OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Collectors Corner Cylinder Alex Grahame - My Ugly Duckling

Hi Guys, just thought I'd share some pics of my latest machine for the collection. Its an Alex Grahame 21" built here in Sydney. I've trawled the net and there is very little info on this manufacturer or their other products.

I've always been a Bonnar freak but when this machine came up I fell for its simplistic but agricultural design.

The clutch plate and engaging mechanism would hold a Mack truck, the main friction plate is about 1/2" thick.

There are small pop top stainless oilers on all the bearing housings.

The main drive has a very simple self adjusting spring loaded roller that maintains chain tension.The chains themselves are probably the largest ones I have seen on a mower this size and would be right at home on a WLA Harley.

The drive itself is separated from the cutting cylinder like on the larger Scott Bonnar models which assist in tight mowing situations.

The rear roller is a three piece design with individual grease nipples to lubricate each set of rollers.

The grass catcher is galvanised under the original paint, I am blown away by little things like this as I am guesing these things were meant to last at the time of manufacture.

I was also fortunate enough to also get litterally boxes of NOS parts including two new cylinders including a 6 and 8 blade cylinder with this machine. The original owner is said to have worked for Alex Grahame and this was his personal machine from the factory.

The engine is a Villers 412 H2, unfortunately on the down side it had no spark and the recoil starter was missing most of it internals. So since these photos were taken I have removed the flywheel and have diagnosed the condensor but am searching for a complete recoil starter.

My main work horse is my Scott bonnar 65 but I reckon I'm gunna enjoy mowing with this old ugly duckling especially when its up n running.

Hope you enjoy the photos. Glenn.

Hi Glenn, and thanks for posting the pics. This is the first time I have seen an Alex Grahamme, and what a sturdy machine it is. As you said, meant to last a lifetime.
on a great score there, and a great addition to your collection.

I'm not to sure about the ugly. I think it looks fairly good. Not in the ugly category at all. I've never herd of them before,I'd like to know more about company myself.

Hi Dejay n Blumbly.

I guess the ugly duckling part comes from the squareness of the chassis once the catcher is removed, unlike the Scott Bonnar which kinda tapers down to the front roller this old gal drops at 90deg from the top of chassis to the roller. Either way though I reckon I'm very fortunate to now own it and have become somewhat attached, in a mechanical sorta way. : )

Hopefully someone out there may shed some light on the whole Alex Grahame story. The manual indicates A/G was established in 1890!

I know they produced a 14" & 20" cylinder mower with both a single and a double clutch variant.

They also produced an electric powered cylinder model as well.

Hi Fathead (that username always bothers me)...(much rather have your first name)
Your Alex Grahame has class; that was the way it was designed, and what a fantastic addition to your collection it is....if it mows half as good as it looks.....you're on a winner!!

Thanks Darryl,

Yes I love this machine it is tough bit of gear, I can't wait to sort out the small engine hiccup and then oil her and adjust it up and give her a run across the lawn. I'm sure my neighbors and passers by will definitely do a double take at the old villiers chugging along.

I can't wait to fit the new 8 blade reel to it, it seems to have a nice twist to it, I'm sure the grass is going to love it...

Ps I just noticed your name in the signature area of your post, think I might do the same... Fathead.... wasn't sure what to put there when I first signed up.... I'll have to look into that one

Cheers Glenn.

Hello GeeJay and ODK members,

I, too, am a lover of these ugly ducklings, and I so admire such an old company.
They sold every type of mower:- Arunco, Godiva, Atco, Shanks, Ransomes, Pennsylvania,
Greens, Scott Bonnar, etc. They were the sole Dennis agents for decades.

In the 1930s they described themselves as 'The Great Eastern & Western Lawn Mower Hospital'.
A little bit later and Alex Grahame would refer to themselves as the 'Lawn Mower King'.
And they were! They were retailer, repairer, parts maker, importer and . . . a manufacturer.

I think I have enough evidence to say that Alex Grahame were Sydney's largest specialty
store (excluding the Department stores) in NSW in the first half of the 19th Century, and
their main address was always 1 Whiting Street, Leichhardt.

I don't know when they started manufacturing mowers but, best guess, is it was post WWII.
They were making rotary mowers - 18" and 21" - from about 1956. They made a 'Litter-Vac'
in the mid 1960s that became . . . the Victa VictaVac a decade or so later.



