RJ’s shed find.

Another nice little video from Richard Jones. Definitely an early Punch, in fact a Series 1 or 1A from the early 1950s, the main identifying feature being one that he is yet to mention - no dog clutch roller drive  disengagement knob on the chain case, in fact, no dog clutch but a freewheel roller drive sprocket within. The green handle bars are correct and the cutting cylinder blades would also have been green . 
Not sure about his concern re the oil filler/ dip stick, I have a couple of black engines with the same arrangement - just a level plug with no dip stick; on later ones the plug was drilled to take a large split pin acting as a dip stick.  His comment about the carburettor is correct, it should be a 13TA with a banjo inlet fitting and probably a spherical float (1954-56) . The later 13TCA from ‘57 onward also had the banjo but a cylindrical float until they changed to a straight spigot pipe fitting. At some point the starting rope has acquired a modern plastic grip, I think that the original would have been quite a thick rope with a wooden ball grip.

To paint or not to paint ? A really good clean and an oily rag job is the way to go. Mine was a couple of degrees worse condition  than Richard’s and I opted to paint, in retrospect ……….   ? My Series 1/1A is the second from the left and before anyone comments, the engine cowling and tank are too orange; should be a duller red.