The Made in England decal

Yellow_Cad · Apr 16, 2008

Do the aftermarket Made in England decals used on the rear fender of Commandos look like the originals or do they look just stuck on even if you do a careful job. I am asking this question because at a recent vintate British bike show, I saw a number of what looked like poorly applied Made in England decals. I have an older GM car (1954) and they make aftermarket decals for those air cleaners but they never look like the originals no matter how much care you take. I just wondered if it was the same way with the Made in England decals used on the Commando rear fender.

L.A.B. · Apr 16, 2008

Yellow_Cad said:
Do the aftermarket Made in England decals used on the rear fender of Commandos look like the originals or do they look just stuck on even if you do a careful job.

The originals were stick on decals, (weren't they?).

Jason Curtiss · Apr 16, 2008

My aftermarket decal looks as good as the original.

Jason

hewhoistoolazytologin · Apr 17, 2008

I have a stick-on too which I put on the fender a few years ago, but for the life of me, I can't say, it it is exactly like the original. Who the heck still has an original on their bike, anyway? Anyone? I'm betting the original was a real water type decal, and not a stick on. Have to glance in the barn, there is still one in there that has never been touched and it might still have the decal on it.
Another question, where exactly does the other"Made in England"...the elongated one in gold script, go? Thanks!

mwoo · Apr 17, 2008

Made in England Decal

Ref the 'longer' one - I think you're referring to the two that were fixed to the frame downtubes in front of the engine - one on each side.

hewhoistoolazytologin · Apr 17, 2008

Any one have a picture of the positioning? And two? Not one?
Thanks...

L.A.B. · Apr 17, 2008

Info: http://www.norvilmotorcycle.co.uk/decals.htm

Period photos show Interstate models had the rear mudguard/fender 'Made in England' sticker placed immediately ahead of the tail lamp fairing. The Interstate seat not only being longer than the Roadster model seat, but it was also positioned further back due to the Interstate tank being longer than the Roadster tank, if the sticker was to be easily seen then it has to be as far back as possible on an Interstate.

Roadster models had the sticker positioned approximately mid-way between the tail lamp fairing and back of the seat, as a much larger area of mudguard is seen between the seat and the tail lamp fairing on Roadsters.

BEWARE of certain eBay traders selling "decal kits" as being 'correct' 'accurate' ...etc...etc..reproductions of the originals?
As they are poor quality reproductions, and the stickers supplied are not always technically correct.

I'm not convinced that the Made in England script frame sticker was commonly used?
As the majority (but not all) period photos do not appear to show any down tube frame tube sticker at all?
I would urge owners to use their parts books to check the type and part numbers of stickers before ordering the genuine Norton items.

Don Q · Apr 18, 2008

My 1974 850 had the original decal when purchased. I ordered a new one which was packaged with the "Norton Factory" white paper tag we all love.
It looks just like the original did, which is not very good. It was centered between the taillight fairing and the back of the seat. As for the frame decals, they are not listed in any norton commando parts book I've ever seen. These decals were used on a few Triumphs I believe, but the seem to be indescriminately applied to all british bikes by enthusiastic owners.
A local Triumph shop had knock off decals made a few years back which said "Made in Oak Cliff". This is a neighborhood in south Dallas, Texas, which is a little rough, and home to the orginal location of "Big D Cycle", famed for their Bonneville Salt Flats exploits.

L.A.B. · Apr 18, 2008

Don Q said:
As for the frame decals, they are not listed in any norton commando parts book I've ever seen. These decals were used on a few Triumphs I believe, but the seem to be indescriminately applied to all british bikes by enthusiastic owners.

Up until a day ago I would have totally agreed with that opinion.

However, not only does the sticker appear on the Norvil website, listed as original equipment, but it is also listed by ANIL as, quote: "GENERIC NORTON PART
This item is not related to a specific model of bike"

The Triumph frame Made in England version also appears to have an identical part number (603361) but that was a water-slide transfer I believe? And is still sold by Triumph parts suppliers as water-slide type, as I bought one of those recently for my T140V.

