fittings and parts for the two-wheel trade\".\u003csup class=\"reference\" id=\"cite_ref-Holliday_3-0\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Norton_Motorcycle_Company#cite_note-Holliday-3\"\u003e[3]\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eBy 1902 the company had begun manufacturing motorcycles with bought-in engines. In 1908 a Norton-built engine was added to the range. This began a long series of production of single and eventually twin-cylinder motorcycles, and a long history of racing involvement. During the\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca title=\"Second World War\" class=\"mw-redirect\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Second_World_War\"\u003eSecond World War\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eNorton produced almost 100,000 of the military\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca title=\"Norton 16H\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Norton_16H\"\u003eModel 16 H\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eand\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca title=\"Norton Big 4\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Norton_Big_4\"\u003eBig 4\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003esidevalve motorcycles.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhen major shareholders started to leave Norton in 1953 the company declined and\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca title=\"Associated Motor Cycles\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Associated_Motor_Cycles\"\u003eAssociated Motor Cycles\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ebought the shares.\u003csup class=\"reference\" id=\"cite_ref-Norton_4-0\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Norton_Motorcycle_Company#cite_note-Norton-4\"\u003e[4]\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eAlthough motorcycle sales went through a recession in the 1950s, and Norton Motors Ltd was only a small manufacturer, Norton sales flourished. A series of Norton Dominator Twins of 500 cc, then 600 cc, then 650 cc and then the 750 cc Norton Atlas kept sales buoyant, especially with sales to the United States.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn 1968 the new\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003e750 cc\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca title=\"Norton Commando\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Norton_Commando\"\u003eNorton Commando\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eModel appeared, with the engine\/gearbox\/swingarm unit\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca title=\"Bushing (isolator)\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Bushing_(isolator)\"\u003eisolastically\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003einsulated from the frame with a series of rubber mountings. This kept the vibrations from the rider, giving a smoother, more-comfortable ride. The Commando was a best seller, and voted #1 Motorcycle of the Year a number of times in Britain.\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003e850 cc\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003emodels appeared for 1973, giving more torque. For 1975 an electric start arrived in the 850 Mk3. sourced from wikipedia.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"IHR VINTAGE ANTIQUES","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":36107844157600,"sku":"511257","price":55.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0463\/1835\/4592\/products\/f2265d3f-818d-464e-b580-161cd9fa5180.jpg?v=1599542097","url":"https:\/\/ihrvintageantiques.com.au\/products\/norton-british-machines-since-1898-motor-cycles-round-sign","provider":"IHR VINTAGE ANTIQUES","version":"1.0","type":"link"}