A MISSING LINK?

The Honda engine in the Norton featherbed frame – seen in Ollie’s Oddjobs in RC188 – may be or could be the frame that I was told was designed by Brian Jones for Norton’s 650 unit construction twin. This would be in about 1959, so the date corresponds with what I have been told.

The unified twin engine is too short for a standard featherbed frame, and the chain is too long to the back wheel sprocket. The photo shows the featherbed version of the unified twin. The rear curve of the frame rail has a large gap between the end of the primary chaincase, and the frame rails.

Richard Negus, when he was building the second unified twin, spoke to one of his former colleagues who explained that he saw a drawing that Brian Jones had done for a frame for the unified twin engine. We tried to buy this frame but the owner refused to sell it. There was also a rumour that there was a featherbed frame conceived for the Norton Navigator twins, and one had actually been built.

The oif frame that became the Pluto design at AMC has some very interesting notations on the frame drawing. This frame has notations drawn on it for Engine UT, Engine Single, Engine Twin. This is on the lower frame rails, so that the engine lugs could be changed to accommodate three different types of engine.

Anthony Curzon, member 1010

Thanks for that, Anthony. We passed the message on to noble Ollie, but he was wrestling with a tasty curry at the time and might have forgotten. Frank W

Looking back through RC185 something familiar snagged my eye – a 1956 Square Four with a pale-coloured seat. My magnifying glass revealed the correct registration number. A search in the photo cupboard provided the snap of this young chap, spannering the same bike, just bought in 1964. The second photo shows my youngest daughter seated on same bike in 1982; she is 40 now. What are the odds on a bloke with glaucoma spotting that tiny picture?

I kept the Ariel for 18 years; unusual because when it comes to wheels my average length of ownership is about two years. Why did it stay so long? Because it looked good and gathered people, it sounded good, always started and did not break down, apart from a snapped chain caused by mad low-gear acceleration. And no, the rear cylinders never overheated, contrary to popular rumour. In fact, an earlier Square Four used to freeze its carb in winter, but that one had the Solex instrument. The SU seemed to solve that problem.

I do still keep a shiny Matchless G9 in the garage.

Brian King, member 3847