Hello ODK History Lovers

The Bartram Finecut was an Australian-made 14" power reel mower, made by
J. Bartram & Son of 601-607 Little Bourke Street, Melbourne.

I know the Bartram through one single advertisement I acquired at auction.
It was advertised in the Australian Home Beautiful of December, 1956. That's
all I have.

The company - J. Bertram & Son - is an easier matter. They were amongst the
pioneering forefront of the dairy industry in Australia. My research indicates
that the company seems to have commenced business in the 1870s as a butter and
cheese merchant and exporter.

It seemed a natural progression that the company would commence importing
and manufacturing dairy equipment, but the company quickly expanded to all sorts
of industrial products.

[Linked Image]

Bartram's became a large company, exporting produce to overseas markets, and with
offices in London. Its heyday was clearly the early 20th century. I can only
speculate that post WWII, in a new world order, the company consolidated.

It may be that it entered the lawnmower market as a diversification of its
manufacturing works in order to survive in the modern world.

TO BE CONTINUED ...