After the story the other day about the newly reborn Norton with their all new V4 sport bikes, you might want to see a wonderful example of what Norton used to produce, a beautifully restored 1971 Dunstall Norton Commando. Compare the bikes and decide for yourself if the new carry on the tradition. It's an interesting contrast. If you have ever wanted a classic Norton, … [Read more...]
Projects Not Credentials, Do It to Prove It
You don't need permission to learn You can learn anything you want, starting today. If you want to learn how to do advanced mathematics, TIG weld aluminum, create complicated CAD drawings, do computer programming, 3D print a complex piece of your own design, or anything else you don't yet know how to do, you can start immediately, no permission necessary, no application … [Read more...]
A Norton Matchless in the British Tradition of Custom Hybrids
Recently we wrote about a beautiful, though less often seen, British hybrid combining a Norton Featherbed frame with an Ariel Square Four engine, it was called a Noriel. Now, here's another less often seen combination, a slimline Norton Featherbed frame with a Matchless 500cc single for power. I'm not sure if there's an accepted name for this one, "Norless" perhaps, but, … [Read more...]
Noriel Black Velvet and Norton Esquire – Two Different Visions Across Sixty Years
A recent magazine cover photo caught my eye, it was John Mossey's Noriel Black Velvet on the cover of Classic Bike. It's one of those thoroughly British creations that comes about when you combine major parts from different marques into one new machine, in this case it's an Ariel Square Four engine installed, with no small amount of massage and modifications all around, into a … [Read more...]
1937 Brough Superior SS 80 Deluxe For Sale
Something you will rarely see for sale is this 1937 Brough Superior SS 80 Deluxe. It has been completely restored and looks as good if not better, than the day it was born. The Brough Superior is a legendary marque, Lawrence of Arabia owned eight and, unfortunately, met his end on one of them. I thought it was worth bringing this one to your attention. Perhaps your stable is … [Read more...]
Makerspace Is Just Newspeak for Workshop
The other day I saw this article about building makerspaces in schools and the photo showed what seemed to me to be a nice workshop, similar to what schools had when I grew up. Of course, now these spaces have things like 3D printers, not a tool we had years back, but the saws and drill presses are pretty standard fare. It made me wonder if there was any real purpose for using … [Read more...]