Norton motorcycles

Watsonian: From Folding Sidecars to World Championships – A British Motorcycle Success Story

by

Mark Lancaster

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24th October 2026

What began as one Birmingham builder’s ingenious solution to a common problem became one of Britain’s most successful sidecar manufacturers. Discover the remarkable history of Watsonian, from its pioneering folding sidecars to world championship success – and an ambitious attempt to build its own motorcycle. The idea for Watsonian sidecars came not from an engineer,…
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Pa and His Pa: The Norton Founder, a 1921 Photograph and an Extraordinary Motorcycle Adventure

by

Mark Lancaster

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17th October 2026

Though always known as ‘Pa’ Norton, this picture shows the company founder with his own pa. Plus, some famous faces look on. Simon Robinson reports… The Norton motorcycle company sprang from the Norton Manufacturing Company, which was set up in 1869 by James Lansdowne Norton to manufacture bicycle chains. It was in 1902 that Norton…
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R A Jones Classic Motorcycles: a family passion for proper classic bikes

by

Mark Lancaster

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12th June 2026

For anyone with a love of British classics, restoration projects and interesting old motorcycles, R A Jones Classic Motorcycles is well worth knowing about. Based in Manchester, close to the Trafford Centre and M60, the business is run by Robert Jones and specialises in classic motorcycles, with a particular passion for British machinery. Whether it…
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Norton motorcycles

Watsonian: From Folding Sidecars to World Championships – A British Motorcycle Success Story

Pa and His Pa: The Norton Founder, a 1921 Photograph and an Extraordinary Motorcycle Adventure

R A Jones Classic Motorcycles: a family passion for proper classic bikes

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