I seem to recall reading somewhere that you can't use bar end shifters on old North Road handlebars because of the diameter and you need to get Nitto bars if you want bar ends.
So I got an ancient Takara out of the dumpster a while back with Suntour ratchet shifters and they fit my North Roads. They seem a little small for the other drop bars I have around.
Is the extra clearance for bar tape or do I have some wierd size shifters?

You don't tuck bar tape in if you've got bar-end shifters.
If they fit, go for it!

I tuck cloth all the time with bar end shifters, but I can see where it would be a problem for synthetics and natural cork.,,,,BD

Bar end shifters will fit steel or cold forged North Road bars because they have thin walls.

Two layers of cloth tape tucked with Suntour Barcons:



Now it has elk hide with the same shifters tucked and then trimmed and glued: