Vintage Horticultural and Garden Machinery Club | Site-Wide Activity

PHILIPPE LARDIER replied to the topic honda f80 in the forum Help and information

Wed, 13 May 2026 06:34:35 +0100

Bonjour, pourriez vous m’envoyer la PARTLIST du Honda F80? philouen.lardier@gmail.com, merci

Ryan Watson started the topic Late Grandad Display of Lawnmower For Sale (Quick Sale or Scrap) in the forum Grass Cutting Machinery

Sun, 10 May 2026 09:25:32 +0100

I’m selling a collection of vintage lawn mowers, engines, parts and gardening equipment on behalf of my late Grandad a member of VHGCM, who loved displaying his mowers at steam rallies.
There are various machines, including Atco, Mayfield, Suffolk, Greens, JP, Ransomes and more. They range from restoration projects to spares, with some great p…[Read more]

David Ford replied to the topic Pioneer P12 Chainsaw in the forum General talk and discussion

Fri, 08 May 2026 23:17:58 +0100

Regarding Your Pioneer P12 . There are a whole manor of these saw out there as although badged Pioneer these were as someone told Me at the time in the early 1980’s produced in around 50 different colours and most Major manufactures of chain saws had one in their range which was normally the bottom of the range . The saws themselves were made by…[Read more]

David Ford replied to the topic Howard Bantam in the forum Projects

Fri, 08 May 2026 22:57:27 +0100

What I wrote above was about the first one the next 2 were as follows . When answering an add in the Citizen a local evening paper a person from Hartpury near Gloucester had a Bantam for sale which turned out to be a Villiers engine Mark 15 engine model and these are not my favourite machines as the 4 stroke engine does not seem to be as…[Read more]

David Ford replied to the topic Howard Bantam in the forum Projects

Fri, 08 May 2026 22:43:24 +0100

We own 3 Howard Bantams the first one We aquired in around 1983 and that had the wrong carb fitted and was very bad in starting .We bought a new Tecumseh 4hp engine and altered the engine plate to fit that engine but could never get it to work properly then an Idea of fitting a Lawn mower clutch which worked very well which when you reved the…[Read more]

PHILIPPE LARDIER replied to the topic Honda F190 for restoration... or lots of spares in the forum Help and information

Tue, 05 May 2026 08:44:15 +0100

Bonjour , avez vous encore vos Motoculteurs ? car je cherche des pièces pour ces modèles , contre rémunération bien entendu. Philippe

alan wrote a new post

Fri, 01 May 2026 15:41:21 +0100

Manufacturers Of Tillers – Part 2 Following on from part 1, here are the details of seven more garden tillers which were sold during the 1950s to the ’90s. Part 1 can be found hereAll the […]

lukas posted an update: Hi I am looking for information on the autobarrow if possible […]

Wed, 29 Apr 2026 11:38:11 +0100

Hi I am looking for information on the autobarrow if possible a exploded picture with parts list or an owners manual. Any help would be greatly appreciated

chris-hart posted an update: To ct33731 Thank you so much! That will be of tremendous […]

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 20:07:12 +0100

To ct33731
Thank you so much! That will be of tremendous help.
I am so grateful!
Chris

dave clark replied to the topic April 2026 magazine in the forum General talk and discussion

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 09:19:51 +0100

My copy landed on the mat yesterday as well, will done to the team for all their effort.

David Bliss replied to the topic April 2026 magazine in the forum General talk and discussion

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 18:54:57 +0100

My mag arrived today, The fertiliser and seeds broad casters, I broke up my old 1936 Austin Cambridge and turned it into one of those, used forty years, then axle went on again back onto a car to save the day so 102 years of use and still going.

ct33731 replied to the topic How to join the Forum/Club in the forum Help and information

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 18:51:31 +0100

Hi what you have there is a Gutbrod 1031 tractor, some were badged Allen Motorstandard tractors they were imported to England by John Allen and Co of Oxford,and were badged Allen Motorstandard, during the 1960s/qnd early 1970s, they were of German manufacture and were very strong well made little tractors, and are very collectable today, I have…[Read more]

Robert Page replied to the topic April 2026 magazine in the forum General talk and discussion

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 16:35:36 +0100

All contributions to the magazine are greatly appreciated whatever they are.
Mt copy also arrived today.

