Norton was founded in Birmingham in 1898 and built its first motorcycle in 1902. Over the following decades the marque assembled one of motorcycling's great competition records, winning Isle of Man TT races and world championships with machines like the Manx single, whose featherbed frame, developed with Rex McCandless, redefined motorcycle handling.

The post-war Dominator and Commando twins carried Norton through the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s, the Commando's isolastic frame isolating engine vibration and making it a favorite of its era. Later came rotary-engined machines and years of corporate turbulence, before the modern revival produced the 961 Commando and a V4-powered range under new ownership backed by TVS. Vintage twins and singles remain the backbone of classic riding in Britain and beyond.

Norton manuals cover timing-side and drive-side engine work, AMC and Norton gearboxes, magneto and electronic ignition, carburetor and throttle-body tuning, frame, fork and isolastic service, and complete wiring diagrams. Torque figures, valve clearances and service schedules are essential on engines whose assembly tolerances decide both performance and oil tightness.

Owners restoring a featherbed-framed classic, riders using a Commando regularly and specialists working on modern Nortons all depend on accurate documentation, since errors are costly and many jobs are one-time fits. Owners' clubs maintain deep technical knowledge, but the factory book is still the reference point that turns characterful machinery into a manageable project.