Interview with Les Emery

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Joe, some provisional cost for a full set of head paterns C£50k ..i heard Les to two steeps back :shock: well add another £500 to finnish them..looks like Fullauto as the monoply.


ZFD said:
With J.R.Bould, maths are not the problem, gullability is.

According to an ex-employee of Norton Motors Ltd, Richard Negus, then the Spares Manager, the story is as follows:

In 1982'ish, there were 20 or so head castings, some part machined, that came out of Norton Villiers Wolverhampton factory and, for a while, were at Shenstone.

There was no ex-NV tooling/patterns for those heads, or for 750/850 barrels, or crankcases, or gearbox shells, or timing covers, or primary chaincases. With the exception of heads, all such new tooling, and more, has been produced by Andover Norton as circumstances allow.

If Emery had produced new head pattern equipment, then the world would have heard about it. Only Fullauto has done so.

The heads that Bould saw being machined are, without doubt, the same head castings that were at Shenstone, and his comment that they carried the 'Birco' trademark confirms them being castings from the 1970's.
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ZFD said:
. I wanted a clean division between what we have manufactured to works drawings, on works tooling, to works spec., and what is sourced from "alternative" suppliers.
One of these "alternative" suppliers is BASED in England, but few of the products sourced from this "English" supplier are MADE in England, most coming from China, India, etc. Hence the "99% British" figure quoted has to be put into perspective.

Not even Andover Norton- who source about a dozen parts from this same supplier, by the way, less than 1% of the total purchasing budget- but who have the vast majority of their parts actually made in England, could truthfully claim that high a percentage of English content in our product range. We also source parts from Germany, Italy, France, Czech Republic, the US, etc. An FAG bearing is not "Made in England", even if we buy it from FAG UK. It is all a question of definition or, dare I say it, truthfulness.
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1) Andover Norton don't make anything.
2) 'Most' of the manufacturers Andover use, also supply these 'alternative' suppliers, with exactly the same product.
3) There are thousands of genuine dealers around the world. If Andover Norton really supplied superior parts across the range, then wouldn't these dealers be flocking to Andover's door to get a trade/distributor account? Last time i checked Andover's website, they had 3 UK dealers, one of which is ...er .. in Andover. Go figure...
4) I must dig out my 'Genuine' Roadster tank, bought from Andover Norton, but surprisingly made in Delhi! :oops:

Thanks to the OP, for highlighting an interesting article.
 
We hope that by buying AN goods we are assured of a certain level of quality. That they
are manufactured in the western world might mean something to us of a certain age.
The question is whether or not the pattern ones are "just as good" or not as they are often
cheaper. If you ride 2k a year and don't wander far from home it likely doesnt matter. Some
after market stuff like Madass makes are fine. You get to make the choice but it tough to
know at times. Things like bushes, they measure up but are they the correct material? Unless
we send it in for expensive testing we dont know. That is where AN has the leg up. You pay
for the real deal.
...as for their Indian tanks, well that unfortunate experience seems to have AN moving to
source tanks locally. The cost to the consumer will be unpleasant but then there is a finite
supply that is steadily decreasing. Hope they are indeed true replicas.
 
BA10BOON said:
2) 'Most' of the manufacturers Andover use, also supply these 'alternative' suppliers, with exactly the same product.
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If that would be the case for parts made to drawings which AN owns the right off it would simply be a crime in most countries (unless AN explicitly allows them to do so and disregard the usual drawing header text). That would be a little surprising.

Regarding the AN tank from India just use the search function - they do no longer supply them.



Tim
 
BA10BOON said:
3) There are thousands of genuine dealers around the world. If Andover Norton really supplied superior parts across the range, then wouldn't these dealers be flocking to Andover's door to get a trade/distributor account? Last time i checked Andover's website, they had 3 UK dealers, one of which is ...er .. in Andover. Go figure...
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How many? Thousands? Genuine? Do you mean the guys with trade accounts with Domi or JRC, which they give out like candy?
 
