[alan]

Wristpin, you have reminded me of the Dynamark, there’s a photo in the gallery:

Dynamark WestwodTractor – IMGWestw21

Also, after a bit of research I find that my estimate of 1980’s is a bit out as Westwood had a prototype ride-on mower in 1972 and they moved to their new larger premises at Plympton in 1973.

[alan]

Westwood brochure with factory images:

https://vhgmc.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Westwood-Tractors-VHGMC.pdf

I just looked up the factory on Google Streetview and it is still there albeit altered and housing different companies. https://goo.gl/maps/Nz4tpa3WjMbD211s6

[alan]

As far as I know the Westwoods were manufactured through the 1980’s and were made at their factory in Plympton, Devon. Ransomes acquired Westwood tractors in 1989.

I’ll scan and attach the back page of one of the brochures which shows the factory and manufacturing line.

Attachments:

1. Westwood-Tractors-VHGMC.pdf

[alan]

Firstly, I can say that all messages are still stored as they were and will be accessible once again once the messaging service is restored.

Secondly, the reason for the messaging being suspended was because there were several spammers sending messages in quantity via messaging to VHGMC members. This is frustrating not just for members but also for admin as they get many emails back from members rightly asking why they are receiving such messages.

It is mighty difficult to stop spammers manually creating an account (just like an ordinary person would do) and then stop them from sending unsolicited messages to other members.

We actually check new members on a daily basis but this doesn’t stop all spammers getting through. Indeed we had one spammer who posted and operated normally and appeared to be completely legit that then went on to send unsolicited messages to everyone. Where do we draw the line in vetting people? It’s a question admin have asked themselves many times.

Currently there is an updated copy of the VHGMC website being tested with several safeguards in testing to help with signups, messaging issues and also payment and renewal process. This is being done by an independent website company yet it also requires an unpaid VHGMC volunteer to travel and attend the necessary meetings/testings. So we apologise for any frustrations and delays but we will return to normal.

[alan]

I remember the magazine adverts for the Dynamow when they were first introduced in 1989 (I think) – I also had an original brochure at one point but not sure what happened to it.

May need further research but I do recall reading that the Dynamo was developed by Denis Selby of G.D.Mountfield after he sold the company in 1985. They may have been made in Europe as Mountfield had investment in many manufacturing facilities including in Italy such as Granja.

Production numbers may have been low, and I’m not sure if they were available anywhere else across Europe or just in the UK.

[alan]

UK Jacobsen Chief brochure:

https://vhgmc.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Jacobsen_Chief_Brochure.pdf

[alan]

Well done on getting a Jacobsen Chief, they are well made machines and certainly (in my view) better than several other manufacturers of the time. Although not as popular as Wheelhorse the Chiefs did sell in some reasonable numbers in the UK.

Jacobsen Chief tractors were sold in the UK by Horwool, their main office and works was in Romford, Essex and the midland sales and service was at Acocks Green, Birmingham.

I have the UK brochure for these tractors detailing the specifications and all the available attachments. I’ll attach it as a PDF.

Price is always a tricky question to answer as it’s always down to what someone is willing to pay, but in this case I’d say it’s worth exactly what you paid else someone else would have bid more.

[alan]

Some vintage images in the VHGMC gallery:

https://vhgmc.co.uk/photo-galleries/skimmer-itc-ransomes/

[alan]

That’s good news with finding the Westwood orange paint.

Regarding the engine, I would recommend finding an engine that is as near a fit as the original was. This means getting a suitably powerful enough engine that also has the correct shaft length and diameter that the original drive pulley size will fit onto.

I’d certainly make sure that pulley ratios are correct and that the drive belts are still able to follow their proper routes once the engine is in place.

It is more than possible to fit a different engine than the original specification, but over the years we have had fun getting some alternative stuff to fit!

As a funny story of what can happen, several years ago I had an Atco ride-on mower (minus deck) with 8hp Briggs engine which died. This necessitated a replacement of which I handily had a 6hp Robin engine from a Gravely push mower, and after many hours of tinkering and finding the only drive pulley that’d fit the drive shaft, but was much larger overall than the original, all seemed good. I cannot recall the exact specs of the Robin engine apart from the fact it’s performance was greater then the outgoing Briggs, it’s performance was such that we fitted my bike speedometer and it achieved well over 20mph at full speed which is a terrifying speed on a ride-on over a grassy field especially when one hits some lumpy ground. Engine power, RPM, and pulley size are really important to safety!

[alan]

It is a rare machine and one may have appeared in the past if I recall.

If I may, I might write about these Bolens being on The Prisoner in the homepage news/articles bit. It may just spur someone on who knows where one is.

Alan

[alan]

It’s an unusual machine but the mower being driven is actually a Bolens Suburban 26.

It’s in the correct white and red colours with proper red seat too! That is a pretty early and rare machine especially for the UK.

In the background of the video there is also a Bolens Lawn keeper.

Imagine going down to the mower dealership asking for the loan of a couple of Bolens machines for an episode of The Prisoner!

Attachments:

1. 

[alan]

Hello, Tom

On Westwood Gazelles the chassis were either black or orange. The Laser model was grey but also had grey bodywork. I may, however, be wrong!

Unsure of what the orange/red colour was and no mention of it in my brochures.

[alan]

Here’s a link to info regarding uploading images to the forum:

Photos

[alan]

There are some Hayter colours available online, but completely unaware of any paint codes. It’s usually listed as ‘Hayter Green’ although there is a ‘new’ version of the colour to confuse matters.

I don’t know the colour for the Murray mower but there is a link between Murray and Mountfield mowers through manufacture, so on some older machines they have the same colour – may be worth investigating although there is more than one shade of Mountfield red!

[alan]

I’ve had a look at my Allen scythe and there’s a large washer-like spacer on each axle. Even so the right wheel (from the operators position) is still really close to the handles. Photo attached.

Attachments:

1. 

[Author]

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