I found the number stamped into the casting of the main transmission gearbox, just forward of the gear pattern.

My number is 19074 which makes mine a 1952 model. The casting date on the engine block is Nov 1950 which makes perfect sense to me for the engine to be a little earlier than the tractor because M-H sourced the engines from Continental and I suppose it took a while from the time the blocks were cast till they actually made it onto a tractor.
I plan to order a reproduction plate to finish off my restoration and stamp my number onto it.

My number is 19074 which makes mine a 1952 model. The casting date on the engine block is Nov 1950 which makes perfect sense to me for the engine to be a little earlier than the tractor because M-H sourced the engines from Continental and I suppose it took a while from the time the blocks were cast till they actually made it onto a tractor.
I plan to order a reproduction plate to finish off my restoration and stamp my number onto it.