OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Repairs and Maintenance Questions on Walk Behind Lawn Mower Frames Reel Lawn Mowers, Atco & Villiers etc. ATCO Model Help

i have some atcos but i dont know what models they are

Hi Gizmo and ODK members,

I have moved and re-titled this post for you mate, as it was in the wrong forum topic. gtc replied in the old thread....



Gizmo, In my opinion, both your ATCO's are from the '50's, and have had some 'tenants improvements' added.

The top pic is a kick start that would have had the bullet shape tank (sort of like the one in the lower pic) located between the chassis up-rights where the new metal piece has been added...
Also, someone has added an early Victa pancake muffler to this machine....it should either have the long bullet shape muffler or the round small 'pepper-pot' fitted.

Here is a picture of the ATCO bullet shaped fuel tank:

And here's one of the pepper -pot muffler:


Your second machine has a later model Victa fish tail muffler fitted, which is unusual.
Nice machines Gizmo and both will restore nicely, if you choose to do so.

i mainly bought these 2 mowers cos i really love the little villiers engines on them. i have another 2 or 3 roller mowers also with villiers engines on them but identifying them isnt easy?

Hi Gizmo,

I can advise that the first mower is an Atco - probably a 1952 model 17". The side plates are aluminium, which was a feature of the lightweight machines up until 1952/3. In 1954 the side plates were steel. The tank was as per the one in Deejay's first photo. The exhaust would have been of the pepper pot style. The clutch should be a cone style clutch. These machines replaced the earlier 17" mowers which were built between 1946 and 1952.

The second mower is not an Atco. It is an Austral Villiers which were made in Australia.

Cheers,

Sir Chook

awesome Sir Chook
seems all the different models still use villiers engines

Hi Sir Chook, and ODK members,
Thank you for sorting that for us....especially the Austral-Villiers...how did they get away with that without infringing the ATCO design patent (if they had one)

I may have a catcher for the one in the first pic. Could you grab some measurements at your lesiure, it would be nice to know what it's off and find it a new home.

ok will do that when i remember