[alan]

Hello Oli

It’s good to see a Bernard tractor.

The USA-made Bernard machines were imported into the UK in the 1980s by Hyett Adams Ltd, Stonehouse, Gloucestershire. There were three tractor models and said to all have 6 hp Bernard 4-stroke engines, and three forward plus reverse gearboxes.

According to a 1985 pricelist, the model BM749 had a rear-discharge 32″ wide mowing deck with five cutting heights, headlights, and an electric start engine. A grass collector was optional. It was priced at £1205+vat.

The models BM809 (recoil start) and BM829 (electric start) had 36″ wide mowing decks.

The models were also available in the UK liveried as ATCO and Dynamark. The Bernard BM749 looks to have the same bodywork as the early ATCO 8/36 – although the models didn’t stick to just one design. I assume the 32″ mowing deck was the same (or similar) as found on the ATCO 7/32.

I have no idea about the paint colour code, and I’ve not seen reproduced decals. It will probably be a case of getting a company to match the paint and also someone to create new decals – take lots of photos of the decals as square-on and perfect as possible!

It will be nice to see how the project progresses as it’s good to see a different tractor.

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[alan]

I hope everyone has a good Christmas and New Year.

Indeed, let’s hope for good weather at shows and events next year.

Attached are a couple of photos from Malvern Autumn show. An excellent turn-out from members with a varied range of machines, good company, and great weather on the Saturday!

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[alan]

I’ve looked through my photos and cannot see anything similar from the big manufacturers (but might be wrong) such as Ransomes, Mountfield, Victa etc and the ones you have also mentioned.

I can see why you thought of and dismissed Norlett as some models had the sticking-out wheel supports at the front as shown on the attached 1976 image.

Do the handlebars have any distinguishing features? Are they one or two-piece or foldup?

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[alan]

Thank you Trusty220.

As you know, I aim to get a range of questions, so hand tools, mowers, etc. And I like the questions and answers to be informative and sometimes offbeat.

I come across some really weird facts that include garden tools or machines and would make great questions but I cannot include them all. These include a gardener who used a shovel to defend himself against an escaped Tiger in the 1940s; and an advert for a watering can that had a spout at the bottom edge so that the user didn’t have to tip it up to empty the contents. There’s some interesting things out there!

[alan]

The cutaway engines sound interesting and must have taken a while to complete.

Regarding the Pioneer P12 chainsaw…I have very little knowledge of chainsaws but I have a bit of printed info that briefly mentions Pioneer. Unfortunately, I cannot tell if it’s a rare model or not, but does it run and work or is it past repair?

Advertising appeared around 1981 including for the P12, I haven’t found an earlier P12 model. There was also a P12S model at the same time, it was listed as having a 35cc engine, 30.5cm bar, and a safety chain brake.

Danarm Ltd, Stroud, Gloucestershire were involved with Pioneer chainsaws in the UK and listed many models of Danarm and Pioneer models in the 1970s and ’80s.

[alan]

Bartrop was advertising the Australian HD8 and the M8 models in the mid-1970s. They were certainly shown at the Royal Show and also the Institute of Groundsmanship Exhibition, both shows in 1975.

Trade reports state Bartrop saying that they imported the ride-on machines in kit form and then assembled them in the UK.

Bartrop detailed that the HD8 had a Honda G65 6.8 hp engine.

A few Greenfield HD8 and M8 ride-ons have come to light over the years, but they are indeed rare in the UK.

[alan]

Thanks for bringing this to our attention, much appreciated. Your account certainly looks fine, so the issue is probably software related. We will have a look.

[alan]

Hello Jamie

Excellent that you have a Stoic in running condition and plan on keeping it going for the foreseeable future.

I have been playing around with a Stoic this weekend, it had been languishing under rubbish in a building for many years and I decided to bring it home and get it running. It has obviously been a council owned mowing machine due to a fleet number, it has been worked hard and, like many other Stoics, has obviously stood up to all that has been thrown at it – even though the 3.5 hp B&S engine has been cobbled together from three other engines through time! They seem to be tough machines.

I have another Stoic in bits that was dismantled by a previous owner, there are some wheels and various spares, but it’s 200 miles away at the farm. I can check next month when I’m there.

[alan]

Hi Chris

I have looked through all the Victa info I have gathered and it looks like your model is a 2-stroke Commander model – it appears that the Commander was the top of the range that Victa did. I found a 1966 newspaper advert for the 4-stroke Commander and the black and white image looks the same as your model regarding the handles, height adjuster, grassbox, deck, etc.

Also, a 1979 advert for the 500-Twin model.

Alan

• This reply was modified 2 years, 2 months ago by alan.
• This reply was modified 2 years, 2 months ago by alan.

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[alan]

That looks a great machine!

Just today I have been writing up the models and history of Victa in the UK. I am surprised how many Victa models there were, even a twin-cylinder two-stroke model which was sold here in the late 1970s – need to find one of those now!

[alan]

The Tractorbox data is archived on a server. It’s currently not accessible to the public but we will see what can be done with it.

I do have all the photographs and images from the website saved. Some of the archived photos were put on the gallery pages on this website.

[alan]

Thanks for the info about the Design Centre, I knew absolutely nothing about them but have now done some research!

I have found a report that in early 1968 the Wolf Distributor had just been selected by the Council of Industrial Design for the Design Centre, London and was entered into the Design Index.

[alan]

There appear to be a few different spreader designs – yours is one I’ve never seen – that makes three different designs. They can have other wheels (yellow or red), differently shaped handles, and plain or ribbed hoppers.

I have come across The Design Centre, London with another machine/tool, but I cannot recall what. It would be interesting to know how the spreader got a Design Centre reference.

Many machines were given awards or commended by various institutions and design establishments. For instance, The British Agricultural and Garden Machinery Association gave out awards, as did newspapers such as the Sunday Times with their ‘Best Buys’. I know another group called the Design Council had some input/comment regarding James Dyson’s Ball Barrow and the roller in the mid-1970s.

I’ve attached a brochure image of a similar Wolf spreader, I believe it is 1979. There’s also a similarly curved barrow, examples do exist of this.

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[alan]

I also found an 1891 article regarding the Silens Messor.

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[alan]

Many thanks for the information.

I have found an 1866 advert for Browns New Patent Mower that caught the eye of Royalty and was subsequently used at Windsor Castle, Hampton Court, Sandringham and others.

Another mower: In 2013, Zara Phillips MBE was heavily photographed by the press on a restored 1963 John Deere 110 garden tractor at the Chelsea Flower Show on the JD stand. (Cannot put a photo as they all seem to be under copyright).

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[Author]

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