JPN Engine/Frame Numbers

Cheesehead Commando · Feb 27, 2017

Hi Forum Members-

I have a questions, hope my to gain some insight from members. Did the Norton factory have a range of engine/frame numbers that applied to only to the JPNs, or were they mixed in with numbers for the 850MKIIs, and therefore in-distinguishable?

Thanks!
Cheese

L.A.B. · Feb 28, 2017

Here's what Joe Seifert ('ZFD' here) said on the NOC forum;
http://www.nortonownersclub.org/noc-cha ... /618914576

Unfortunately, whilst I have some records that neither the NOC, not the VMCC have- original despatch ledgers- there are gaps, mainly the very late 750s (#235...; this includes the 750 short stroke engines) and most early 850s including all the Mk2As, and thus the JPNs.

If anybody claims his JPN is verified by "the experts", forget it. Nobody can, unless the history of the bike can be proven from point of purchase till today.

kommando · Feb 28, 2017

There are ways to be 99% certain that a JPN is really a JPN and not a replica, Grandpaul has a build thread for his Genuine JPN which includes all the telltale pointers. But the telltales are still reproducible hence the 1% chance someone has copied them all as opposed to taking a normal Commando and added the JPN body kit, petrol tank and rear sets.

Grandpaul's thread john-player-special-restoration-project-t23470.html

grandpaul · Feb 28, 2017

kommando said:
But the telltales are still reproducible hence the 1% chance someone has copied them all as opposed to taking a normal Commando and added the JPN body kit, petrol tank and rear sets.

...and clip-ons, and exhaust, and a few other small bits & bobs...

FWIW, I have meticulously created a comprehensive list of every non-original part on my JPN, and categorized each part as:

-NOS replacement (Andover Norton, Lucas, etc from old stock)
-used, original spec replacement (from serviceable original spares)
-new, original spec replacement (AN, etc, newly made)
-new, pattern replacement (Dunlop, Lucas, etc)
-new, non-original spec replacement (aftermarket)

The person that buys my bike will know EXACTLY what they are getting; all of the above is completely disclosed to potential buyers.

Robert_Norton · Feb 28, 2017

Cheesehead Commando said:
Hi Forum Members-

I have a questions, hope my to gain some insight from members. Did the Norton factory have a range of engine/frame numbers that applied to only to the JPNs, or were they mixed in with numbers for the 850MKIIs, and therefore in-distinguishable?

Thanks!
Cheese

Cheese,

I've noticed that many (if not all) of the original JPN models, that I've seen photos of the VIN plates for, had a VIN number that was stamped with a font that was different from the font used on bikes of the same era. Or, maybe MK IIA models all had VIN numbers that used the different font. But the font on the JPN's is very different from the font used on my MKII, which has a serial number not too far away from my JPN.

Also, JPN frames are unique, with the steering lock tab being clipped on each end, with a crescent shaped portion of the steering lock tab being missing. If whatever you're looking at has the crescent shaped tabs clipped out, I think you can be pretty sure it was an original JPN.

Post some photos if you want more input.

.

jimbo · Mar 1, 2017

Robert_Norton said:
Cheesehead Commando said:

Hi Forum Members-

I have a questions, hope my to gain some insight from members. Did the Norton factory have a range of engine/frame numbers that applied to only to the JPNs, or were they mixed in with numbers for the 850MKIIs, and therefore in-distinguishable?

Thanks!
Cheese

Click to expand...

Cheese,

I've noticed that many (if not all) of the original JPN models, that I've seen photos of the VIN plates for, had a VIN number that was stamped with a font that was different from the font used on bikes of the same era. Or, maybe MK IIA models all had VIN numbers that used the different font. But the font on the JPN's is very different from the font used on my MKII, which has a serial number not too far away from my JPN.

Also, JPN frames are unique, with the steering lock tab being clipped on each end, with a crescent shaped portion of the steering lock tab being missing. If whatever you're looking at has the crescent shaped tabs clipped out, I think you can be pretty sure it was an original JPN.

Post some photos if you want more input.

.

here you go , courtesy of grandpaul

jimbo · Mar 3, 2017

http://www.ebay.com/itm/John-Player-Nor ... oK&vxp=mtr

JPN Engine/Frame Numbers

Cheesehead Commando

L.A.B.

Moderator

kommando

grandpaul

Robert_Norton

jimbo

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jimbo

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