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Norton Motorcycles Bracebridge Street

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Fallen Angel

New Member
Hello all, this is my first post to the forum and I hope I'm posting in the right place. I write occasionally for various Norton Motorcycle enthusiasts groups regarding the history of the Norton up to 1963 when the bikes were produced at the Bracebridge street factory. I'm interested in hearing from anyone with any information, anecdotes or pictures from this period. I'd be most grateful for any contributions to this thread. I'm also interested in any of the factories like Birmil who supplied Norton. As you can probably tell I'm not a professional writer but love exploring this tiny part of the history of Birmingham.
 
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hello fallen angel and welcome..if you go to the bracebridge street thread there are quite a few photos of the street including the old norton factory that you may find of use...click on the link below..in the meantime and you may already have this one but this is a pic of george formby taking delivery of his norton bike from the factory dated 1947
..click on the pic to enlarge it.........
norton with george formby 1947.jpg
lyn

https://birminghamhistory.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=38441&highlight=bracebridge+street
 
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Thanks for digging that out Lyn I knew there was one but had an urgent appointment with the recycling tip.
 
I nrecall the Nortons in Bracebriodge st When I worked as a drivers mate at GWR Hockley we travelled along Brace bridge quite ofte.It wasseeing the testers tearing around that made be determined to be one myself and I went to BSA in 1948-9 and after working thru various departments there became a tester and loved the job. Sometimes would call in at the coffe hous just opposite the factory and talk to anyone who was there from Norton Recall a Norton man well known racer who fell off a bike when coasting along side saddle inside the factory when the bike tipped over and he broke his arm Old Joe
 
Hi to fallen Angel If you are doing some History of Norton you may know who it was that fell of and broke his armf Old Joe
 
Astoness said:
hello fallen angel and welcome..if you go to the bracebridge street thread there are quite a few photos of the street including the old norton factory that you may find of use...click on the link below..in the meantime and you may already have this one but this is a pic of george formby taking delivery of his norton bike from the factory dated 1947
..click on the pic to enlarge it.........
View attachment 92256
lyn

https://birminghamhistory.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=38441&highlight=bracebridge+street
Click to expand...
 
Norton . . I worked there for a short time in my late teens 1952/3. Just prior to joining the RAF, and still have my service book with "Civilian Occupation" shown as 'Box Sidecar Rider'.
This was my job after leaving BSA at Armoury Road because I was transferred off the line to the machine shop - hands in 'suds' all day - as a punishment for refusing to join the union!
I used to take exhaust systems for chroming, and my last job of the day was to take the post around the corner (Aston Road?) to the Post Office. Used to frighten any pedestrians with my side (box) car wheely as I took the corner - as only a crazy youth could do . . .
 
Nigel Edwards said:
Norton . . I worked there for a short time in my late teens 1952/3. Just prior to joining the RAF, and still have my service book with "Civilian Occupation" shown as 'Box Sidecar Rider'.
This was my job after leaving BSA at Armoury Road because I was transferred off the line to the machine shop - hands in 'suds' all day - as a punishment for refusing to join the union!
I used to take exhaust systems for chroming, and my last job of the day was to take the post around the corner (Aston Road?) to the Post Office. Used to frighten any pedestrians with my side (box) car wheely as I took the corner - as only a crazy youth could do . . .
Click to expand...
i remember some one leaving one of them side box outfits out side rt shelley.who made parts for norton/bracebridge st. i try'd to start it but could not. press the kit start down.lol
 
mw0njm. Great memory jog . . I could not remember where I took the pipes for chroming and you answered - RT Shelley - you might have 'tampered' with my outfit, which was an army side valve and it was a pig to start, there was a knack to it. Thanks for the memory.
 
Nigel Edwards said:
mw0njm. Great memory jog . . I could not remember where I took the pipes for chroming and you answered - RT Shelley - you might have 'tampered' with my outfit, which was an army side valve and it was a pig to start, there was a knack to it. Thanks for the memory.
Click to expand...
no probs. great memory. thanks
 
I'm logged in the link in the post above will not open. It says "your account does not have admin priviledges". Yeah, so what?? Any way to see the photos? Thanks,
 
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