OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Collectors Corner Identification of Particular Machines Scott Bonnar 45 Model 450589 - Blue

Hi all
Picked up a really nice,well looked after SB which has been re powered model number 450509, it's a twin rail 17 inch. All the other 45,s i have seen are green with a different handle bar set up. Is this a different model ? I was intending to keep this as my mower as it cuts excellent but unfortunately isn't suited to the angle of my front lawn which is Buffalo.

Cheers
wce

Hi WCE,

I think this is either a Lawn King of Craftsman which is exactly the same as a normal Green Model 45. The only difference is the handlebar arrangement. Everything is identical to a standard 45.

This particular machine has been refurbished with a colour change and also a later set of Scott Bonnar decals fitted. Also as noted it has been re-powered with a current model 3.5Hp Briggs. It originally would've had a 2Hp Briggs fitted.

Cheers,
BB.

G'day wce and Glo Mod BB

I have an issue with this one.

A 450509 450589 is a factory Model 45 - not a
Lawn King nor a Craftsman.

The handles have been changed during the refurbishment - possibly ...
Or ... there has been a maker's plate change for an unknown reason ...?

Certainly, the model plate does not accord with what is presented here.
Any ideas BB?

-----------------------
Jack

Hi Admin CJ,

Honestly we could speculate all we like but none of us will truly know what this mower was at birth when it left the Holland Street Factory except for the person that messed around with it in the first instance.

This could infact be a mower made up from 5 different machines and as such we will never know. Handle Bars can be changed, ID plates can be changed and once this is done we'll never know it's true identity.

What we do know is that the chassis has been fully repainted and probably has had all previous colours fully removed by blasting and with that the ID plate has also been removed and at that time may have been substituted with a plate that had a much better red appearance to it opposed to the original ugly faded looking unit. The replacement plate could've been sourced from a badly fatigue cracked Standard 45 chassis that was scrapped. BTW non original rivets are used on this ID plate reattachment.

Then the Handle Bars could be original or then they could've come from a failed Lawn King..........do we get the picture here ?

So what I'm saying is only the person that did the refurbishment will truly ever know what's been done here as this machine along with many many other Model 45's out there in the field are of a Heinz breed variety.

Cheers,
BB.

Hello Glo Mod BB

Actually, speculation is the second best method in preventing myth making ...
and occasionally, more suspicious things....

The best method is introducing primary factual stuff.
The primary evidence (I presented) of the maker's plate raised questions for me
... that had not been raised before.

My reality is that this could be a perfectly good restoration of
a worthy machine. Maybe it's just a re-powered 45 pram handle job
with a paint make-over. It looks a good candidate to me.

The question as to whether this machine was a store branded Lawn King
or Craftsman is of some importance. A maker's plate change raises
different issues I won't speculate on here.

I'm a great lover of the BBC show Fake or Fortune.
It educates us as to the value - and importance - of 'speculation'.
It's our defense against myth making. Their may be another view ...

But nothing beats cold, hard, fact.

An interesting topic.
Many thanks Glo Mod BB for your thoughts.

----------------------------------
Jack

Hi all

Was having a closer look at the mower and although I'm no expert in mower refurbishing I would say that what has been done has been done to a very good standard by a person with some expertise. The refurbishment is not a recent one as the mower has some blemishes consistent with usage and the previous owner had this mower for a good deal of time and has taken good care of it. I took the side cover off to have a look at the gears etc and the inside of the cover is the only section of the mower which was not re painted and is the original factory green ( I presume ). I would think that the ID plate is the original and couldn't imagine why someone would change one as it's not like doing a re badge of a car where there might be $$$ involved. There is another thread titled Scott Bonnar model 450589 with pictures of a machine about to undergo refurbishment but the original ID plate is still in near pristine condition.
My theory is that the previous owner of this machine wanted a lawn King or Craftsman and couldn't find one or just liked the look and colour of them and as BB pointed out the only difference is the colour and handle bars so that's what he did. The elderly lady I bought the mower from did mention his mechanical background and meticulous maintenance and care of his equipment.
Cheers
wce

Hi WCE,

Yep, that's another scenario I guess isn't it.

As I've always said with these machines unless you are absolutely certain with proper proof you never know what's been done over the past 50 years and then the big question always beckons..............why was it done ?

As far as plate changing is concerned, I personally have various chassis' here that have rather faded out Ally ID plates and also I have quite a few very badly cracked chassis' that aren't worth my while repairing sporting perfect plates. With them both being identical units it wouldn't be hard to take the ID from one and place it on the other and as such then it would look like a very good restoration and no one would be the wiser, especially if Ol' Mate would buy it totally unsuspecting.

Now taking that all on board I wouldn't do this out of principle but many that only have dollar signs in their eyes most certainly would, just like the handle bars have probably been swapped over at some stage, as the genuine Scott Bonnar Alpine Green machines were never fitted with the Pram bars from the factory and would've had to have a set ordered from the factory as a spare part if wanted.

Then again these could've been sourced from anywhere over the past 30 odd years.

Regardless of all the assumptions, this I'm sure will be a great machine for general usage.

Cheers,
BB.

So I have a question and might seem silly, other than the colour and the different bars what the difference between a normal 45 and a lawn king or craftsman?

Hi bigwids,

The basic answer to your question is no difference at all apart from a lower HP sized engine and what we call a sticker / colour package for appearance.

The handle bar was the most notable difference.

All chassis and drive train components carry over to each other on all 3 differing machines. (Scott Bonnar, Lawn King & Craftsman)

Cheers,
BB.

Cheers mate, we’ll he has two I’m definitely buying one going to travel 1100k to go and collect it. Hard thing with living in the country

Wow 1,100K's for a Lawnmower ? Hope he's giving them to you ?

I guess that's the price one pays when living regional though.

Cheers,
BB.