Interstate tanks

Rohan said:

Whereas a Japanese operator (or Chinese these days ?) would have supplied them in the 5 different lengths. :roll:
But then thats the advantage of a large volume operation....

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The problem would be identifying WHICH length you had. I don't see any "large volume operation" connected with anything Norton. Even the big boys are really cottage industries.

Fullauto said:

I don't see any "large volume operation" connected with anything Norton.

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Precisely.

Fullauto said:

The problem would be identifying WHICH length you had. .

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Presumeably fitting it (tank) to the frame and measuring between some common points
would have to get close to which seat length was required. ??

Fullauto said:

Matt from CNW told me once that he has exclusive rights from Corbin to supply seats for Interstates. However, he had problems because he identified five different lengths of Interstate tanks with consequent fitting problems with the seats so he stopped supplying them.

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mikegray660 said:

I've heard one of the reason corbin quit making a "gunfighter style" seat to fit the interstate tanks is the tanks had a few different lengths and their seats were getting returned as improper fitting

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Corbin never offered the 'Gunfighter' Interstate seat for sale. They were all made for and sold through cNw. I did however however determine (after selling a dozen or so) that there were no less than 6 different ones available...who knows, maybe more. This between both glass and steel. Unfortunately they were dimensionally different enough that the seat would not work for all of them. The difference in size (that affected the seat) was both the overall length and the width and shape where it meets the seat

I still make and sell some Corbin seats for the Interstate but they are all custom made and I have to have the tank that the seat will be used with in the shop in order to make it fit

To bad its so complicated as the Corbin/Interstate combo looks nice.

Matt / Colorado Norton Works

http://www.coloradonortonworks.com

This was Homers where many British petrol tanks including some Interstate tanks were made.

www.adhorner.co.uk/building_7.

small error in the link, should be:

http://www.adhorner.co.uk/building_7.html

CNW said:

Fullauto said:

Matt from CNW told me once that he has exclusive rights from Corbin to supply seats for Interstates. However, he had problems because he identified five different lengths of Interstate tanks with consequent fitting problems with the seats so he stopped supplying them.

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mikegray660 said:

I've heard one of the reason corbin quit making a "gunfighter style" seat to fit the interstate tanks is the tanks had a few different lengths and their seats were getting returned as improper fitting

Click to expand...

Corbin never offered the 'Gunfighter' Interstate seat for sale. They were all made for and sold through cNw. I did however however determine (after selling a dozen or so) that there were no less than 6 different ones available...who knows, maybe more. This between both glass and steel. Unfortunately they were dimensionally different enough that the seat would not work for all of them. The difference in size (that affected the seat) was both the overall length and the width and shape where it meets the seat

I still make and sell some Corbin seats for the Interstate but they are all custom made and I have to have the tank that the seat will be used with in the shop in order to make it fit

To bad its so complicated as the Corbin/Interstate combo looks nice.

Matt / Colorado Norton Works

http://www.coloradonortonworks.com

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Matt,

Being 'complicated' simply weeds out the uncommitted...

My Interstate tank is on its way to you...

Have you told the family that they will be lined up with collection cups outside Tesco again this weekend?
At least it's for a worthy cause. :mrgreen:

Glen

worntorn said:

Have you told the family that they will be lined up with collection cups outside Tesco again this weekend?
At least it's for a worthy cause. :mrgreen:

Glen

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No need for that Glen, you do exaggerate...

We'll just be fine tuning the bread and water diet... no bread for a while...

I noticed that someone commented about hearing that there are 5 different lengths to the Interstate tank. I wonder what the length differences are. I have looked at a number of pictures of Norton Interstates online and in books and it seems as though pretty much all of the Interstate seats are placed in the exact same position. For instance I noticed that the lower forward portion of the seat lines up with the forward mounting bolt for the right hand side panel on all of the pictures I have seen. I just cannot imagine huge length differences amongst all of these gas tanks.

As for the steel tanks, the "Slimline" Interstate tanks, part number is 065364 shows up in the Mark II/IIA parts supplement as well as the Mark III parts book. Knowing how Norton did things I wouldn't be surprised if this "Slimline" tank was installed on some of the later Mark I Interstates as well. So I am guessing that the "Slimline" tank is the most common tank to be found. What would be really nice to know is if there is a simple measurement that could establish the difference between a "Slimline" tank versus the earlier "Wideline"(?) tanks. I am sure there are people out there that would have an Interstate tank for sale and not know exactly which one they have. So having an easy measurement would sure help both the buyer and the seller.

Peel's '72 glass IS tank holds over 6 us gal. is 24.5" long at the bottom and 8" wide at base mid corner radius.