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Collection, Preservation and Display of Old Lawn Mowers

New/Old mower

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Took delivery of a New Mower today Qualcast 12in Superlite Panther, well it was 'New' in October 1971, 48 years later its still in the box having been found in an under stairs cupboard when a householder died 2 years ago..

I am yet to pluck up courage to remove the plastic strap securing the packaging around the grass box, but will be good to reveal the full transfer when its displayed in the museum.

The cardboard box says 'Fifteenth  Million' an incredible production rate which did include all Qualcast models, they were stating 'Three Million' 20 years earlier in the 1951 brochure.

What is quite intriguing is the return address on the posting label is W.D & H.O. Wills, Bristol (Although posted in Newcastle where Wills did have offices) a tobacco importer & one of the largest cigarette manufacturers, I am not aware they dealt in any other items but were clever at marketing having introduced the first cigarette cards, so could it be that the mower was a prize in a competition run by Wills? this could perhaps explain why it was not used, an unwanted item?

Any ideas welcome, especially from any of you that were smokers in the early 1970's!  

Forums

stonethemows Mon, 24/06/2019

Is the handle in a separate box ?

W.D. and H.O. Wills had a long and interesting history, not dissimilar to Ransomes, coincidently they started roughly around the same time. One of their brands, Embassy, was re-launched in about 1962 with a coupon scheme like Green Shield Stamps. I well remember my Aunt ( a qualified health professional ! ) avidly collecting the coupons which could be redeemed for a wide variety of household and GARDEN items. It is quite possible that your Qualcast was acquired by this means though it doesn't explain why it was unused. Could it be that by the time they had saved up sufficient coupons they were sadly not fit enough to push the machine.

I vaguely recognise that black and white label but can't quite place it; is it the successor to the old British Standard kite mark ?

 

Clive1997 Mon, 24/06/2019

The B & W label is 'As selected for the Design Centre London'

Yes agree re the cigarette catalogues, looks like Players No.6 were the fag of choice in the early 1970's, will see if I can locate a catalogue & see if said mower was on offer.

hortimech Mon, 24/06/2019

If I remember correctly (and it was a long time ago), the handles are in the grassbox.

The label is for the design council

 

Clive1997 Sat, 06/07/2019

A bit more research & I now have a glossy Embassey Cigarettes gift catalogue for 71/72  120 pages listing everything for him her the children home & garden etc, but most importantly the Qualcast Superlite Panther for just 3580 vouchers, a rough sum & you would need to smoke around 12,000 cigarettes to get your free mower, or if you wanted a Suffolk Punch more like 40,000, Not surprising the mower was not used, perhaps the new owner had run out of PUFF.

Still not sure if I want to unwrap the grass box?

 

Chris G Sat, 06/07/2019

As an "exhibit" I think it has more intrigue displayed with the original box and the grass collector wrapped up.

Unique little story..

Clive1997 Sat, 06/07/2019

Yes agree, the brand new Suffolk Punch we have, I have just unwrapped the box partially, the main mower still secured to a wooden pallet.

Need an original pack of Embassy now & some vouchers, looks like ebay can help with these.

 

Triumph66 Thu, 01/08/2019

Keep it in its box as a display as it's a time capsule in my view.