Chris Hart replied to the topic How to join the Forum/Club in the forum Help and information

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 15:46:59 +0100

Hi, I have just uncovered a little tractor.
Although I am in Portugal I am told the machine is British. It was brought here by a Brit couple.
It has a Siba DynaStart made in England, so that means the machine is post 1954, assuming the starter is the original.
I put jump leads on it; the battery is kaput, of course, and the motor turns! Not…[Read more]

andyfrost replied to the topic April 2026 magazine in the forum General talk and discussion

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 12:32:58 +0100

Mine also , top work to all concerned. When I can get my daughter on the case , I hope to do an article soon , it will be my first ever attempt , so you’ll have to forgive me if it appears amateurish.

Andy.

Charlie Moore (aka charlie) replied to the topic April 2026 magazine in the forum General talk and discussion

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 10:43:53 +0100

Bang on time my copy arrived in the post today.

Ransomes256 replied to the topic MG6 Spare Parts in the forum Ride-on machines

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 07:04:30 +0100

I should be able to help. send me an email.
njarrett@btinternet.com

andyfrost replied to the topic MG6 Spare Parts in the forum Ride-on machines

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 06:08:11 +0100

Neil Jarrett is your man , he’s a member here , Ransomes 256.

Andy.

John Wickenden started the topic MG6 Spare Parts in the forum Ride-on machines

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 23:44:00 +0100

Hi All,
I a looking for some spare parts for my MG6, Mostly gaskets for engine and pump.
Be grateful for any help please.

alan wrote a new post

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 13:49:06 +0100

Manufacturers Of Tillers – Part 1 Not long ago on social media, someone asked for help with what they referred to as their Merry Tiller. As it turned out, it wasn’t one at all but just a m […]

David Bliss replied to the topic Ransom mower in the forum Groundcare Machinery

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 08:51:15 +0100

Andrew
Thanks for that, and you now say engine was probably made by Ransomes can see know looking at parts not quite finished as the old three speed jobs, I thought would have been like barrel sort of overhangs crankcase in parts, carb looks the part and very well machined but design is a bit more than just lacking especially they got things right…[Read more]

emilouen posted an update: @roatavator , bonjour , auriez vous le manuel d'atelier pour […]

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 07:02:37 +0100

@roatavator , bonjour , auriez vous le manuel d’atelier pour le HONDA F80 ? merci d’avance Philippe

hdtrust replied to the topic Ransom mower in the forum Groundcare Machinery

Sun, 12 Apr 2026 18:00:49 +0100

Ok, at the date your mower is, the engine may well look like a Sturmey Archer, but infact Ransomes had purchased the rights to make Sturmey Archers, and knowing Ransomes had also modified the engine somewhat.
Though what you are finding on the engine are known problems that have appeared on all Sturmeys, the carbs were always a big issue, OK to…[Read more]

David Bliss replied to the topic Ransom mower in the forum Groundcare Machinery

Fri, 10 Apr 2026 18:00:39 +0100

Andrew,
Engine is the Sturmey-Archer and looks like a 150+-cc going by piston size I just forgot to measure it but needs a piston but doesn’t knock as bad now as found old and worn but better rings and is running weaker and no smoke, idles in low hundreds just like a sowing machine that was just a desperate try to weaken the mixture off and…[Read more]

hdtrust replied to the topic Ransom mower in the forum Groundcare Machinery

Wed, 08 Apr 2026 20:04:59 +0100

Hi David
The Hall & Duck trust owns the register for all Ransomes mowers,
Just had a look for you.
The 16 inch Mk 13 started production in January 1950 and ended production in August 1955, your machine number was made in June 1955.
I suspect you have found no markings to say what the engine is. The Mk12 used a Villiers Mk25C which carried over…[Read more]

