[hdtrust]

Hi
Thanks for sharing the picture, although small (its amazing what a large magnifying glass can do)
Your model on that frame started life in 1948, then the engine would have been a 147 cc Atco-Villiers two stroke.
Yours is later, the first year they put your style engine on the 28 inch was 1960.Your engine by the way is an Atco-Villiers Mk 25, 4 stroke, cooled by fan and cowl. The carb if original should be Atco-Villiers, Single lever control. Fitted with air strangler for assisting engine starting when cold.
Looking at your petrol tank, that shape is post 1964, pre 1964 the tank had round, domed ends, so if the tank is original to the mower its then post 1964.
Your machine should have a square plate attached to this side, where the top hanger is for the grass box, I cannot see it from your picture, but if there, I should be able to date the frame from the numbers stamped on it.
Your roller seat appears correct, except for the actual seat, the brooks is wrong, it should be a pressed steel seat, which might be a little more comfortable around the nether regions when going over uneven ground! The Brooks would be better placed back on the cycle it came off!
Hope this has helped
Regards Andrew

[hdtrust]

Hi
Please add a photo of your machine, it always helps when identifying it
Regards
Andrew

[hdtrust]

Unfortunately not got the memo for Christmas! Just been told today while merging from another overgrown garden!
So on the third day of Christmas, time to pull the cord on the big chainsaw anything to break the silence!
Happy New Year to everyone and keep safe!

Regards from
Mr Wallingfield and the rest of the mottled crew

[hdtrust]

I do hear tonight, that a certain Eagle has landed in Edinburgh, and that the custodian is like a dog with two tails!
Kind regards
Big Ears

[hdtrust]

Hi Mike
Any further problems with idents, email me directly
Kind regards
Andrew

[hdtrust]

Arrived home just a couple of hours ago, still fully loaded, with a few extras,Now got to get ready for our open day on Sunday for the Somerset Land Rover Series One Club.
Found a cracking gardening book for 1941, which has a cracking picture of the Royal Albert monument opposite the Royal Albert Hall Kensington London,with soldiers tending cabbages all around.
Could this be a picture for the future! Less air miles!

[hdtrust]

Hi
The proper name for your pruner is a tree prop, they have come in various guises over the years, most horticultural tool manufacturers sold them as part of their range.
As long as the wood is sound, they work fine. The modern versions, have ropes instead of the wire from the handle to the cutter.
There are many different lengths, ours are from 3 feet to 25ft(the latter takes practice to use)We still use these in our buisness today for commercial apple tree pruning, in which we can do a far superior job than anything with an engine strapped to it

[hdtrust]

Dear Angus
Never say your to old!
The motto for The Institute of Groundsmanship is ‘Through Training to Service’, I’m in my 42nd year of the now Grounds Management Association.
Kind regards
Andrew

[hdtrust]

Hi Dave
The answer is yes, as we hold all the dating records from Ransomes.

Your machine is a Ransomes Marquis 20 Inch model MK 4A, The 4A started production in August 1967 and ended in March 1974,
Your machine carries a late number which was built in the factory in late December 1973, which would have been sold new into the spring season in 1974.
Hope this information helps
Regards
Andrew

[hdtrust]

If you like reading Wristpin and Charlie, then you might just have a good read about the history of Automower timber tractors in Old Glory the August issue, showing all their winches.
Charlie you have more than once sat on that crate full of Automower printing plates, while sifting through goodies in Mr Walling field’s caves!

[hdtrust]

Hi there just noticed this post, you should find that most internal parts are uniform on these old brass sprinklers, washers are easy to replace if you know where to look, you need to go to a hardware supplier and get an assortment of tap washers they come in many sizes.
Even the famous Pluviette sprinklers that Lloyds made were all made up with British standard pipe fittings.
It is always best to just coat the washers with a little Vaseline, but dont use KY jelly as its not water resistant, keep that for internal door hinges!

[hdtrust]

I am with the info above on Trusty Tractors, but to go back to Ransomes push mowers, all their hand push mowers never were cast with individual numbers, what Clive 1997 is referring to are Ransomes version of their truth about sales.

Anyone who has worked in sales in any industry or the lawn mower trade as I have will know, that round figures to the nearest thousand are circumspect.

To actually date these machines, there are two ways, firstly to define the introduction year, then to check for improvements made,via Patents. Secondly Ransomes changed its name on known certain years, which were cast into the lawn mower arms, eg Ransomes Sims & Head 1869 to 1881.

On hand machines it will always be difficult to define an end of production date, the year will be no problem with our dating records, but it has to be said that all Ransomes machines had spares available for up wards of 7 years after production, and we all know in the trade where machines were still being sold as new, after being stored by wholesalers by up to 5 years.

[hdtrust]

Hi
Yes The Tudor Lawn Edger sold during the second half of the 1960’s, mainly through hardware shops and Horticultural Agents. The design came from the USA type trimmers rather than English which dealt with a dropped edge. Looks like it has been looked after. As for value – well it still cuts grass!

[hdtrust]

When researching company history, it can help when original sales material turns up, but please always remember, Sales material is there to sell an item, the further you go back in history, you will find that the stringent rules we have today did not exist over a hundred years ago, so when it reads sold items, you really have to be circumspect with the year and the amount sold!

Ransomes sales brochures are well known to have used the same pictures over many years.

Fortunately in the case with Ransomes we hold all the original records of the company, which are also duplicated with Merl Reading.

The Hall & Duck Trust was established in 1982, and was founded in part by the Directors of Ransomes PLC to help save their vast history which include many actual machines

[hdtrust]

Actually they are Mason jars, to them that know they are a little cheaper than Kilner but just as good

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