My current project.......

Green's   Silens Messor

Red Riding Hood said, Grandma what a big soleplate you have, all the better to mow you down with said the wolf :)

Looks to be around 1907 give or take a couple of years, assume the rest of the mower has similar original paint, pleased to hear its having a clean up to preserve rather than a re-paint, a bit of a beast to move around the workshop.

Yes, that's it Paul. You are too knowledgeable for this game. I was half expecting someone to suggest a motor mower in view of it's size. When was the last time you saw a 24" Silens Messor ?

Here it is more or less as first seen :

Keen observers will notice that it came with some additional scrap metal - hoping that may come in useful for something one day.

Back home in the workshop :

It's not without issues, sadly the scraper bar badge is largely missing, so will have to be a replica. Front rolls and the handgrips need replacing, not really a problem. The ' near side ' drive chain is missing but I may be able to make up from spare bits. One of the rear rolls has a couple of small cracks which I am hoping to get welded this weekend, courtesy of another kind OLC member. On the plus side it has the original grassbox with cast handles, appears complete and original apart from the badge, and has some original paint which I shall try to preserve.

It is certainly very heavy, I can just about lift the rear rolls together. No doubt about it, it's definitely a two man machine in operation. I'm fairly confident that it will cut grass again, but not for a week or two yet.

Thanks to Clive for his observations and dating.

Great find Colin

I was able to replicate the missing part of the badge on mine and weld it together, anything can be fixed if you are determined!

That was an excellent bit of work Seb,  I think you need to send Colin a quote :)

Thank you for the inspiration Seb. Think I will have to make a mock-up short term; not sure I have the material, tools or skill ( or patience ) to do a proper job.

A weak spot/fault in the design it would appear.

Having thoroughly cleaned all the dismantled parts I am now in the process of re-assembling but progress is slow owing to hedge cutting, mowing etc, while the weather stays dry.

Hey all, would anyone know of a pair of handles and front roller brackets for a silens mellor 10 inch?  I'm looking everywhere but to no avail.

Thanks Trevor 

Hi Trevor, may be able to help, have lots of Greens spares mainly for SM's, will check when at my storage tomorrow. 

Hello again

Firstly, note you are in Australia so shipping could be around £60, I do have a few handles in stock, six in fact more than I thought, image of five below, the other ones have a break & were in a different place so need to check if I may have a mower to go with them.

Grabbed the first pair of brackets I could see but I am sure I have more & will look later, the ones pictured do look like SM's but one hole is rather small, the other well worn as usually seen.

My question, have you lost existing handles or are they broken, do you have the serial number from old handles? To try & date your mower, does it have an ornate scraper plate?

As image of the mower would be appreciated.

Await hearing from you.

Hey Clive thanks for the response,  I have the long handles but need the small ones at the top that you hold. The brackets look good but how do I date my mower? I know nothing about this machine.  I will post a pic tomorrow as it's now in storage til I have all the bits to restore. 

I have now added pics. The first shows the missing handles and the others show any writing or numbers that I can see.

I did wonder if it was the top hand grips, yes photos good & let me know what the number is cast on handles following the word Patent.

Hi Clive,  here are the pics as requested.  Hope you can help.

Thanks Trevor 

Looks to be a later model from 1927-1929 as that's when we understand Greens were using the 'N' prefix on the four digit serial number, the majority of Silens Messors found have a six digit serial number with no prefix & are from the period 1880's to 1925 approx. With those from say 1862 to late 1870's having five digit numbers.

Hope that helps, odd that I have plenty of the long side frame handles but have not as yet found any of the bolt on metal hand grips, will keep looking.

Hey Clive, 

 I'm interested in the roller brackets if for sale. What would be the total cost for getting them here? 

Sunshine coast,4551, QLD

Thanks Trevor. 

HI Trevor, have put them aside for you, may also have a better pair, at present trying to track down some handles so we can send them all together.

Some members out there must have some?????

Let me know, Thanks

Excellent  thanks. How much are the brackets alone?

I would like them all sent together though so can wait.

Thanks Trevor 

Hey Clive, in your extensive collection of greens parts would you have a side cover and the metal badge that says `monitor` for a monitor?

Thanks Trevor

Hi Trevor

Will take a look, have had the badges knocking about in the past, but not the chain cover, I am still trying to track down a second SM handle for you & will keep you posted.

awsome, thanks clive.