1928-1939	1939-1945	1946-1963	1963-1968	1968-1977	1978-1992	1993-1998	1998-2007
1898-1927

James Lansdowne Norton founds the Norton Manufacturing Co in 1898, as a supplier of components to the infant English cycle and motorcycle industry. In 1902 he builds his first motorcycle, using a French engine. At the 1907 Isle of Man TT, H.Rem Fowler wins the twin cylinder class on a Norton, though not the one that still exists and is often claimed to be his TT bike. After the TT, H.Rem Fowler is said to have spoken of his "Unapproachable" Norton, thus coining the immortal phrase.

In 1908 James "Pa" Norton designes his first own engine, a 633ccm side valve single, the "Model 1", later called the "Big4". The next one is the 3 1/2hp, later famous as the "16H". The firm's first commercial crisis  follows soon, due to Pa Norton's scant concern with commercial trivia. R.T.Shelley, of Vanderwell, saves Norton in 1924.