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Collection, Preservation and Display of Old Lawn Mowers

First Time Restoring...please help

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Good Morning, All

 

I am about to make a start on refurbing my Grandads old Webb lawnmower and was hoping to get a bit of advice before I start.

I have attached some pictures below and was wondering if you could answer the following:

What Webb Model is this?

What is the best paint to use and does anyone know the best colours to use are so that is matches what it would have looked like from new?

Finally, does anyone have a picture of this lawnmower when it was new, or one which has been recently restored...just could I could use it as a point of reference when working on mine?

Many thanks in advance for all your help

Mark

 

Forums

Henno Thu, 04/07/2019

Hi Mark,

There is no photo in your posting, you must insert it when uploaded.

 

olcadmin Thu, 04/07/2019

Mark had followed the instructions correctly for uploading the images but it looks like he forgot to click on the "Insert" button to make them visible in the posting. We've all done it...

markenglish82 Thu, 04/07/2019

Apologies all...it looks like thet are uploaded now...I hope.

Any help would be gratefully appreciated 

Clive1997 Fri, 05/07/2019

Hello

Can you confirm number of blades on cutting cylinder, if 8 its a Webb Witch or 6 it will be a Wasp, the Witch did have the grooved roller on earlier machines.

I have various catalogue images etc. The Witch was around from 1932 to at least 1969 & still many in use.

markenglish82 Fri, 05/07/2019

Hi Clive,  thanks for your help.

I've checked the mover and it does have the 8 blades on the Cutting Cylinder so will take it that it is the Webb Witch. 

Is there any possibility that you could let me see some pictures of a new/restored one please.

Would you also happen to know the name/make of colours that I should use to get it as close to the original as possible?

I'm currently looking into sourcing some new wooden rollers and was also wondering if you have any advice on where to find the replacement rubber handles as the ones on mine have deteriorated quite a bit.

Thanks again,

Mark

Clive1997 Sat, 06/07/2019

Hello Mark

Yes assumed it was a Witch, quite remarkable just checked my notes, they had a very long production run 56yrs!!  1932-88, prices ranging from £3-10s in 1932 to £144.95 in 1988, we often regard Ransomes Ajax as having a long run, but they only managed around 40 years!

The ad attached is from the early 1930's , whilst difficult to date yours it has the straight handles, the first type used, changing to cross over tubular handles, not sure when this happened but certainly by 1959, I also have 1953 brochure showing pram handle. Most straight handle versions I have seen have wooden hand grips not the rubber ones which were certainly fitted to the crossover type.

Do you have the grass box? If not I will check my stock as have quite a few Webb ones around.

As to paint, whilst not sure of colour code, you do have some original paint on side cover, perhaps clean this & then use colour charts to match or a local dealer with a computerised colour match system.

I have used Smith & Allen who can mix most colours, charts on-line & they supply both in tins & aerosols https://www.smithandallan.com/products/tractol-paint/1446-tractol-340-single-pack-vqd-machinery-enamel/

The link below shows another members restoration, 

http://oldlawnmowerclub.co.uk/forum/general-topics/general-discussions/just-restoration-out-interest-0

Hope that helps, may also be worth checking out the restoration guidance on the clubs website.

Regards

 

Clive

 

markenglish82 Tue, 09/07/2019

Hi Clive,

Many thanks for your detailed reply. The looking on this site to a members recently restored mower is definitely something for me to aim towards.

I do have the Grass box but think it is a bit worse for wear and worry that when I try to remove the old paint and rust, some holes may be present. Could you let me know if you do have a grass box in your stock please?

I have sourced the decals from Australia and think I have sourced new rollers too. I am just a bit stuck now with the Rubber handles - are you able to advise where I could source replacements from please?

Thanks again for everything

Mark

markenglish82 Sun, 04/08/2019

Afternoon, All

I have been working on stripping my mower after work in the evenings and when the baby is in bed. 

I am hoping to have it fully stripped this coming weeks so I can start working to cleaning/painting the blades.

Could someone please offer me the best advice on removing the chain. I can see what i presume is the link to connect it as one piece but unsure on how to carefully remove this.

 

Thanks

markenglish82 Sat, 31/08/2019

Afternoon all,

I will be very soon in the process of starting to put my Webb Witch back together.

I am looking to replace all the old nuts, bolts and screws with new ones but struggling to find them of a similar size/style.

From the many restorations which have taken place on this site, does anyone have any recommendations where I can get them from or does anyone here have anything which they would be willing to sell to me?

I'm having particular trouble in finding the very small screws which hold the chain and dummy covers on (mine was missing 3 already before I started to dismantle it)

 

wristpin Mon, 02/09/2019

Point of order !  Chains go round sprockets. Cogs are the wooden teeth in big old wooden wheels such as water mills or wind mills, hence the expression “ a small cog in the wheel”. 

Anyway, enjoy your mower.

 

 

markenglish82 Tue, 17/09/2019

Completed

markenglish82 Sun, 13/10/2019

Evening All,

Now that my mower is finished, I want to finish it off by completing the Grass Box repair.

The grass box that I have is heavily dented...does anyone have any advice on the best way/best tools for getting it as smooth as possible? Is Filler recommended?

Thanks,

Mark

Clive1997 Sun, 13/10/2019

I will check to see if I have a spare one around, will need a bit of time as they are hard to get to & many stored inside larger grass boxes.

wristpin Sun, 13/10/2019

An image of your dented box will help.  The problem is that the denting process can stretch the metal and inappropriate efforts to restore the metal can stretch it more. The skill ( which I don’t possess) is to loose the dents without causing further damage. The better it’s done, the less filler will be needed..

Ask around locally for an old school panel beater to metal worker who may either do the job for you or instruct you in the dark art of panel beating. Trawling through YouTube may also be useful . 

Chris G Sun, 20/10/2019

After watching some YouTube tutorials I bought a cheap panel beating set of hammers and dollies, it really is quite a skill this stretching and shrinking of thin sheet, one I still don't posses.. But I enjoy trying :-)

Clive1997 Tue, 22/10/2019

Hello Mark

Have found some boxes 4 so far & I think I probably only have 3 Witches, bit like Macbeth, damn shouldn't have said that, sorry to any thespians.

One looks almost new in original colour & perhaps should stay like that, but another is almost dent free & certainly no holes, so I assume you will be looking to paint to match mower & that would be a suitable one I think.

Let me know if interested.

 

e.