Birmingham 1898 saw the start, making spares for the bicycle trade, and 100 years on this make has stood the test of time. The Manx Norton of 1937 became the bike to beat. Racing success led to the famous Dominator 500cc twin in 1949 which continued into the sixties with the Famous Featherbed Frame of 1952 and in 1956 the 600cc engine, which with the slimline Featherbed and a 650cc engine in 1962 gave the 650SS Dominator. Eventually taken over by the AMC group in 1953 the Birmingham factory was closed in 1962 and production was moved to the Matchless plant in Woolwich. The 'Norton Featherbed Frame' was accepted as the best frame in production and was desired by many boy racers who fitted Triumph engines to give us the Triton which was the epitome of the 'Cafe Racer' and so it was with a sense of loss when the Commando was launched in 1967 with a new frame and Isolastic engine suspension. This awesome combination continued in production until 1977 and 'against all odds' they won the Senior TT when the Japanese were thought to be invincible.