Books'nSundries

The Celts

(A Historical Snapshot by Emil T. Miller)

Although parts of the geographical and ethnological origins of the once dominant Celts are rather obscure, history is definitive enough for many things about them to be positively verified in the absolute. The following is a brief synopsis of what is definitively known about the ancient Celtic peoples and their modern day descendants:

     The name Celts (pronounced "Kelts") is derived from keltoi, the Greek form of a Celtic word meaning "heroes", or "lofty ones", for they were indeed both bold and large people generally. The Celts are first recorded in the 2nd Millenium in North-Central Europe and they eventually became the dominant military and cultural force. By the end of the 5th century B.C. they had swept over most of Europe and the known world at the time, invading the Iberian Peninsula, northern Italy, Macedonia and Thessaly. They plundered Rome in 390 B.C., sacked Delphi in 279 B.C., founded Gaul, and penetrated Asia Minor where they founded Galatia – see Galatians, Thessalonians and others of these early Celtic peoples and countries mentioned in the Holy Bible. And, in case the reader has not realized it yet, these are also the people (before their conversion to Christianity) who the Scriptures refer to as "Pagan". The Celts gave their language, customs, pagan religion, and traditions (but no meaningful governmental system) to the peoples they subjugated.
    More than 150 distinct Celtic-speaking tribes emerged in Europe, the largest grouping of Celtic tribes of which were the Gauls (Gaels - later including the Irish and Scottish Gaels) who were most prominent, giving that name to a huge portion of Europe. Then came the Bythons (later known as the Britons then the English). Late in the 2nd Millenium B.C. these Goidals, or Gaels, moved westward from the Continent and occupied the islands known later as Ireland and the Isle of Man. These Gaels were the direct ancestors of the modern Irish, the Manx, and the Scots, many of whom still speak a Celtic language.
     In most respects the Celtic civilization was considerably more advanced that the Teutonic tribes in the east. Their tribes were bound together by common speech, customs, religion and the deep-rooted tribal or clan system, rather than by any well-defined system of government, the lack of which contributed substantially to the eventual decline of their civilization. These and other prominent Celtic tribes originally peopled the later Roman Empire in all its far-flung reaches, including the vast Austrian Empire which itself was a part of the Roman Empire in the beginning and which continued on until just after World War I at the start of the century just past.
     The far-flung positions of the Celts eventually made them vulnerable in Gaul and in the 2nd century B.C. due to the rising power of the Romans, two disastrous defeats were inflicted on the Celtic clans in Northern Italy. Then between 58 and 50 B.C. the Romans under the statesman/soldier Gaius Julius Caesar subjugated the remainder of the Gallic tribes (primarily the Belgae), concluding the era of Celtic supremacy in western Europe. Celtic continued to be the universal language of Gaul until the end of the 2nd century A.D. but thereafter Latin became the prominent tongue. Celtic languages had virtually ceased to exist by the end of the 4th century A.D.
     In the 5th or 4th century B.C., Britain (now England), the bigger island of the group known as the British Isles, was settled by a Celtic tribe known as the Bythons. During the later Roman occupation of Britain, the Bythons retained their language, culture and religion, although all were modified extensively by the Roman influences (it was Roman Soldiers who originally introduced Christianity to England).
     The most thriving Celtic language extant today is Welsh, spoken in parts of Wales, now a part of England. An interesting and little known fact is that our word "Dad" (pet diminutive "Daddy") is not English or Southern American slang for "Father" as most think, but rather it is the correct and proper Celtic word for "Father", brought to this country by the many early Scotch-Irish Celtic settlers who came to the southern colonies and states in far greater numbers than any other.
