OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums The History Forum Model Histories AUSTRALIAN Rotary Models GEORGE - c1958

Hello ODK History Lovers

The main focus of the ODK History Forum is to record as many vintage lawnmowers as is possible.
I have given priority to Australian-made mowers, but also to the diverse range of imported lawnmowers
sold here.

One particular mower has had me stumped for years - the George rotary. It appears in one Champion
spark plug catalogue I have, and is listed in a 1963-64 Trade-In Price List.

That list (extract below) says that the George had a die cast base, with 18" cutting width, and
was powered by a Boundy engine. This does corroborate the couple of advertisements I've found.



This was a rotary made for one of the great Sydney Department Stores.

TO BE CONTINUED ...

PART TWO - Identification

Of the few advertisements I have found on the George, all were for the famous Sydney
Department Store Nock & Kirby. That was telling. Second, one of the ads (below) conveniently
shows illustrations of a Victa, Pace, and a John Boundy Lawn Patrol along with a George.

It's pretty clear isn't it? The speculation and assertion I make is that John Boundy made the
George exclusively for Nock & Kirby. There are clear differences in handle, height adjuster,
and possibly the base - but the similarities are striking.







It was not uncommon for large lawnmower manufacturers to make exclusive-
store brand mowers for the large retailers. I think this is the case here.
But one more clue convinced me ...

TO BE CONTINUED ...

PART THREE - By George! I Think He's Got It.

There was one final clue: The name 'George' is significant and another obvious clue.
Nock and Kirby's main, most famous - and iconic - store was at 413-421 George Street, Sydney.
It was not uncommon to name lawnmowers (or cars) after geographic locations.


(1) former Nock & Kirbys building George Street Sydney" by Sardaka (talk) 08:34,
23 July 2014 (UTC) - Own work. Licensed under CC BY 3.0 via Commons ... HERE.

SUMMARY

The George is a rare lawnmower: I do not know of any collector owning one, nor have I seen
any contemporary photographs of one. I would like to think, though, that some have survived.

The George is important. It was not simply a re-branded lawnmower (some features seem unique).
I hope one will be found one day, as a record of the diverse lawnmowers that appeared in the
explosion of the rotary design, in the Golden Age of 1950s Australian lawnmowers.

The rest is history.
---------------------------------------
JACK

LINKS PENDING


Would you like to comment on the George lawnmower?
Simply create a new topic in the Old Soap Box HERE.