David Bliss replied to the topic Ransom mower in the forum Groundcare Machinery

Mon, 06 Apr 2026 18:54:38 +0100

Its sort of presentable it runs really well with little smoke as manage to find old rings that were a bit better, but it needs a piston and rebore. Quite a few nuts had to be replaced as rotted away that hold cutting cylinder bearing housings, the special seals were sort of useable but to hold them in place and to stop them turning on the shaft…[Read more]

David Bliss started the topic Sturmey-Archer engine with poor running in the forum Grass Cutting Machinery

Fri, 03 Apr 2026 17:46:23 +0100

I spent hours last year to stop the carburettor running very rich, Its a very very poor design of how the float works bit like standing on one side of a Coracle as little weight upsets it so same with the float gives little weight to lift needle to stop flooding, so added set screws to opposite side helped a bit but still very poor, been like it…[Read more]

David Bliss replied to the topic Type of wood for rollers on mower in the forum Grass Cutting Machinery

Tue, 31 Mar 2026 06:37:28 +0100

Andy,
Many thanks, I had forgot oak eats metal as often seen bad stains where nails have been used, friend has off cuts from building thats why I used oak, he also has Accoya and Saple, I have lost all my ash trees one by one, I think there are seedlings still coming up that were a nuisance, There is still Ash round this way they had masse’s of…[Read more]

hdtrust replied to the topic Type of wood for rollers on mower in the forum Grass Cutting Machinery

Mon, 30 Mar 2026 21:47:37 +0100

Hi Dave
Look well but fence posts will split in a very short time, as most are made of soft wood. You really need to use ash, as its resilient, and will last even in a damp environment. Your oak handle will also split, but even worse the oak will react with the bare metal and make it brittle, that’s why on oak ships they use to use copper…[Read more]

David Bliss started the topic Type of wood for rollers on mower in the forum Grass Cutting Machinery

Mon, 30 Mar 2026 20:59:13 +0100

I have started to get the Ransom’s mower as it is to go to an event later this year, I have just used a fence post for now and for the handles bit of oak, I have seen many old mowers rotting into the ground like this one had been, I was always amazed how the rollers often survived even mine were still un-split but riddled with worm and rusted on,…[Read more]

Charlie Moore (aka charlie) started the topic April 2026 magazine in the forum General talk and discussion

Mon, 30 Mar 2026 11:47:11 +0100

The magazine has been sent to the printers and will be posted to paid up members as soon as possible after 15th April. The April issue includes minutes of AGM and changes to committee plus the usual articles,reports and adverts etc.

mikep changed their profile picture

Fri, 27 Mar 2026 11:55:09 +0000

David Ford replied to the topic A New interest, Bulldog or early Bullfinch? in the forum Pedestrian operated machines

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 17:53:56 +0000

I own a Bulldog with handle bar not loop handle I think mine was made around 1954

David Ford replied to the topic Howard 350 serial number/oil seals. in the forum Pedestrian operated machines

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 16:32:25 +0000

Firstly how are the bearing housing held to the chain case ? Are they bolt or what they called” WHIZZ TYPE FLANGE SCREWS ” Which are sot of riveted to the chain case if so then these are the same of the Howard 300.

David Ford replied to the topic Howard Rotavator 200 Spares in the forum Pedestrian operated machines

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 16:16:11 +0000

I am very sorry but there are no replacement tyres for a Howard 200 / Demon and have not been for around 50 +years This is what We were told by Dowdeswell’s as the last ones were fitted with much better tyres We had a Howard Demon some years ago and We did replace the wheels with the modern type but it was a very big job to do

alan wrote a new post

Tue, 17 Mar 2026 16:34:25 +0000

The History of Mr Challis's 1899 Lawn Sweeper We are all probably familiar with the early pony-drawn lawn mowers of the 19th century. These machines transformed the maintenance of large grounds, making […]

Mike Weideli started the topic History of Sprayer Manufacturers in the forum Garden implements

