Hi Hooksey,
This is really sad, but not uncommon I'll have to say.
Many purchase a Model 45 and then get all excited about the restoration but then find it's all too hard and abandon the project. Once they are pulled right down you'll find not too many people are interested as everyone wants to do the strip down themselves, thus it won't fetch much in monetary value nor interest in the first instance.
BTW I will add that your mower would've been originally fitted with a Kirby HK25 engine and not a Briggs & Stratton Silver unit as previously suggested as in the production time period of the twin Brass ID plates being fitted to the early twin rail machines Scott Bonnar used Kirby engines across the whole line up (14, 17 and 20 inch models) until they later changed to a complete Briggs Line up. They then stayed until the very end of model 45 production using Briggs engines, even after Rover took over in 1980.
Advertise it on Gumtree as now is the best time for Reel Mowers as all the lawns they are used on are just coming into season.
From here it's sad to see another member leave but that's the way the world turns I guess.
Good Luck for the future.
Cheers,
BB
