Vintage Horticultural and Garden Machinery Club

Joe Paget is a club member, I will forward your request to him.

Thanks for the extra information.

I couldn’t find anything in online archives for your machine; it’s a bit of a mystery at present.

Parts of the machine match other Shay products; these include the handles and wheels.

I’m unsure if Shay manufactured products for any other manufacturer, potentially the machine may be listed under a different…[Read more]

Andy, I would say it is a Miller as it looks nothing like a Villiers. The points are mounted on a brass plate and operated by a cut out in the crankshaft.

Alan, thanks for looking. I had wondered if it was a Countryman but decided no. Cutting width is 18″ wheels are 13″. No sign of any vacant fixing holes or brackets suggesting there aren’t any missing guards. The stainless steel guard at base of drive to cutting head could well be home made. Under the cutting disc is a thin brass cover, looks a bit…[Read more]

I know nothing about Shay, but I thought I’d have a look in the corners of the internet and see what I could find.

I cannot see anything similar. Shay did produce the Countryman, approximately a 1960s machine, photo attached.

Do you have any further information that may narrow it down, such as the width of the cut, the size of the rear wheels,…[Read more]

About what year, engine looks like a Rotor scythe. Looks less Heath Robinson than what my neighbour put together in late fifties always wondered where he got the idea from, using a plough disc powered by a very early Mk 12 Villiers, two pram wheels, can’t remember what he made the frame out of but was very impressed being open consumed little…[Read more]

From memory there were two different ignition units on the 120 , Miller and Lucas.

Andy.

I will see if I can get it in the car and bring it to Weeley

Thanks Andy, that is what I was thinking.

You’ve got a real rarity there , I’ve never seen one before.

Andy.

Charlie , I’m fairly certain it’s soldered directly to the coil.

Andy.

Very sad news. I bought Geoff’s Trusty books only relatively recently, and he left me a kind note inside one of them. Moreover he always gave a detailed and knowledgable answer to my questions on this forum.

I am sure he will be missed. My thoughts to his family

I tried leather as had it at hand but wrongly used the crocodile fasteners, soon found out they only like going round to bend in one direction over pulleys so the tensioner soon destroyed fastener and belt, I did get it right as have laminated and glued leather for large cone clutches and worked, one hadn’t needed attention in 60 years use so work…[Read more]