G'day all,
Kye, I'm glad a Queenslander is taking an interest in early Rovers.
They are not well-documented at all, but the picture is slowly
coming together.
What is emerging is that Rover were prepared to experiment with 'trends'
in lawnmower design. My best guess is the dating is about right. In 1957
a number of AUS manufacturers were playing around with the American-style
off-set wheel design.
It appears that Rover dumped that idea when single point height adjusters
started to be recognised. Rover then followed the Victa-style rotary
handwheel design. It stuck with that design until it was clear that the
lever-and-segment style was gaining popularity.
By about 1963, Rover had the winning formula to take them forward, had the
first self-propelled walk-behind AUS rotary, and would shortly enter the ride-on
and slasher markets. It was a more complete lawnmower company than Victa was
in the 1960s - with Victa specialising in residential lawnmowers.
Kye, that is new info - seeing the development of that first 'Rover' chassis
to take the handwheel adjuster, and the handle (from fixed to folding).
Brilliant!
All very interesting.
-------------------------
Jack