1) Andover Norton don't make anything.
2) 'Most' of the manufacturers Andover use, also supply these 'alternative' suppliers, with exactly the same product.
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Well, that is not a new argument on this forum, or from BA10BOON for that matter, but that does not make it more true.
I wonder who else gets our gearbox parts, crankcases, primary chaincases, cylinder barrels, rockers, fork stanchions, fork sliders, side covers etcetcetc from our suppliers who make these things using our tooling and our drawings, but I'd certainly be interested to hear. Somehow I doubt it.

mayby Les should be invited onto this forum.
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I suspect this isn't necessary, what, BA10BOON?

As for
3) There are thousands of genuine dealers around the world. If Andover Norton really supplied superior parts across the range, then wouldn't these dealers be flocking to Andover's door to get a trade/distributor account? Last time i checked Andover's website, they had 3 UK dealers, one of which is ...er .. in Andover. Go figure...
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We get trade enquieries all the time, but are now somewhat selective about whom we supply and whom we decline, unlike all our "competitors" who sell their pirate parts to all and sundry, including spare time autojumblers.
As for our dealer list, we supply more dealers than those on our list, but list the more important ones.

Some who think and/or pretend they are great and important aren't listed because we don't supply them. Make of that what you will, but be asured we have good reason not to.

one of which is ...er .. in Andover. Go figure...
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The dealer in Andover, Norman White, has been there since he became self-employed, i.e. in the years Andover Norton was in Andover, then in Southampton, then in Hungerford, now back in Andover. What the fact that he is now near Andover Norton again proves escapes me, but I am sure BA10BOON will tell us shortly what to figure from it!

The last word on who we supply is mine. I have fired a number of dealers I was lumbered with from Andover Norton's BSA/Regal days, and a number of even longer standing, and I don't rue a single case.

Joe Seifert/Andover Norton
 
Joe

Interesting thread.
Off subject(sorry), I really like the way AN's webshop is setup to select parts via the exploded diagrams, and I've nearly got as far as buying stuff from you, but why no secure card processing facility at checkout?
Printing out a form then having to fax it, or phone the order in seems a little antiquated these days?
 
oldbloke wrote;
Printing out a form then having to fax it, or phone the order in seems a little antiquated these days?
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When I use A/N directly for parts, I order the parts on-line using their ordering system on the site, which then saves the order, finishing off with my name and address, and then a quick (1 minute) phone call to pass my bank details and Bobs yer uncle. What's all this faxing / printing stuff ??
 
Reggie said:
When I use A/N directly for parts, I order the parts on-line using their ordering system on the site, which then saves the order, finishing off with my name and address, and then a quick (1 minute) phone call to pass my bank details and Bobs yer uncle. What's all this faxing / printing stuff ??
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There is also the option to fax the order confirmation, which is probably cheaper and more convenient for those living outside the UK.
 
That is the only dog I have in this fight, I would REALLY like it if Andover Norton had a secure way to input a credit card number on line. I REALLY will not fax my credit card number in this day and age, and I live in Arizona, and calling is awkward. Definitely not a show stopper, just seems when it would work to call, I am busy, and when I am not, not the right time in England. And really, who amongst us hasn't bought something online in the evening after a few tall frosties that one normally would not? Or a tall warm one, I guess, I don't get the whole room temp beer deal, but that starts another thread...ooops....
 
Since this is the Andover Norton thread :lol:

Although hard to believe the 850 I have has what looks to be a crack in the primary cover,starting at the front observation plug hole and running down to below that face.
I am curious to what the AN primary cover is,is it an exact replacement of the OEM cover ?,any pictures of one please ?

http://www.nortonmotors.de/ANIL/Norton% ... 10&Part=16

.
 
