the norton motorcycle company (formerly norton motors, ltd.) is an english motorcycle marque, originally from birmingham, england, uk. it was founded in 1898 as a manufacturer of "fittings and parts for the two-wheel trade". by 1902 the company had begun manufacturing motorcycles with bought-in engines. in 1908 a norton-built engine was added to the range. this began a long series of production of single and eventually twin-cylinder motorcycles, and a long history of racing involvement. during the second world war norton produced almost 100,000 of the military model 16 h and big 4 sidevalve motorcycles.