OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums The History Forum Model Histories AUSTRALIAN Power Reel Models CROWE - Grass Master - c1956

Hello ODK History Lovers
The Crowe Engineering Works of Holmesdale Street, Marrickville
should be recognised as one of the great manufacturers of
lawnmowers in this country. Yet, they remain largely unknown!

Crowe started producing lawnmowers in 1922, years before the
1930s tariffs that fostered our lawnmowing industry!

This article is a History Record of a Crowe Power side-wheel –
The Grass Master - from the mid-1950s. This should not be
confused with a rotary lawnmower from the 1960s, also named
Grass Master [or Grassmaster].

Little is known about the Crowe Grass Master, but I now
feel I have a more complete view. A couple of spark-plug
guides acknowledge its existence.





A couple of factory images survive [Powerhouse Museum], but
depicting a Crowe REX with Villiers Midget 98cc engine – not the
JAP engine as described in the Champion spark plug guide.

My best guess is that the Rex was a prototype, but the
Villiers Midget and JAP powered Grass Master was certainly produced.

TO BE CONTINUED …