16H numbers

These 'AS' engines are WD spare units. Most contracts included 10% spare engines and the surviving factory records show a few in the 15000 range. It may perhaps be too obvious to think that it means 'Army Spares', especially as the RAF had some too but probably something along those lines.

If it is an original stamping then I would expect there also to be a brass plate showing Cat. No. 3787 (or two screw holes where it has been) 3787 was the spare part number for a complete engine unit.

Numbers stamped on the front flank of the timing side on early engines and the drive side on later units appear to be factory build numbers intended to identify engines during production but not mentioned or used afterwards.

Are there any 'M' and broad arrow markings ?

Paul, definitely not surplus as they were supplied new stamped like that.

I've had a further look and have found some engines within a couple of yours were despatched as spares to the RAF depot at Quedgeley on 25th November 1940 but it doesn't mean that yours was as Norton had a chaotic system of despatching.

However, it would be from around this period. Ask the restorer to have a good look inside the timing cover as some of these 1940 units are stamped with a build date.

Does your frame come from an army or airforce contract ?

Here's AS 20113

Thanks for posting those, paul. It's always nice to confirm that the number font is unchanged without variations and that the 79x100 stamp is present.

Your numbers have suffered some oxidisation and loss of detail but I'm confident that it is an original stamping.

What are your plans for the engine ? Are you going to look for a chassis for it ?

16H engines look nice in a wideline frame with a laydown box....If I wasn't congenitally incapabable of reducing photo sizes, I'd post a picture.

Regrettably, this forum is one that believes we ought to be computer-savvy enough to be able to do this sort of thing ourselves.