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Collection, Preservation and Display of Old Lawn Mowers

Decals

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Does anyone have pictures of 1960`s Ransomes machines in particular the Auto Certes  7A as I wish to get my restoration as accurate as possible also any sticker details for f12 engine would be great  all I know at the moment is that there was a auto certes decal above the cyl and possibly a royal warrant white background on the chain cover was there other notations re oil, cutter clutch lever etc..

thanks 

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wristpin Tue, 25/04/2017

I hope that these images from a Ransomes sales leaflet may help. It would seem that there is a Royal Warrant transfer on the grass box with a Ransomes "banner" below it. On the Marquis a Ransomes "banner" can be seen on the chain case but it is difficult to see whether there is one on the Auto Certes chain case. As all the machines have their grass boxes fitted it is impossible to see if the chassis decal is present just above the cutting cylinder but I believe that was only present on latter machines.

It is difficult to date the leaflet as there is no telephone number (pre / post STD)and no currency (pre / post decimal) but the Royal Warrant on the back is QE2, so post February 1952. When deciding on the appropriate decals for your machine it is as well to bear in mind that back in the day it was not uncommon for machines to be given a complete strip and repaint during winter servicing so it is quite likely that there are machines around with "inappropriate" decals for their age.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/xn1gr0qhm97svsw/Ransomes%20%20logo0001.pdf?dl…

EDIT There is a clue for the date of the leaflet - the Motor Triple on the front cover has a registration of APV 531B 1964

 

DanAcre Tue, 25/04/2017

Yes, thank you again wristpin 

it it also looks to me as the Auto Certes does have a chain cover decal there are different pixels at the height of the one on the marquis chain cover also I note there no black sleeve on clutch shaft on the marquis...

Im not sure what date mine is but it has a eyelid exhaust and a oil felt filter and a brass tag for the serial plate I guess I'll have to call Ransomes to find out 

never knew they had a winter paint job on the service tho that explains why some end up mushy pea green  or some grass boxes BRG on a side note  I can't see many modern mowers working in 50+ yrs time  as 3 of mine have thrown a wobbler in the last week and yet I rolled out the A.C. For comparison first time in two weeks it started 2nd pull and it wasn't a full draw on the cord 

wristpin Tue, 25/04/2017

With Ransomes the winter services were a dealer job whereas Atco offered a complete strip and repainted service from their area depots.

I've seen machines with the "eyelid" mufflers but always assumed that part to be a replacement part. Not quite sure what you refer to as the felt filter. I've only ever seen the Amal oil bath ones with the two felt washers and gauze and the cylindrical expanded metal stack. I've got one here now with a BSA labeled engine , toggle ignition cut out switch in the engine cowling and a three leg pressed steel recoil starter unit. What does this say about the date compared with one with a Siba recoil and a spark plug grounding lever? 

As you say, there are not many 50 year old machines that can be reliably used as an every day mower. I have a former customer who's gardener much prefers their old Sloper engined Marquis to the modern  £3000 +  Honda engined one that it shares a shed with.