They later became Masport-Whirlwind but I am unsure
of that arrangement.
I can offer some clarification on that score, and even a timeframe!
Masport NZ bought out Whirlwind in the 1970's, and took over manufacture of the Home Gardener at that time. They then traded as Masport Whirlwind for a time.
I expect to have an original 1970's Whirlwind HG in my shed shortly for checkover/overhaul, so will get some ID pics then.
Timeframe would have been 1974-75 for the takeover, IIRC.
What makes it stick in my mind, is that Masport then commenced marketing bar blade mowers in Oz, and introduced the Iron Horse 2-stroke engine option.
They also required their dealers [we were one] to purchase a new 'special tool' - a crankshaft straightening setup [basically a bench mounted screw press with a runout indicator] at that time. They had it manufactured locally, and the price was pretty reasonable.
This was to straighten bent crankshaft PTO ends, after object strikes with the rigid bar blade, which no other local manufacturer used at that time.
Masport made the product launch for the Iron Horse a major shivoo for the Vic dealers, at least. It was held at the Southern Cross Hotel in Melbourne, and the dealers and their families were put up there at company expense for the show night! This was a first in the garden machinery game, for those days.
The old man had one of the promo items from that show on his office wall for years afterwards - a 'round tuit'.
And is the Whirlwind/Masport more closely
related to the Farmfitters' Versatiller, rather than the Landmaster's Gardenmaster?
Much more closely related to gmax's Gardenmaster, I'd say. The telltale detail design items are a lot closer match.