Jason Curtiss · Apr 18, 2008

All four Triumphs I've owned had the frame decal but I've never seen a Norton with a frame decal.

tom2240zap · Feb 23, 2009

It appears as though these bikes received a fender decal from the factory, however mine has a oval brass plate on the rear fender bolted in place with [2] brass machine screws and nuts. The lettering "made in England" is engraved in a script font. Is this an aftermarket plate?

batrider · Feb 23, 2009

The original rear fender "decal" was a actual peel off sticker not a waterslide decal. It was not very thin so sometimes there were wrinkles and air bubbles as applied by Norton. There was no Made in England script decal on the frame on '71 and '72 at least but maybe on the earlier ones? Matchless (AMC) also used them (my '51 and '66 ~M~ have them) but none on my Norton which is a 1972 combat roadster bought new. I would not be surprised to see one on an N15CS though.

RoadScholar · Feb 23, 2009

They exist

Old Brits lists these:

60-4556 Decal, NORTON/TRIUMPH, Made in England 1 5 - 1.67

I have no idea if they are genuine, should be close enough??
they are listed under 1975, Group 29

RS

Cookie · Feb 23, 2009

I think I had a 70 and a 71 frame. I don't recall a made in England sticker.

BillT · Feb 24, 2009

I saw this sticker on a Combat which is still in the hands of the original owner. Perhaps they were put on English frames?
I know my 850 had the Norton Triumph decal on the fender, as one could still make out the lettering even though the sticker was gone, almost like an old negative. I can't attest to a decal on the frame, as it was powdercoated when I got it.

batrider · Feb 24, 2009

Bought my combat roadster '72 from Comerford's in England and brought it back to the states after 2 weeks and 1300 miles of driving on the other side of the road. No Made in England decal on frame (steering head or downtubes) and my friend bought his '71 roadster at same time in England - also no frame decal.

Keith1069 · Mar 4, 2009

Bought my combat roadster '72 from Comerford's in England and brought it back to the states after 2 weeks and 1300 miles of driving on the other side of the road. No Made in England decal on frame (steering head or downtubes) and my friend bought his '71 roadster at same time in England - also no frame decal

Interesting Batrider, I worked there for a couple of months Oct-Nov 72. I did the sales paperwork in the front office. Got so bored I went to work for the POD (Joe Lucas)for 23 years!

batrider · Mar 4, 2009

Hi Keith - Somewhere around - in one of those "safe" places (means I don't know where it is) - I have a brown leather Comerfords key fob that came with the keys to the Norton. We were there in June '72 so missed you. We killed time at the little cafe across the street. It was a long wait. We got there early in the morning and had to wait nearly all day for the bikes to be prepped. Tough for two 21 year olds to be patient when every once in a while we'd get a glimpse of the bikes!

Russ

Keith1069 · Mar 5, 2009

Yes all long gone now, there's a Honda car dealership there last time I passed. We used to have a car sales on the cafe side selling 3 wheelers you could and still can drive on a bike licence (under 896lbs). One lunchtime there were no salesman around and I was asked to take a couple for a test ride on a BSA outfit (he wanted the bike and she wanted the covered 'comfort' of the Reliant 3 wheeler). I'd never ridden an outfit and all was fine down the Kingston bypass (local racetrack) till I had to turn around and got it on two wheels. Needless to say they bought the car instead! Happy days and I've never ridden an outfit since nor want to.

jsnorton · Jun 7, 2020

hewhoistoolazytologin said:
I have a stick-on too which I put on the fender a few years ago, but for the life of me, I can't say, it it is exactly like the original. Who the heck still has an original on their bike, anyway? Anyone? I'm betting the original was a real water type decal, and not a stick on. Have to glance in the barn, there is still one in there that has never been touched and it might still have the decal on it.
Another question, where exactly does the other"Made in England"...the elongated one in gold script, go? Thanks!

I still have the original on my MK1 on the rear fender

The Made in England decal

Yellow_Cad

L.A.B.

Moderator

Jason Curtiss

hewhoistoolazytologin

mwoo

hewhoistoolazytologin

L.A.B.

Moderator

Don Q

L.A.B.

Moderator

Jason Curtiss

tom2240zap

batrider

RoadScholar

Cookie

BillT

batrider

Keith1069

batrider

Keith1069

jsnorton