Lister very first diesel engine

The author and his new toy.

Two events prompted me in writing this article.

The demise of the almost 150 years old British Engineering firm R.A.Lister recently having gone into receivership and the other, my coming to a rather senior age.

I will be turning 55 in a few days’ time and this give me a perfect excuse to buy a new toy; not just any toy but a desirable one. When it comes to collecting vintage British stationery engine as a past times, it has to be a Lister 9/1 or JP1 as it was called in the later years.

The 9/1 as found among the other old machineries.

Another view

The design of the 9/1 dates back to about 1929. Manufacturing started in 1931. This was Lister first venture into diesel engine shortly after Mr. Rudolf Diesel invention of a compression ignition engine. Although the 9/1 personalities was not as colourful as the CS 5/1 with her history date back a few years younger, the 9/1 represent the epitome of the Victorian engineering heritage. Admittedly It is the best of the best British made stationery engine as my dad concurs too.

CS92909 was sold to M/S Harrisons and Crossfield of Manchester on 24th Aug 1951. One out of batch of 3 which was then exported to Malaya. Note that the 3 countries identities had now changed signifying the rich history of this engine. She weighs close to 1/2 a ton and produces 9hp at 1000rpm. This engine was built to the 1937 Lister specification.

The CS 5/1 (and later uprated to CS 6/1) despite her legendary reliability and popularity lacks the refinement in a 9/1. To begin with, the 9/1 has a fully pressurized lubrication system along with valve train fully enclosed giving it a gentleman like statue. The bevel gear drive from the camshaft to the fuel injection pump and lubrication pump is as quirky as well.... almost French like! And the 2 ¾ inch crankshaft with a 3 inch con rod journal is to be found in engine of 600HP range in  modern day terms. The 4 bolts con rod bearings complete this a bomb proof engine. The 9/1 is almost a stationery hot rod from every angles. Yet, she was rated at a mere 9hp.

Incidentally. the 3 and 4 cylinders JP engines are instrumental in the Allied cutting short the war thus saving thousands of innocent lives and sufferings. As many as 20 thousands units was manufactured to power anti aircraft arch type spot light to bring down enemies aircraft on their dreaded bombing missions. Many of these ex war machine was again put to good use to power up mobile TB clinic x-ray machine soon after the war. Once again saving thousand of lives.
 

I caught my dad toying the 9/1 by surprise before i could lay my hands on her. 

After more than 6 years of searching, I finally found one. Unfortunately circumstances did not permit me to bring her home immediately unless I put to risk by upsetting my mum which is visibly unhappy with my “illness” in collecting old scrap junks which was contagious with the 2 men in the family.

My dad looking rather reluctant to part the CS6/1

So when on one bright and sunny morning, a seasoned seafarer come knocking for a CS6/1 suitable for a critical round the Pacific Ocean 3000 hours non-stop mission; I decided to let him have my beloved CS6/1 serial 8327616. So this make room for the 9/1 and making the home coming journey easier. 

The 9/1 almost fully refurbished. With simple basic maintenance, this engine can outlast 2 generations of ownership. The set of British Whitworth tools set as seen in the foreground I now inherited from my dad. These are now literally in extinction and had serviced hundred of Lister/Ruston engines proper in the heydays of the past under my dad ownership.

These 2 toys would keep me occupied for quite a while.

My 9/1 will likely be call for duty to power up my farm house upon my retirement from corporate life. I have accumulated a fair quantity of spares and consumables so this 9/1 will be in all likelihood to be pass on to my children.   

As for my retirement to come, I ought to be pretty busy with my additional new found toys of a 1942 series 1 Landie and an AEC armoured personnel carrier.