Fri, 13 Mar 2026 22:31:09 +0000

I have found out more about two companies. Thomas Hickin and Allen & Freeman (Carpenter & Allen). Anyone interestted can find the information in Vol. 4 dowloadable from http://www.vintagesprayers.uk

running-mg2 posted an update: I’m looking for the plate for the TS30b plough or i […]

Thu, 12 Mar 2026 15:53:34 +0000

I’m looking for the plate for the TS30b plough or information on someone that can make a copy – Many Thanks

running-mg2 posted an update: Thank you Alan

Thu, 12 Mar 2026 15:43:27 +0000

Thank you Alan

running-mg2 posted an update: HI anyone have a any information on the Ransomes TS30B Plough […]

Sun, 08 Mar 2026 21:27:31 +0000

HI anyone have a any information on the Ransomes TS30B Plough – Handbook / User Manual Etc as currently restoring one and not sure if anything is missing

Sprayerman replied to the topic Bridges of London in the forum Garden implements

Thu, 05 Mar 2026 21:24:58 +0000

Thanks for the info Alan.

Robert Wood replied to the topic Howard 350 inner tube change, in the forum Help and information

Thu, 05 Mar 2026 09:05:22 +0000

Thanks Urbanalfa, useful advice!

Peter replied to the topic Howard 350 inner tube change, in the forum Help and information

Thu, 05 Mar 2026 09:00:19 +0000

Keeping the wheel on might make life easier in the sense that the wheel isn’t wobbling all over the place. You might lose some oil out of your oil bath air filter, but as long as you check the crankcase oil and air filter oil after you’ve finished I can’t see why it would be a problem.

Robert Wood replied to the topic Howard 350 inner tube change, in the forum Help and information

Wed, 04 Mar 2026 19:16:26 +0000

Thanks for the feedback urbanalfa, I’ll be giving it a go tomorrow if the weather cooperates!

Can you see any problems if I tip the rotator at 45 degrees against my shed and fit the inner tube by levering the tyre off the rim while the wheel still bolted to the axle or would it be easier to take the wheels off to do it?

Peter replied to the topic Howard 350 inner tube change, in the forum Help and information

Wed, 04 Mar 2026 17:32:19 +0000

They’re not particularly difficult to change if you can change a wheelbarrow tyre. If you’re not used to changing small tyres then it’s probably more challenging.

When I’ve done it before I’ve put some scrap timber under the chassis at the engine end to support it (push down on the handles to lift up the front end, put some wood underneath and…[Read more]

Robert Wood started the topic Howard 350 inner tube change, in the forum Help and information

Wed, 04 Mar 2026 13:54:01 +0000

I have bought two new inner tubes for my Howard 350. I thought I would ask if anyone who has tackled this can give me any useful tips about the best way to proceed, jacking up, removing and replacing tyres etc.

Alan replied to the topic Bridges of London in the forum Garden implements

Wed, 04 Mar 2026 10:53:07 +0000

As you’ll know, Bridges became Stanley Bridges as in the later Stanley tool company.

The cultivator was advertised from the late 1950s for about ten years. Adverts say it fitted a Stanley ‘Neonic’ drill.

They also made a lawnmower that fitted a drill, but this later had a fixed motor and called the Lawnmaster. A hedgetrimmer called the…[Read more]

Charlie Moore (aka charlie) replied to the topic Bridges of London in the forum Garden implements

Wed, 04 Mar 2026 07:22:51 +0000

Without looking on the internet from memory Bridges made electric drills (no idea how I know or why I think that). The device looks a bit like the Tarpen attachment that was available.

Sprayerman replied to the topic Bridges of London in the forum Garden implements

Tue, 03 Mar 2026 17:19:01 +0000

Photo of tool

Sprayerman started the topic Bridges of London in the forum Garden implements

Tue, 03 Mar 2026 17:05:57 +0000

After deciding to tidy up a small corner of the shed found lurking in the furthest corner a different looking tool. The bottom is a small rotovator, max depth 2” so only suitable for light work I guess, on a shaft just over a yard long with a socket that would allow one to attach an old style electric drill to power it. A modern cordless De Walt w…[Read more]