OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Collectors Corner Cylinder More Mowers - Ransomes, Atco, Scott Bonnar

Dug a bit deeper into my cubby hole to get three more mowers and OH one is a Scott Bonnar forgot that.
There is about another 20 in there (not reel) and are safe (from cyclones) when the weather calms down
will did them out (March, April)
Ian

Scott Bonnar model BM ??





---------------------------------------------------------
Note the flywheel date of 10/51.
This is a classic example of why flywheel dates can only be guides to
the lawnmower manufacture date. The Bonmow was released some time in
late 1953 ... out by two years! [Added by Cyberjack 16/5/2015]

Unknown A
This is a ??????
Ian

Unknown B
This is a ?????
Ian

Hi Ian,
What you have there is a Scott Bonnar Model 19 "Bonmow" 14" machine, first introduced in 1953,was finished in cobalt blue baked enamel and fitted with a Villiers 2G 70cc. 2-Stroke engine. The prefix BM refers to 'Bonmow'
Later, the fan-cooled 3G Villiers engine was fitted.
A nice score and would make a nice restoration, Ian.

Hi Ian,
Unknown A: is post WW2 ATCO Lightweight mower with a Villiers Midget kick start 2-Stroke engine, I would suggest early to mid 1950's because it has the later pepper-pot muffler rather than the earlier bullet shape.

It is missing its bullet shape fuel tank, cylinder reel, cutter sprocket, primary and secondary chains, and chain case cover. I don't know if you have the aluminium catcher for it.
the poor old thing looks sad!

Hi again Ian,

Unknown B: is a Ransomes machine, I believe it be a Minor Mk 4...from the late 40's. These were the last of this design, the Mark 6 was a completely different design.
Here's an advert from the SMH from9th March 1949.

Hi Ian,

The Atco is a 1952 model. The exhaust, handles and handle bar / fuel tank configuration and clutch are clues but the flywheel date confirms this.

Cheers,

Sir Chook

Wow! You certainly have an extensive collection Ian. Many thanks for posting the pictures, it's great that you've held on to them and preserved them for the future.

Hi, I hit upon this forum by coincidence because I was doing some googling for Ransomes lawn mowers. In the '50s and '60s I have mown the lawns around our house near Leiden, the Netherlands, using a Ransomes 18" Minor Mk 5 which looks quite similar to the Mk4 on the pictures. This machine was purchased new in 1952 and was used during almost 20 years. The quality of the mowing of this little machine was quite goood compared to lots of other mowers, in particular because of the 7 blades on the cylinder rather than the usual 5. This made the blades very hard to sharpen because the cyliner would not fit onto a mechanical sharpener. The job had therefore to be done by hand. I think I still have some 8mm film footing of the late '50s with me on it while I operate the machine. All I have left of this machine is the copper plate with the type and the serial number on it. That is why I am sure it was a Minor Mk5.

Hi Karel, and a warm welcome to the forum.
It's nice to have a member from the Netherlands join us.

Thankyou for your interesting post....I would hope that you have your 8mm film digitized to DVD....It would also make an interesting You-Tube video! I would like to see the Ransomes 18" Minor Mk 5 in action.
Once again, to OutdoorKing.

Hello Karel, Deejay and Contributors,

Yes, hello to the Netherlands!
There were only minor differences between the Ransomes Minor Mk1 through Mk5.
The big difference came with the radical Mk6, released in late 1951.

The 18" machines are far less common in Australia, the most common being the 14" Mk4.
These mowers were built to last and had a 'classic' look.
Here is a machine like yours (from Australia):-




--------------------------------
JACK

A History Record is now available for the Scott Bonnar Model 19 HERE.