Hi Jack
The machines are 400mm wide cut (more or less) and yes one-piece steel rear roller.
The right hand lever is a 'dead man' switch with a cable that pulls on an ancient Lucas contactor as used for the starter on some British vehicles of the early '50's. The lever must be held to keep the motor running.
Starting the motor starts the cylinder. The left hand lever has a latch and squeezing the handle and engaging the latch starts the roller.
There is a single simple toggle switch on the right hand handle that has a connection to the motor, operating the switch causes a slight change in motor speed. I imagine that on one setting there will be less torque and less current drain but I have not investigated that yet.
I think I will keep the green one original and maybe modify the gray one with the aforementioned AC motor.
Looking at differences between the two which are mostly cosmetic I would not be surprised if the gray one is ten years or so older. It has/had much more impressive decals and chromed handles whereas the green one has painted handles. There is always the possibility I will have a change of heart and 'restore' the gray one!
Neither of them are old enough to have the crossed 'MM' embossed on the sides of the catchers.
Somewhere in my stash of 'might come in handy one day' is another 12V motor which if I recall correctly is the same as these two. Obviously these mowers are not so rare in NZ or maybe as a consequence of the Christchurch earthquake of 2011 more of them are being 'discovered' during this the rebuilding phase.
Brgds
John
