[hdtrust]

Yes sounds like a Lawn rider to me too
By any chance does the operator wear Lycra! As the lanes down here are full of them breaking all the rules of the lock down,bloody menaces coming in 3’s and 4’s all over the road.Nothing short of selfish

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Nothing like feeling old!
In 1984 I became a Lecturer in Horticulture at a Technical College (now probably a University}Although there was YTS it was fround upon,as cheap labour and subjects taught were watered down,although it might sound controversial,the whole time frame and period has to be looked at in context, not out.The whole labour market had upheaval,councils cutting back,with no in house training.Large companies failing not to mention British Steel.
All organisations use to have their own accredited exams for their subjects,then suddenly from 1982,they all had to be unified to include the education system.I’m sure we all can remember the City & Guilds courses,the old Stage 1 & 2,They got changed to Phases,then some one thought up a better name NVQ’s! As we now know them by today NOT VERY QUALIFIED.
In 1984 I was asked to teach Ex Steelworkers who were hoping to change careers under the Treaty of Paris Agreement.
What this actually meant was to receive their full redundancy they had to retrain in certain subjects,which were Catering,Hairdressing,or Horticulture,the courses were called Iseps a form of City & Guilds
I had 14 ex steelworkers teaching them Horticulture plus one Student who I can still remember his name as Foster!
The main problem I had,was not that they were not interested, it was doing the basics,these poor guys had 20 to 30 years working in a Steelworks,and probably the only time they had wrote anything was signing for their wage packets.Needless to say teaching practice had to be re written.The good news though is I only lost 4 from natural wastage,1 to the local Hospital a crane driver who was a little over weight,he kept sitting on the classroom chairs and crushing them,one day got his leg caught and broke it.Nine passed and one of the nine came to run one of my businesses in London,then from their his own Nursery near Barnsley
Then there was Foster,they broke the mould there,what a lad.Never paid attention, in his own world bless him.
One day I asked a question.Why is the Financial Times Pink?
To everyone’s surprises Foster answered it Chapter and verse.My question to him,was how did you know that.
Well Sir my Dad is the Editor for the Telegraph!!!

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Hi
From our archives it shows that John Harston Ltd, was the sole importer of the Pacemaker from 1970.
The first adverts were placed in the Hardware Journal for that year,and there was 6 models available, all the engines were Aspera,and were also backed by Aspera agents all over the country.
John Harston Ltd was at Trowse,Norwich, and 20 Golden Ball Street,Norwich.
We happen to have a mint full line brochure for 1970 in our archives
Hope this helps
Archivist
The Hall & Duck Trust

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Hi send your photos of your collection,even if they are made in the USA,I’m sure I can ID them for you,as I spent time in the States
Kind regards
Andrew

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Its good to read that everyone is towing the line.The trouble is the Government is in un chartered waters,but we must keep our distance,unfortunately there is a higher percentage of older members in this hobby than young.
I read what Busman says about large items being advertised for sale on internet sites,and it is fair to say,no you cannot collect or deliver,as is not essential,but its times like these that if you think out side the box,it is possible.
I have a horticultural Business that is still working, it has to as it is one of the most important times of the year, we are working on remote sites but have to comply with Government guide lines and have the use of PPE.
Yes the supply chain for spare parts are still open but wholes are appearing,on certain parts as when manufacturers are not working,which will have a knock on effect,when this pandemic is over.
I have just come out of a meeting with a certain Mr Wallingfield!Using social distancing and our carriers.
As we work on remote sites,we have arranged to pack full size rotavators on pallets to be shipped nationally.When ready the carrier collects,with everyone a safe distance away, and when delivery is done again there will be strict instructions,where by the carrier will leave the pallet in a pre determined place, IE a driveway,which will be pre agreed.
It must be stressed,if seeds are not planted now you can forget vegetables in June on shop shelves!

[hdtrust]

Yes heavy to use,as were designed for Football fields,Check the springs,within the cutting cylinder bearings,as known to wear, and course jumping of the cylinder,giving an erratic cut.
Clean that carb out,as there is more than lightly sludge build up init.
As for the MAG engine,if it runs leave well alone,they were made for running 8 hour days.I still run MAG’s commercially,on Ransomes Verge cutters
Kind regards
Andrew
HD Trust

[hdtrust]

Well,here goes,the first engine that Power Specialist used was villiers,A Bux is a villiers under license to Power Specialists, in the first couple of years,then part of the licensing fell away,so that the latter ones,had different parts attached.
A nowadays term for these engines could be classed as badge engineered
You mention Ransomes,They have a long history of badge engineering.
The first engine which was badged was the Simms way back in 1905,this became the Orwell (derived from the river that runs through Ipswich.)
I suspect the engine you are talking about is the Ransomes 4 stroke which appeared on the Mk 10 Motor Mower or on the MG Tractors.This engine was originally a Sturmy Archer,then a license was bought by Ransomes.
Ransomes also badge engineered binks carburettors.
To give another licensing exercise
Atco
Chas H Pugh made under license,Senspray carbs, and also Claudel Hobsen carbs
Hope this clears your head
Kind regards
Andrew hdtrust

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This is now within the safe keeping of the Hall & Duck Trust,when found everything unceased except for the valves on the engine, restoration will be shortly undertaken by the Commando Gnome a certain John Dyer

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Another picture of the plate of the Simar

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[hdtrust]

Yes we can all dream even Mr Wallingfield, How about a Leyland Steam Mower in any condition, Well Alan I do know of one of your dreams, it sits in a shed in Mass USA,that very Bolens!

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So who does have the oldest one in the club – Charlie, as I dont think its you or Mr Dyer at the moment
All the best HDtrust

[hdtrust]

Good to see another Atco Tractor appear, this tractor most definitely comes under rare breed!
Under the heading lost items of the modern world, I know a chap called Mr Wallingfield who owns the brochure and the manual for the Atco Tractor printed in 1932 which was the year of introduction

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I should forget about European laws by the time this will come through we will not be part of Europe!
Remember Brexit

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Strange no offers of help? All lawn mower collectors must be off line!
Your machine would be made by Atco between 1936 and 1938
If you are going to strip that clutch watch out for the springs, don’t loose them!

[hdtrust]

Hi
No need to go to the Old Lawn Mower Club web site, you can get all the answers here with the real professionals.
Your Atco is from the season 1938, it looks like a 17 inch medium weight machine from the pictures, though your exhaust is from a post war machine, the original exhaust should be near enough to the size and shape to the petrol tank.
The Atco lawn mowers from the 1930’s can be very deceiving as there were many models produced from 1932 to 1939 rest assured The Hall & Duck Trust houses all the correct documents.
Further we also house all the dating records for Ransomes Motor Mowers
The Hall & Duck Trust
Andrew Hall
Archivist

[Author]

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