GeeJay's excellent photos show that the reel mowers were solid machines, the squarish
shape resembling the British Automower from the '30s. The thee-part roller
clearly signifying an expensive machine.

My person view is that their reel mowers are unrecognised and under-appreciated.
One machine of special interest that did sell (finally) was one that came with
two NOS reels and a box of spare parts. Amazing!



It's nice to see one of the Alex Grahames saved by an ODK member.

All very interesting.
------------------------------------------
CyberJack

I would love to hear more about the Victa Vac and it's relation to Alex Grahame, do you think you might be able to start a thread?

Hi Ty,

Okay, I've done that.

The Litter-Vac

I'm a sucker for these stories.
--------------------------------
JACK

Thankyou

Thanks for the info there CberJack, it’s really appreciated as there is still no further info on the net about these mowers.

Wow 👍 I also got the same box of spares and the spare reels when I found my mower. I thought the original owner was just a parts freak and threw all the stuff in an old tool box.

I know it’s been a long time coming but I’ve finally tracked down an ignition coil that I needed to get running at long last. As soon as possible do I will post a video of it running.

Cheers Glenn.

G'day GeeJay
Many thanks for that reply.

It was so rewarding researching this company many years' back.
I'm pretty happy with the articles I have presented on ODK.

Your story is one progressing towards a resolution.
This will add to the provenance of your mower.

My regret is that I could not discover the man, Alex Grahame!

I feel you made a great purchase here.

Cheers
---------------------
Jack

CyberJack, you did an amazing job finding out all the info, I am amazed, it obviously has taken a great deal of effort and time on your behalf and I really appreciate your work.

Finally everyone will know something more about the company and it’s place in mower history from what you have done.

I feel very fortunate to have this machine in my collection and have waited a long time to find the parts to get the engine running so I can at long last try it out on lawn for a demo.

I definitely don’t plan on painting the frame as I think it will detract from its true heritage. In fact other than a few storage scratches and a couple of dings in the top drive cover it’s in really good cosmetic condition for its age.

Ok here’s the update.

I purchased another Villiers MK 12 engine the other night and now have a semi functional armature 👍 the spark is a little weak but the engine starts and runs all the same. In fact the engine I purchased for spares has turned out to be an absolute gem in the rough.

After fixing its spark issue (cleaned points and replaced the condenser) I removed the head in order to time the engine to find the combustion chamber almost clean as a whistle with a 20” thou oversized piston. Someone must have done it up prior to putting in storage, the oil was clean as the day as it was poured into it as well. The compression is really phenomenal for such a small engine and after working on it and seeing how well designed it is, I just wished there were more around to buy as I have grown very fond of them through this experience and really like their simplicity.

To look at the exterior of the engine you would never guessed it was actually going to be a running concern. The only problem I have now is I have broken the pulley bolt starting it and am now trawling the internet trying my hardest to replace it. I’m in a bit of pickle because the thread has broken off flush in the the flywheel nut and has thread locked itself in place. Fortunately the flywheel nut is replaceable but again trying to find one here in Australia is proving very hard. The irony is I now have a working ignition but am unable to attach it for the moment. Just hope I don’t have to wait another couple of years before I find the nuts and bolts.

I will keep on updating this thread as I progress.

G'day GeeJay
Very generous comments there. Thank you!
It's pleasing your thinking that these great old companies should be remembered.
That's how I see it.

I have done more work this last year and I can say something sensible
about Alex Grahame in the 1930s.

That will appear in Company History in a few days.

I have done more work on AG in the final years too.
Folks may be surprised how long the company survived ...

Your story is a good one, and full of tension leading towards
what I think will be a a pleasant resolution.

Folks, like me, really appreciate your sensitive approach in
preserving rare lawnmowers.

Great reading for members and great reading for AUS mower history.

All the best.
-------------------------------
Jack

Ok, good news I’ve got an excellent donor engine but the sad news is the original engine in the Alex will need a top end rebuild. No big issue I’ve sourced the parts but it just means if I decide to use the original engine it will mean more down time before I can try it out on the lawn. However in the interest of waiting so long to fire the old veteran up, I’ve to decided to transplant the ignition from the donor engine into the original engine and give it a crack.

Just doing the final timing adjustments and a check of the machine and will try and finally fire it up. Let’s see how I go?