[alan]

Thanks for the replies and useful info.

I’ve had another look. Batric adverts indicate that they were making electric powered machines back in the 1960’s and were still selling them into the 1980’s. Indeed it does appears mobility scooters etc became a main avenue in the 1970’s and beyond and were a great success.

Thanks for the info on Braune of Stroud (whom I did not know about) appears they made agricultural and horticultural machinery stuff too.

A few photos added. I’ll make a Batric page in the gallery for them all.

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[alan]

Hello Ian

The only image I can find is of a 1905 advert. At the bottom is mentioned the Excelsior and Improved Excelsior. ‘The Excelsior was awarded first prize, Royal Horticultural Society, 1886; also first prize, Paris Int. Ex. 1889. Many additional advantages are included in the 1905 pattern of the Improved Excelsior’

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[alan]

Just for info, there are handbooks and parts lists to download on the Hayter website;

https://www.hayter.co.uk/handbooks

[alan]

In 1977 the Horwool business was purchased by Nickerson Bros. of Lincolnshire.

[alan]

The only thing I can think of is that the shaft size may be different depending on engine and (from experience) require a pulley with a larger/smaller centre hole to fit on to the engine. I swapped a Tecumseh engine (cannot remember what machine)) for a much better Briggs and it required a new double pulley as the Tecumseh-sized one wouldn’t fit the Briggs.

I’ll attach the W6 brochure here as PDF for future reference for anyone (and subsequently devalue all W6 brochures being sold in online auctions). The brochure refers to the W6 as the Baby Gazelle.

[alan]

I have the brochure, it says the W6 has a 222cc, 6hp, Tecumseh 4 stroke engine. The W6 was recoil start and the W6E was electric start.

The W8 model had a 314cc, 8hp, Briggs and Stratton 4 stroke engine with electric start.

However, this isn’t to say that the W6 was never available with a Briggs engine at some point. I’d be tempted to install a Briggs engine in any case if the current engine proves beyond repair.

[alan]

At the other end of the scale, I bought some brochures last week with free postage. Made an offer that was accepted by the seller, when they turned up the seller had paid more for the postage than I had for the brochures. They’d made a loss after taking into account the postage, listing fees and Paypal. I wonder if they were aware?

[alan]

Just had a look online, 1950’s by the Rowe Mfg Co.

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[alan]

Gary, Just out of interest do you happen to know what make the cultivator is?

[alan]

Brinly plough

[alan]

I have a selection of John Deere and Cub Cadet model garden tractors.

[alan]

Many thanks for information, Clive.

I’ve done a bit more research and find that the full name is MAC Garda, and it has Castelgarden connections, but I’m still vague on that one. And there’s bits of a Garda mower for sale, not far away from me, on the internet!

I think the Garda company made a lot of other machines. I’ll have a look for the machines that you have mentioned.

One bit of info I have states that ‘John Harston imports the MAC Garda and Weekend range of Italian rotary mowers 15″ to 20″ cut available, push or self propelled with a choice of 2 stroke or 4 stroke engine and grass collection facilities’.

I’ll send you a private message.

[alan]

It can be difficult to decide whether to restore a machine or not. I’ve got both restored and un-restored, the deciding factor being how much work or replacement parts were required to get the machine into a working condition. If it was a major job then the entire machine was restored and re-painted.

[alan]

The only image I have is an advert for March 1956. Basic price £157.10.0.

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[alan]

That’s correct, Simplicity made tractors for Allis Chalmers. There are the later 1970’s Simplicity models in the UK, but none badged as Allis. The early model Simplicity tractors are also causing me some issues!

[Author]

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