I remember when the Commando was new, phone calls to England cost 30 bux a min and the connection sucked and the accents too thick to understand. Wiring money was a hassle with sliding scale exchange rates not in your favor and return policy was cost prohibitive when the wrong item sent after a long long wait so everything cost like 10 times more and most ended up parked somewhere.
 
Re:

Time Warp said:
Since this is the Andover Norton thread :lol:

Although hard to believe the 850 I have has what looks to be a crack in the primary cover,starting at the front observation plug hole and running down to below that face.
I am curious to what the AN primary cover is,is it an exact replacement of the OEM cover ?,any pictures of one please ?

http://www.nortonmotors.de/ANIL/Norton% ... 10&Part=16

.
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Are you sure it's not a casting mark? Picture please?
 
I carn't believe there is no Norton parts out-let/ dealers in the states, there is plenty of harley part dealers in the UK :lol:



rwalker28 said:
That is the only dog I have in this fight, I would REALLY like it if Andover Norton had a secure way to input a credit card number on line. I REALLY will not fax my credit card number in this day and age, and I live in Arizona, and calling is awkward. Definitely not a show stopper, just seems when it would work to call, I am busy, and when I am not, not the right time in England. And really, who amongst us hasn't bought something online in the evening after a few tall frosties that one normally would not? Or a tall warm one, I guess, I don't get the whole room temp beer deal, but that starts another thread...ooops....
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john robert bould said:
I carn't believe there is no Norton parts out-let/ dealers in the states, there is plenty of harley part dealers in the UK :lol:



rwalker28 said:
That is the only dog I have in this fight, I would REALLY like it if Andover Norton had a secure way to input a credit card number on line. I REALLY will not fax my credit card number in this day and age, and I live in Arizona, and calling is awkward. Definitely not a show stopper, just seems when it would work to call, I am busy, and when I am not, not the right time in England. And really, who amongst us hasn't bought something online in the evening after a few tall frosties that one normally would not? Or a tall warm one, I guess, I don't get the whole room temp beer deal, but that starts another thread...ooops....
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That is my point, John, I trade with almost ALL of them, each outlet has their own list of items they carry (some unique), each outlet prices differently, most will honestly tell you source of parts, etc. I don't want to get into naming names but the ones I trade with less are the ones that are more difficult, ie. payment methods, hard to use websites, lack of communications, items not usually in stock,etc. And I have my own preferences like everyone else about what I like regarding that list, and it is not always price, and I will get items from overseas if I decide to go that way.

I like having as many options as possible because a large vibrant poll of vendors means lots of choices. Discussions in the group here allow for more feedback than having to learn myself by experience who is better. Like I say, I have no dog in this fight, hard to mention a vendor I have not tried, unless i don't know them, but I do know quite a few, and none are blacklisted by me yet. But there are certain things I will go to certain folks for, and not others.

So, long winded, sorry. I will go back to lurking this thread.
 
Re: Re:

swooshdave said:
Are you sure it's not a casting mark? Picture please?
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Will do when I am back home from work in 26 days.
 
hello All, hope you are well.
A few comments on parts.
In my early days of buying parts, I bought from aftermarket and fleabay. then run across Andover Norton and mr Nick Hopkins. the attitude, service and information given by mr Hopkins led to me only buying Andover. Nothing seemed too much trouble, he will be sorely missed. I hope the same level of service continues.

It did not take long to realise that most of the aftermarket stuff I got was rubbish. did not fit, shocking chrome and just bad service.

I have never had an inferior part or something that did not fit from AN. I suppose others will disagree, but my experience has only been good.

regarding dealers, I went to support local industry, but my experience with several dealers led me to go back to directly dealing with AN.

it is amazing that 40 years later there is still genuine Norton parts available of known quality backed up by warranty.

just my 2 quids worth
Bradley
 
I still have a magazine article from 1977 when Andover Norton started up, with a picture of a young gentlemen in a tie standing in front of racks of Norton parts.
I remember wondering how long they would last, i was thinking a year or two. Sometimes it is great to be proved wrong.
 
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