PART THREE - Significance

It's probably true to say that Scott Bonnar was the first company to commercially power lawnmowers
in this country. They did this, as the story goes, upon the invitation of a friend, Tom Harrison, in
1923. Immediately after this, Scott and Malcolm recognised the commercial possibilities of the powered
machine, and started converting imported hand mowers to power. These were initially targeted at bowling
clubs, but this was extended to their use on tennis courts and residential lawns.

At some point a patentee [who we now know to be Edward Bisdee Keele] approached the Bonnars about
infringement of his 1920 patent. This was settled with the company buying the patent, and the company
proceeded to improve their design and expand their market.

The bigger picture is the early use of electricity as a power source for lawnmowers. It was a natural
progression - from human, to animal, to steam, to petrol, and then to electric motor. The commercial
viability of electric powered mowers was, obviously, stifled and hindered by the domestic electrification
of households.

That a confirmed demonstration did take place at Elder Park in 1920 is of some historical importance.
It would not be till the mid-1920s until a commercially available unit - the Ransomes Electra - became
available in the old world, so it is of some significance that an Australian patent was taken out some
time before this, and Scott Bonnar was converting machines to electric power from 1923.
Well done Australia!

SIR PERCY SCOTT
A final word should be given to a small story that appeared in SA and NSW newspapers in September of 1920,
some six months after the Elder Park demonstration. It is reported to have come from the London Times and
then the Daily Mail.

Admiral Sir Percy Scott, like our Australian Patentee, was dabbling in electricity at about the same time.
For those interested, here's a picture of Sir Percy...

[Linked Image]
Source:A good bio can be found on Wikipedia

There is much to admire about Sir Percy Scott, 1st Baronet KCB KCVO LL.D.
He was certainly a radical thinker, and as I understand it, he was quite critical of the disastrous Gallipoli offensive.

Here is a sample of the Australian reports from 1920. He was quite the inventor and prophet...

[Linked Image]
[Linked Image]

The rest is history.
---------------------------------
JACK.