     The Celtic social system was dominated by the deep-rooted tribal or clan system still clearly traceable and identifiable even today in the Irish and Scottish clans and in their descendants in the Southern United States where so many Scotch and Irish Celts emigrated both before and after independence from England. Their ancient (and pagan) mythology, which included earthen gods, various sylvan genii, and sun deities, was particularly rich in elfin demons and tutelaries, beings that still pervade the lore of peoples of Celtic ancestry today, particularly the Irish. One example is the Banshee, a female spirit still believed to wail outside a house as a warning that the death of a family member is imminent. In America the screech-owl assumed this role with the Celtic emigrants, and the defense against it to this day among most of them is to quickly find a string, tie a knot in it and pull it tight so as to symbolically choke off the wail, thereby forestalling the death.
     Celtic art attained a remarkable degree of sophistication and perfection in the archaeological period known as the La Tène (550 to 420 B.C.) Period, excelling in technique and ornamentation as seen in their pottery and horse harness, shields, swords, helmets, armlets, and torcs (neck rings) of mostly bronze; but silver and gold were also used. The principal motifs were elliptical curves, divergent spirals and chevrons in high and low relief by the use of chased or engraved lines and dots on plates and of champlevé enamels of red, yellow, green, and blue. The patterns were highly intricate. Such outstanding workmanship is also a notable feature of Celtic jewelry.
     With the introduction of Christianity, Celtic art became religious in character. Their craftsmen of this era produced magnificent illuminated pages of manuscript copies of the Gospels, the most famous of which are the Book of Kells in Trinity College in Dublin and the Lindesfarne Gospels in the British Museum, London. Specimens of metalwork are chalises, crosiers, bells, and shrines. Examples of stone sculptures include the incised cross slabs and monuments of Ireland and Scotland. Pre-Christian Celtic art is considered by several authorities to be the first great contribution to European art, the earliest being created in the Iron Age by Celtic tribesmen living near the Lake of Neuchâtel in present-day Switzerland. Other Celtic art is found and preserved in Greece, on the island of Cyprus and other parts of Europe.
    Sadly, since their tradition was strictly oral, most Celtic tribes or clans left no literature and little else except for scattered inscriptions on monuments and coins giving proper names and a few other clues as to their grammar and phonology. They had a symbolic system of writing that utilized the cross, the fylfot (swastika), the trefoil or trivet, and many other figures. This symbolism also included the use of colors and weaves, later exemplified by the Scottish tartans, many family tartans still proudly preserved to the present time in Ireland, Scotland and now in America. Their music and poetry was preserved by bards and other entertainers who chanted tribal traditions, sang patriotic songs, and recited folktales. Some of the literary talent and heritage developed in this fashion eventually found expression and was recorded in the literatures of the various insular Celtic peoples, particularly during the Middle Ages.
     The characteristic of Celtic languages that most conspicuously distinguishes them from other Indo-European language groups is their loss of the original sound “p”. Therefore a Latin, Greek or Sanskrit word containing a "P" will appear in Celtic without that consonant (i.e., the Latin porcus is orcus), and such is generally true in other European languages as well. The Bythonic variation of Celtic languages survives in Welsh, the official language of Whales, now a part of England. Another form of Bythonic known as Breton is still spoken in Brittany, an area in western France.
                                                                  ... © Emil T. Miller (Tony Miller)
                                                                           (Click here for AUTHOR'S BIO)
(Click to enlarge)

