G'day Carnut,
I picked up another Mayfair this afternoon. The engine number starts with 371......so I'm guessing that it's a '71 model?
Yep, a 1971-2, model code V99, and the first Zip Start Mayfair, I'd say.
As you can see from the photos, it has a different handle to my '68 Mayfair.......it doesn't kick up at the top like the '68's handle does.
Yes, as that was a 'Mayfair deluxe' feature in that era [as mentioned by CyberJack above], which was dropped around 1969-70 for that series IIRC.
I'm not sure what to do about the damage to the Consul 2. I was thinking of trying some aluminium putty.....the stuff that can be drilled and sanded etc. While I will use the mower occasionally, just as something more interesting to use than my new Masport, I will be very careful not to knock it about. If I was fortunate enough to come across a better base, I'd use that. But I wouldn't want to be holding my breath waiting for an undamaged one to appear
I doubt that even a really good metal-filled epoxy would be satisfactory, as they have little impact resistance or tensile strength, compared to solid alloy. Consul bases in good condition do still pop up on FleaBay occasionally, so they are out there.
