A ‘37 Norton Model 50 from Famed English Motorcycle Museum
Motorcycles & ATVs
Motorcycles
The Norton Model 50 was introduced in 1933 as an overhead-valve 348cc version of the reliable ES2.
Edgar Franks, the talented Norton engineer, led the design of the Model 50—and also created the nearly identical Norton Model 18.
The Model 50 bike recently offered on eBay came from the UK’s now defunct Geeson Brothers motorcycle museum - opens in new window or tab.. The Norton motorcycle was restored by the Geesons in the 1980s and lived at the museum for more than two decades. The bike-crazed brothers restored and showed off vintage motorcycles for 22 years. George Geeson, at age 92, closed the museum in 2003 and auctioned off the collection, including the ’37 Norton.
The single-cylinder Model 50 was the first production overhead-valve machine in the 350 class. These motorcycles performed quite well in the racing circuit. Norton 350s swept the podium in the Junior TT class in 1937, taking first, second, and third places.
An Affordable Pre-War British Bike
The seller explains how he came into possession of the ‘37 Norton:
About nine years ago. I decided I wanted to find a nice, documented pre-war bike that I could ride. With Harleys and Indians being way out of my price range, I started looking at British models.
Norton had made significant changes to these bikes in 1936. As the Norton Owners Club - opens in new window or tab. notes:
In 1934, it gained a second drive-side main bearing and the timing gears were revised, reversing the direction of magneto rotation in the process. The Norton/Burman gearbox was used from 1936 and in 1938 there was a new cylinder head with through studs to retain the head and barrel.“The original exposed hairpin valve springs were superseded that year by enclosed coils. A neater-looking arrangement but the facility to change the springs without removing the head was lost.
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The bike’s documentation includes the papers and formal approval badge for the British Road Test. It also features the original title, with information on the owners from 1937 until about 1950.
A California buyer spotted the bike in the UK and imported it to the US. The lack of a title created issues for selling the vintage bike at a Bonhams auction. But it caught the eye of its current owner, based in Minnesota, who bought it and obtained a proper title. He subsequently put in eight years of upgrades.
He had "two of the best bike mechanics in the Midwest" rebuild the Amal carbs - opens in new window or tab. and replace the exhaust push rods. Repairs to the gearbox addressed oil leaks. The seller also replaced the amp meter and fuel petcocks - opens in new window or tab.. It has a fresh battery, too. There are a few remaining bugs with the headlight and taillight. But those should be easy fixes.
Shift It With Your Right Hand
The Minnesota-based seller mostly kept the motorcycle in his basement. The ’37 Norton starts on the first or second kick, so you won’t have to work hard to get it back out for regular rides. The speedometer shows 16,078 original miles.
Back in its day, the Norton Model 50 could theoretically reach 70 miles per hour. But with these older bikes, you have to adjust the ignition timing to get to top speed. The seller notes that the Norton Model 50 recently offered on eBay reaches about 45 miles per hour. The Model 50 has an estimated output of 18 bhp at 6,000 rpm.
These models shift with the right hand to provide a fun English-style riding experience.
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