The thing about the Kirby-Lauson engines, is that once they started to be made locally, they would have had a significant price advantage over the smaller Briggs models. This was due to the substantial import tariffs of the time.
Hello Gadge
Yes, that is true, and it does
somewhat explain the 1960s situation.
I have written a lot about tariffs and their impact on local production.
We should also note that Rover used Briggs and Kirby engines from the early 1960s,
suggesting that
tariffs played a less significant role at this time than what might be suggested.
James Kirby had amazing 'networking' capacity with local manufacturers (including Victa).
It may be that Kirby were preferred because of that fact - and when Victa committed to
Kirby engines in 1960, others followed suit. That's my spin, anyway.
Victa played a pivotal role ... and other makers followed suit, is my best view.
At this distance in time, it doesn't look to be possible to pin down a definite start date for Oz manufacturing for J N Kirby's small engine operation
I don't see why not.
Kirby's first lawnmower engines were manufactured here in the late 1950s.
It is true that we will not know what percentage of components were local or imported.
What is true is that Kirby's were manufacturing Tecumseh engines under
licence from the late 1950s.
That's a good start date for me.
The 1960-61 mower ads only seem to refer to 'Lauson'.
Somewhat true. Victa, Pace and Turner avoided that issue altogether.
There were Victa 4-strokes; Pace 4-strokes; and Turner Four Strokes!
[even though the 'K' in VK 30 (for example) must have meant Kirby!
BTW, 'Delrin' is just DuPont's trademarked name for one of the acetal resins they supply to plastic product manufacturers in pellet form - it's not a brand of wheel.
Technically correct (I guess), but Turner certainly used Derlin to describe their wheels in 1961.
-------------------------
Jack
