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Collection, Preservation and Display of Old Lawn Mowers

Hello my Pohmie friends, this is my first post.

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Another boring post from somebody who wants to ID their mower !
Hi everybody, thank you for letting me join your club, I feel quite esteemed. I am one of those colonial chaps from up over depending on your perspective.
I found myself drawn to the 'craft' when I bought a new 'Victa' push cylinder/reel (what is it in the game ?). I was amazed by the quality of the cut.
I stumbled over my new acquisition whilst looking for a cheap eBay 'Victa'. I am drawn to the design, ruggedness and history of the 'old mowers'.
I do love old cars, boats, furniture, machinery etc. From a time when a purchase like this would have been a weeks wage !
Whilst modern goods are cheap and efficient, they are throw away. Such a waste. These older products were 'built to repair', Oohhh the irony !
I have researched into Villiers and find they have an interesting history. It was when Villiers first endeavoured to produce engines in Bendigo that 'da gov' put down new tariffs, The head honcho at the time came 'down under' and got his way. After all they were going to invest 1/4 of a million dollars) Anyway in the interim our Oz firm 'Victa' developed a niche in the lawn mower engine supply chain. One that continues to this day. After my study I realise that Villiers is by far the bigger deal and very much an enterprising outfit with stationary & motorcycle engines etc.
Anyway you probably know this.
I am a noob on several levels, 2 stroke engines, magnetos, reel/barrel/cylinder (I've heard all of these) mowers and refurbishment in general.
I think my purchase is in 'good nick' although I haven't been game to try and start her up. I am un aware as to the brand of mower however the plate behind the reel/barrel/cylinder appears to have Villiers embossed on it or web as someone pointed out. I believe the engine is a 'Midget' Mk 2 Model' and that's about it. bought this one from a guy in Woodberry (poor socio economic) It was his inheritance.
Poor bugger didn't know what they are worth. He wanted $140 but I offered $100 and he accepted. More interesting than me talking are the images.
Cheers and thanks again. Just saw how many "I" s are in the text.

 
 
 
                                                                                                                                                                     Model number on motor.
 
 
 
A clue, near the cutting edge, unlike my post layout.
Familiar to anybody ?
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Are these pulleys standard ? Is it self propelled ?
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                                                                                                                                                                  Throttle and one lever, clutch ?
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
            Downward / overhead view
 
 
 
                                                  Looking down the mouth
 

Forums

Clive1997 Sat, 09/03/2019

Hello

Welcome to the forum & great that you have a keen interest in old mowers, I'm sure the club & forum members will be of great help[ to you

Interesting mower you have, the wording on the second image does appear to be Webb, with the pulley arrangement indicating, I think a motor conversion to an original push mower, possibly an early Webb Wasp? During the 50's & 60's there were many market conversions available, battery, electric & petrol to motorise existing push mowers.

Some other forum members will no doubt be able to date the villiers engine from the numbers you give & any specific queries put in the technical section of the forum.

Good luck with your research & if I come across any additional info I will let you know, also be interesting to see what others think.

Kanga Sat, 09/03/2019

Thanks for your reply Clive. 10-4 on the politics. Hoping for good things on this site. A very clean web page presentation. There certainly seems a mish mash of company with the Villiers in mowers.

Clive1997 Sat, 09/03/2019

Thanks mate, have amended my response so all good.

We do have a clued up member in Tasmania, Jack Czislowski, if you have joined the club his contact details are in the member directory, he has great knowledge of the machines down under including the quirky ones !

Cheers for now.

wristpin Sat, 09/03/2019

Certainly a bit of a hybrid, I think.  The fuel tank suggests Ransomes Minor  and as Clive says the front roller brackets are very much Webb. It's interesting how the drive is taken off the magneto end of the crankshaft but I cant quite make out how many belts are involved. Also your arial view seems to show a pulley on the left of the engine that doesn't appear to do anything? Any chance of some clearer detailed images.

 

hortimech Sun, 10/03/2019

That is one much messed about Webb ;-)

The drive system is very strange, it appears that the cylinder will probably turn continually whilst the engine is running, but when the drive lever on the handles is pulled, it pulls the idler against the belt and into the large pulley. This transfers drive via a shaft across the mower to the left hand of the mower and presumably drives the roller with a chain. I don't know if this is a one off (if it is, it is well made) or if it was 'kit' produced in Australia.

Starting it is again strange, it looks like it involves wrapping the rope around the pulley on the engine output shaft.