{"product_id":"lister-engines-new-old-stock-enamel-sign","title":"Lister Stationary Engines New Old Stock Tin Sign","description":"\u003cp data-start=\"26\" data-end=\"398\"\u003eThis Lister enamel sign is a beautifully preserved piece of British industrial history, representing one of the country’s most respected engineering firms. Its bright colours and detailed artwork capture the pride and craftsmanship associated with R. A. Lister \u0026amp; Co., a company that powered Britain’s farms, workshops, and industries throughout much of the 20th century.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"400\" data-end=\"421\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"400\" data-end=\"419\"\u003eProduct Details\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul data-start=\"422\" data-end=\"1000\"\u003e\n\u003cli data-start=\"422\" data-end=\"443\"\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"424\" data-end=\"443\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"424\" data-end=\"434\"\u003eBrand:\u003c\/strong\u003e Lister\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-start=\"444\" data-end=\"524\"\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"446\" data-end=\"524\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"446\" data-end=\"463\"\u003eManufacturer:\u003c\/strong\u003e R. A. Lister \u0026amp; Co. Ltd., Dursley, Gloucestershire, England\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-start=\"525\" data-end=\"562\"\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"527\" data-end=\"562\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"527\" data-end=\"536\"\u003eType:\u003c\/strong\u003e Enamel advertising sign\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-start=\"563\" data-end=\"599\"\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"565\" data-end=\"599\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"565\" data-end=\"576\"\u003ePeriod:\u003c\/strong\u003e Circa 1940s to 1950s\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-start=\"600\" data-end=\"642\"\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"602\" data-end=\"642\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"602\" data-end=\"615\"\u003eMaterial:\u003c\/strong\u003e Vitreous enamel on metal\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-start=\"643\" data-end=\"740\"\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"645\" data-end=\"740\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"645\" data-end=\"656\"\u003eDesign:\u003c\/strong\u003e Red background with yellow “Lister” script and image of a green stationary engine\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-start=\"741\" data-end=\"825\"\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"743\" data-end=\"825\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"743\" data-end=\"758\"\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e Typically around 24 x 18 inches (varies slightly between issues)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-start=\"826\" data-end=\"1000\"\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"828\" data-end=\"1000\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"828\" data-end=\"842\"\u003eCondition:\u003c\/strong\u003e Excellent example with bright colours and minimal enamel loss, retaining much of its original gloss. Light edge wear only, consistent with careful storage.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1002\" data-end=\"1490\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"1002\" data-end=\"1027\"\u003eHistorical Background\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr data-start=\"1027\" data-end=\"1030\"\u003eR. A. Lister \u0026amp; Co. was founded in 1867 by Sir Robert Ashton Lister in Dursley, Gloucestershire. The company initially manufactured agricultural machinery and dairy equipment but became world-renowned for its engines. Lister’s single-cylinder stationary engines, first introduced in the early 1900s, revolutionised power generation for farms and small industries, providing reliable energy for water pumps, generators, sawmills, and other essential machinery.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1492\" data-end=\"1887\"\u003eBy the interwar period, Lister engines had become synonymous with British engineering excellence. Their products were exported globally, especially throughout the Commonwealth, and earned a reputation for durability and ease of maintenance. The company’s “Lister Diesel” engines, introduced in the 1930s, set new standards for efficiency and reliability and remained in production for decades.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1889\" data-end=\"2316\"\u003eAdvertising materials such as this enamel sign were used by dealerships and workshops selling or servicing Lister equipment. They reflected the brand’s confidence in its products and the company’s polished approach to marketing. The use of bold primary colours—red, yellow, and green—ensured that the sign would stand out on a wall, while the depiction of the stationary engine highlighted the brand’s technical achievements.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"2318\" data-end=\"2716\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"2318\" data-end=\"2341\"\u003eDesign and Features\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr data-start=\"2341\" data-end=\"2344\"\u003eThe sign’s design is both practical and striking. The rich red background serves as a bold contrast to the yellow Lister logo, a script typeface instantly recognisable to engineers and mechanics of the period. Below, a finely detailed image of a green stationary engine—likely a Lister D type—is depicted, symbolising the company’s engineering precision and reliability.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"2718\" data-end=\"3036\"\u003eThe sign was made from heavy-gauge metal with multiple layers of vitreous enamel, fired at high temperature to produce a durable and glossy finish resistant to rust and fading. The craftsmanship of these signs ensured that many have survived in good condition even after decades of exposure to workshop environments.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"3038\" data-end=\"3332\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"3038\" data-end=\"3056\"\u003eCollectibility\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr data-start=\"3056\" data-end=\"3059\"\u003eLister enamel signs are highly collectible today, appealing to enthusiasts of industrial history, vintage advertising, and agricultural machinery. Their bright colours, strong graphics, and association with British engineering heritage make them desirable display pieces.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"3334\" data-end=\"3662\"\u003eThis particular example is especially appealing due to its excellent condition and the inclusion of the classic Lister stationary engine illustration, which enhances its historical and aesthetic value. Signs in this state are increasingly rare, as most examples found today show significant wear or corrosion from outdoor use.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"3664\" data-end=\"3677\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"3664\" data-end=\"3675\"\u003eSummary\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul data-start=\"3678\" data-end=\"4110\"\u003e\n\u003cli data-start=\"3678\" data-end=\"3766\"\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"3680\" data-end=\"3766\"\u003eProduced for R. A. Lister \u0026amp; Co. Ltd., Dursley, Gloucestershire, circa 1940s to 1950s\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-start=\"3767\" data-end=\"3841\"\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"3769\" data-end=\"3841\"\u003eVitreous enamel sign featuring the Lister logo and engine illustration\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-start=\"3842\" data-end=\"3898\"\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"3844\" data-end=\"3898\"\u003eBold red and yellow design with green engine imagery\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-start=\"3899\" data-end=\"3968\"\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"3901\" data-end=\"3968\"\u003eExcellent original condition with vibrant colour and minimal wear\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-start=\"3969\" data-end=\"4029\"\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"3971\" data-end=\"4029\"\u003eUsed in dealerships and workshops as promotional signage\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-start=\"4030\" data-end=\"4110\"\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"4032\" data-end=\"4110\"\u003eA fine and collectible example of mid-century British industrial advertising\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"4112\" data-end=\"4313\" data-is-last-node=\"\" data-is-only-node=\"\"\u003eThis Lister enamel sign perfectly embodies the spirit of postwar British engineering and remains a vivid reminder of the era when durable design and mechanical innovation helped power the modern world.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Automobilia Magpie","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":58816821526877,"sku":"AM386","price":290.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0958\/1625\/3789\/files\/WhatsAppImage2025-10-16at15.11.32_f7183ab1_7ab9de45-e5aa-47ea-87cf-9580d5b6c62c.jpg?v=1760701295","url":"https:\/\/www.automobiliamagpie.com\/products\/lister-engines-new-old-stock-enamel-sign","provider":"Automobilia Magpie","version":"1.0","type":"link"}