Hi.l have recently purchased a Norton 16h and as auction site has said war department.just a question to see if it all stacks up.the engine number and frame numbers are matching and start with a w on both.picking it up this week so more info when l get home.just trying to find out the year made as the auction site only says 1940s as it’s a deceased estate and a huge catalog to go through.
My serial numbers are W66378.not sure this gives a year but I’ve tracked down similar in my area in Australia that suggests 1942ish so any help would be appreciated thanks darren.
I make that the 6378th bike from 10000, demanded in 1941 under contract C11082 with tank census number C4601978. I'd say your 1942 date is correct. But I'm sure Rik will be along later with more info. Ron
W66378 was indeed made on contract C11082 as Ron stated.
As delivery start was expected in April 1942 I think this ons was made in the 3rd or 4th quarter of 1942.
Census number was C4601978.
This bike is not given in the Australian (AWM) administration so I guess it was used by Australians but not owned by Australia.
Much info can be found on my website www.wdnorton.nl
Rob, I puzzled over this one. It's too high a frame number to have been issued to Australia, to have returned with the Aussies from the Middle East, or to be "Refugee Cargo" destined for Malaya / Singapore. Nothing anywhere that high in the A.W.M. Ledgers.
There have been some photos posted on FB though. Lots of chrome on the fork parts and some interesting sign-writing...I'm fairly sure this is a bike which has migrated to the Antipodes from the Indian sub-continent. C11082 seems to have been a contract that was either used by Canadians in Europe, or sent to the Far East.
Ah,
I have not seen any pictures of it. Will look for them.
If it has chrome on it on unusual parts where Norton would never put chrome then the India link seems very likely.
Have seen several here in Holland that came from India with chromed fork links and other parts Norton would never put chrome on.
Canadian link also in my records but I doubt Canadians were the only users of this contract.
