OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums The History Forum Model Histories NZ Rotary Mowers BROWN BROTHERS - Rotary Mower - c1955

This History Record continues the story of Brown Brothers of
Colombo Street, Christchurch and their lawnmowers.

In the NZ Reel Mowers History Forum, Alan uncovered Brown Brothers
early lawnmower history [see Related Reading].

An old NZ company, Brown Brothers commenced business in 1908.
Typically, the company diversified – pumps, generating plants, sprinklers
... lawnmowers.

It would appear that their first mowers were converted push mowers, using
local or imported push lawnmowers and powering them with imported engines
using a locally patented belt drive from the engine to a drive wheel.

This Part 2 uncovers Brown Brothers manufacture of a rotary lawnmower
that dates to the mid-1950s.



Historically, this is an important NZ rotary.
It has a couple of advanced features for the day.

TO BE CONTINUED …

PART TWO – Specification & Gallery
I have only ever found one advertisement for the Brown
Rotary Lawnmower – from the NZ Herald of 5 November, 1955.

New Zealand rotaries never followed the Australian penchant for
‘toe-cutters’ in the 1950s. Instead, NZ rotaries appear to have mostly
used skirted bases (the less-favoured design for AUS rotaries in the 1950s.]

A second difference is that more early NZ domestic rotaries
favoured belt drive, whereas most AUS domestic rotaries favoured
direct drive.

Note that the Brown had a single point height adjuster in 1955!
This one’s a bit different – using eccentric axles and solid wheels,
with the front and rear wheels connected by outside crank rods –
like on steam engines.

Note the piped under-deck exhaust pipe and the reference to
‘safety’ in the ad’s copy.

I have three images of a Brown rotary – with sincere thanks to
NZ collector Greg Stokes. Yes, some minor differences between
advertisement and images.