How is it 1952? Teach me master.
I did send the vendor a message through ebay which he has acknowledged.
To date a Lister engine, you need to recognise which of three numbering systems the engine is using.
Pre-1951
Post-1951
Late 1980's onwards
Examples of all three are on both of our websites (soon to be joined by a third site)
Pre-1951 dating is simply a number lookup against a table:
http://www.stationary-engine.co.uk/EngineDating/Dating.htmnoting that the diesel engines are on the RIGHT of the table.
Post-1951 dating is slightly more complex:
http://www.stationary-engine.co.uk/EngineDating/Dating5.htmYou have to work it out!
Late 1980-s onwards is slightly simpler:
http://www.stationary-engine.co.uk/EngineDating/Dating6.htmRead the label and apply.
In the case of the Australian engine, the serial number is more than 5 digits, so unless it is prefixed by 35/36 or 38/39, which would be a CD or CE, it has to be the later, Post-1951 system of numbering.
In amongst the engine number, there will be the engine type, and in this case it is 51 for 5/1 engine. 61 would be 6/1, 102 would be 10/2 and so on.
An R after the engine type would be Radiator-cooled, and the number AFTER that is the year of manufacture, which has to be added to 1950. In this case it was a 2 so 1952.
The number BEFORE the 51 is the serial number.
The label has been polished so the black paint has rubbed off, but it does look original.
Peter