The Ardagh Chalice, a large chalice made of silver and bronze, ornamented with gold filigree, blue and red glass studs, and rock crystal was found at Ardagh Co. Limerick with other church treasure in 1868. It is the finest piece of Irish metalwork of the Eighth Century.

                       1973 NORTON 850 COMMANDO INTERSTATE
Serial Number 300401, Black, 7 1/4 gallon gas tank w/Gold logo, a factory custom built "Combat"
                                             racing engine, and a 5 gear gearbox.

     I purchased this machine I call my “Hot Mamma” new, in late 1973, from Krumm Motorcycle Shop in Austin, Texas. I have fastidiously maintained it and it has never been dropped or scratched. The odometer shows the 12,26l actual miles it has been ridden, I being the only one to ever ride it.   I am now retired. It has a black 7.25 U. S. gallon gas tank (5 Imperial gallons), and gets 65 miles per gallon on average. That figures to 471 miles on a tankful, but to the "reserve" level it is about 370 miles. That is the most miles I ever traveled before getting afraid I might not reach the next gas station. I am torn between selling my Bad-Ass Hot Mamma, or passing it on to my son or one of my Grandchildren, but at this time I will sell it within the going price range for an equivalent Norton motorcycle in approximately the same condition this one is in. If any who read this is interested, you can make an offer, and should I get one I will check it out and see if we can agree on a fair price for us both. If you buy it, my children won't get hurt on it (hehehehehe).
     Although I currently live in the State of Tennessee - Tony@books-n-sundries.com, is my email address, almost all of the miles were on touring trips through West Texas from Austin in Central Texas some years ago now, an area of long, straight highways - as well as some trips through the Davis Mountains of Texas and west through New Mexico. Some of the riding was also in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado when we had a ranch there.   I had to adjust the carburetors and timing for the 12,000' + altitude.
     I was a very mature and settled person when I bought the bike, and never mis-treated it. I tried out pretty much all makes of motorcycles and settled on a Harley Easy Rider, a Honda Gold Wing, a BMW, and a Norton 850 Commando Interstate. The Gold Wing was nice but just didn't sound like a motorcycle to me. The Norton won out because it was a "thumper" and so fast that it intimidated me, and, I guess, because I was still a kid at heart. 160 MPH shows on the speedometer and I believe it will do that and a whole lot more. On one occasion I ran it up to 150 MPH before I chickened out, and twice I ran it top end against hippie types I happen to come across on trips. Left them in the dust. One of them rode a new looking Harley "chopper" with 7 speeds and built for top-end performance - I forgot what year. The other was a Kawasaki 900cc “Z1" I think it was. Didn't leave it that far back in the dust but way behind, embarrassed and thinking things over. I have never "drug" it (don’t believe in misusing a bike doing that), but never saw a machine I felt could take the Norton, especially in those days. Even today, I don't know of a stock bike that could take my Norton top end, except maybe for a German racer with a V-8 engine that a wealthy friend of mine in Texas once bought and had shipped over, called a "Meunch" - maybe. I never heard of one before or since. My friend paid so much for it he was afraid to try my Norton for fear he would be beaten. He never heard the last of it from me either, while I lived in Texas (hehehe).
     One of the things that sold me on this bike originally is the fact that the faster you go, the smoother it gets. Sitting still and idling there is some jerking, but as soon as the RPM starts to increase it quickly smoothes out. At any highway cruising speed it feels like velvet with its “isolastic engine mounting system.” I don’t see how this system could ever be improved upon, though I admit that I have not ridden other bikes for some years now. Indeed, the faster you go the smoother the Norton gets, and I never got tired from vibration like I did when I rode the Triumphs and older Harleys. The first time I took out on a trip and twisted up the wick, I looked around to see who was screaming. Then I realized it was me, screaming for the sheer joy and exhilaration of the power, speed and freedom! It happened several other times. Has anyone else ever experienced this phenomenon? Let me hear from you!

     As any Norton owner knows, they are very forgiving bikes. You can lay them over and take curves on dirt or asphalt about as fast as you have testerones enough. I have seen some Nortons with most of the rubber and a lot of metal worn off the footpegs. I tour very fast, but not that fast.

          * Currently the Norton needs the clutch cable adjusted, since I recall the last time I rode it (two years ago, now) that it slipped a little going into 4th gear. This past summer was the first time I did not fire it up. Although it idles acceptably, the carburetors probably need cleaning and re-synchronizing. Next time I start it I will probably replace the clutch cable as well, even though there is no sign it needs it, and check all the electrical connections (the horn did not blow every time the last time I cranked it up). I have extra cables (new) in the saddlebags but have never had to replace one. And although it has not been long since I went over the bike, I will verify all the adjustments before riding the next time, and renew the fluids and filter though they have only a few miles on them. Also, while the front tire is fine, the rear tire tread wear shows that it will need replacing soon. The mufflers have been replaced with new Norton mufflers. After the ends of the originals rusted out, I cut the last few inches off each one at a rakish angle and left them so for awhile, since the sound is awesome and since the last Norton mechanic I talked with assured me that any reduced back-pressure would in no way hurt the valves on a Norton. It also needs battery hold-down straps.

HERE ARE SOME OTHER FACTS AND CONSIDERATIONS:
          * The motorcycle is in the same condition and configuration as when purchased except for the following:
      Black fiberglass saddlebags with stop and turn signal lights were added (the original turn signal arms were removed but I think I still have them), along with crash bars with foot-pegs, a louder Alpine horn, a two-channel CB radio, and a sissy bar.
          * For the last 20 years the machine has only been started and run a few miles once a year, then the gas tank and carburetors are again drained, the battery removed, and the bike put back indoors and up on the center stand. I love this wonderful machine and have been unable to bring myself to part with it, but at my age my grandchildren and other things keep getting in the way of another trip, which is what I enjoy the most.
          * The machine, when cleaned, waxed and buffed out, would show very nice except for the fact that some of the handlebar and the front wheel/spokes show rust through the thin factory chrome plating. The front disc brake rotor pad contact area is rusty from disuse as well, and the aluminum surfaces are showing some milky oxidation in places and may need to be buffed out again (the gearbox and primary chaincase covers, handlebar fixtures, etc.). Also the engine cylinder barrels need repainting hi-heat black. There is a tiny piece of a fin broken off one cylinder head on one side. Don’t know how that happened. The paint is not blemished and the decals are in fairly good condition (the oil tank cover decals are intact but beginning to show cracking and brittleness).

     I still have the original tool kit stored in its place in the machine, as well as the original manual that came with the bike, which I keep in the saddlebags. The bike is in very good to excellent condition except as above, and basically all that is needed is a little tender loving care and attention - and RIDING!

Here is a shot of a Norton 850 from the original 1973 brochure which I still have. Mine is the same as this except it is black and has the big 7 1/4 gallon gas tank.

HERE ARE SOME INTERESTING FACTS I GOT OUT OF JEFF CLEW'S NORTON BOOK, (Circa 1983), published in England:     (the book will go with the bike if I sell it)

          * S/N 230935 was the last 750 COMMANDO made.

         * S/N 300001 was the first 850 MKI COMMANDO INTERSTATE made (mine is S/N 300401). Improvements over the previous mark was that the barrel fixings were altered, bronze clutch plates were fitted, a balance pipe was placed between the exhaust pipes, the swing arm was strengthened, and the larger sump plug was re-introduced.
     NOTE: There is some question in my mind as to whether or not this machine actually has the “Combat” racing engine or not, although at the time I bought it the salesman said it did. He may have been just pumping me up and I still don’t know how to tell for sure. I must say however, that it runs like a ‘scared haint” and has such strong compression that I can barely get it kicked off when it is cold.

          * S/N 306591 was the first MKIA made. A larger, quiet airbox and annular discharge (bean can) mufflers were installed, a Candy-Apple Red gas tank was offered, a plastic chain guard extension was added, and the 2nd gear ratio was raised by one tooth.

* The desirable "COMMANDO SERVICE NOTES" book can be had through:

     Mrs. Jill Brown (at least back in 1983)
     16, Green Park
     Cambridge, England

* ORIGINAL SPARE PARTS are available from places in most big cities in the US, and from:

FAIR SPARES ~
Mike Hemminngs Motorcycles
37, Albion Street
Northampton, England

RUGELEY, (062 53447)
Staffordshire, England

TMS MOTORS (08894 3974)
Nottingham, England

GANDER and GRAY (0632 784460)
London, England (01-478 6062)

NOTE: There are numerous and extensive websites on the internet dedicated to Norton enthusiasts and owners, Norton Motorcycle Clubs, collectors, and parts sales. Use Google search engine and just plug in “Motorcycles + Norton”.

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