[hdtrust]

Dear phillip-s
This is going to be your lucky day! And a free ident from The Hall & Duck Trust

Your Ransomes MK 10 No B3413 is a 20 inch machine, You are correct to say the mark started before WW2,infact the first Mk 10’s came into production at the start of 1936.All Ransomes motor mowers had suspended production in 1940 except for Gang Mowers for airfields, After the war the Mk 10’s were still in production from 1946 -1947 with pre war parts, there after 1947 – the end of 1949, with new parts.
Your machine from Ransomes records which we hold states B3413 was made in February 1947,so using pre-war parts.
Your engine is a 248cc RSJ (Ransomes Simms & Jefferies) which is centrifugal
Hope this helps you

[hdtrust]

Hi Dave
It would be very helpful to include a photo preferably from the front showing a 3/4 section to include a side as well
Kind regards
Andrew

[hdtrust]

To day while doing my day job, having to clear dross from garages, I came across a stash of magazines to include old issues of the Cultivator and FHEC,Old Glory, Vintage Car and Commercial enough to fill a small 4 cu yard skip!
How many other garages are full like this up and down the country.
Had to put a muzzle on Mr Wallingfield and reins to stop him going through them!
I think the one to beat is a few years ago we cleared a library full of Bibles in over 72 languages, they did fill a 6 cu yard skip!

[hdtrust]

Its quiet a strange history about Shanks, geographically speaking, Arbroath had the correct infrastructure, for raw materials and labour plus a sea port. It also has to be mentioned that up to 1890 Scotland had its own patent laws.
Way back in 1842 Budding was sent by Ferrabee in Stroud to check on infringements of Budding’s lawn mower patent (1830)
Later years Shanks were known for their heavy oil engines of which there are a few in captivity, they also made a Traction engine and a locomotive, as well as Greenhouses, along with being one of the largest makers of lawn mowers along with Ransomes of Ipswich and Thos Greens of Leeds

[hdtrust]

Try this book for size! Produced only in the USA, The Site Calculations, Pocket Reference (they have bid pockets over there!)
It was extremely expensive at $54 but worth every penny, there’s not a day goes by without me using it. It covers for all eventualities, look what’s inside

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[hdtrust]

Toro badged Harriers, the last ones I saw over there selling in dealerships was in 2009.
The historic prophecy of selling in the USA, was to sell a quality product, at an affordable price realistic to the market, but in recent years with the cheap influx of Chinese products, entering the market, reduced in price, as China requires Foreign currencies, this ripple has effected all economies.
I’m afraid the bottom line is that it may look good on paper, until later you find that inferior materials have been used.
At the moment there appears to be a steel shortage, so scrap is at a high making over £230 per ton, and we all know who is buying – China. So my view is to collect up all those inferior products eg scaffolding that bends when it should not, put the money back into the Economy by selling it as scrap to whence it came. Then buy British!

[hdtrust]

Nothing like putting a picture to words, this is an original poster from 1925 from Automower’s which proudly sits in my office, there are only 2 known examples of this poster, of which we also own the second but in a much worse state, it was used in their drawing office on the reverse for drawing out more ideas!

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[hdtrust]

Hi there Will, I think you will find that Roger (R D C Evans) co wrote the post war history of lawn mowers with me which appears on our web site http://www.hdtrust.org (2011) which is also the same peice which Wikipedia uses, as it carries our copy rite, then as you will realise any use of this peice for commercial reasons, should be at least acknowledged.
Roger was the Librarian for many years at STRI (Sports Turf Research Institute)which I am also a past member.
He is better known in the literary world for his book on the history of guns, one amazing man!
Rogers own personnel collection of vintage related turf machinery is now held within The Hall & Duck Trust.
Regards
Andrew

[hdtrust]

Yes tracking it down by the sleuth’s of the lawn mower world!
Well there was plenty of that black stuff with a creamy head poured by a couple of leprechauns or was it 3!
We have many good friends in the South and many tales to tell, one thing to remember, it is very hard to hide over there, or go somewhere you should not!
Many years ago I was in County Clare digging around, by the time I had got back to London, all the ex Pat’s I new, had already been told where I had been!

[hdtrust]

Yes Ransomes did send out their staff to show how to use the machines, which in most cases happened to be the chauffeur to the estate.
This is why generally speaking these veteran motor mowers are now scarce to find, quite simply at the start of WW1 most engineers and chauffeurs were droughted to fight, with not many returning.
Even today its not a straight forward process to start them, as they can be cantankerous in different weathers.
Though on the scarcity issue we have just brought home the earliest known Thos Greens Motor Mower with tiller steering of 1905 complete with its original Hafner engine, photos to be shown soon

[hdtrust]

Dear Andy
With best respect, that is certainly not original condition, would you buy a car with paint missing brand new from a showroom!
More like working condition but admittedly very nice!
I suspect all the neighbours had interference on their radios!

[hdtrust]

The character with the big ears, is not the right answer, I’ll give you a clue, the donkey’s name was Ben.
Just for the record yes Big ears did have a falling out with Noddy, Owing to Noddy pinching all the lamps in the street for a party around his gaff for his friend Tessa (This I remember vividly, when my Mother use to read to me) And before I get the comment, that was many year ago!

Must try harder
Best Andrew

[hdtrust]

Dear Kevan
As it is an estate you are dealing with there are certain hoops that you should know about, you may contact me direct via our web site http://www.hdtrust.org.
We have had to deal with estates many times, and can give you free advice, so dont despair
Kind regards
Andrew
Archivist

[hdtrust]

Hi Monz
You may email me direct via this web site or go by our web site http://www.hdtrust.org ,I need better photos of that engine to direct you to the right place for spares.

The damage to the hood (aluminium cast)
I understand Charlie saying its part of its past, but the repair appears not to be safe, which was probalby unknown to the repairer at the time.
Steel next to Aluminium of any kind is a complete no, no the two will react via electrolysis, coursing the Aluminium to corrode internally. Again I require photos to help you

Kind regards
Andrew

[hdtrust]

Hi there, what a find!
It looks like you have the fore runner of the Rotoscythe Eton model, you are correct to say villiers engine on that machine as yours dated from roughly 1935,Although its lost it original colour on its hood.Rotoscythe did use Bux engines from 1939 onwards. Hope this helps

[Author]

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