OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Collectors Corner Rotary Gardener Mower, info wanted!

i recently bought this mower from a swap meet and i cannot find any info at all on it! 1 bloke from the vintage mower website found it mentioned in an old news paper article but besides that i have nothing! it is b

Believed to be British though, anything about this mower is wanted!


https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.ne...dd5911f4a3c088d51bd9a23f&oe=56EC8CD8

Sorry guys im new to this page, here are some more pics!




Source:
http://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.n...4858606_9e80e515cbf202f30a699a53ec74d587

http://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...186baf3199cf8f1749c1d05f&oe=56BBA6DF

Hello Kye

A warm welcome to these forums.

I'm glad you've decided to show these photos on ODK,
because of the greater exposure to a large range of members.

To-cap the story:- there are few references to Gardener in
my catalogues. One trade-in list from 1964 lists an 18" with
a Kirby, suggesting there was more than one model.

Whoever made this was influenced by British and American
design. It seems to have an unusually wide cutting width,
perhaps 22 inches ... or more?



I'm sure the Gardener will be given an identity.
------------------------------------------------
Jack

p.s. Info. on how to upload photos may be found HERE.

yes that was the advertisement found on the Vintage Mowers website, and someone said the blade looks about 22 inches P.S. thanks for the info on pics!

Welcome aboard Kye :-)

thanks paul, do you guys know any other mower sites that could help me? i really want some more info on this thing ALSO i have found the letters V.E.W on the rear wheels of the mower

This one

http://www.oldlawnmowerclub.co.uk/

Worth a try

i would like to join that but i don't think my dad would like me paying for a mower website also heres the pic of the V.E.W

Kye, you can still search the site without joining. I am sure there would be an email address that you could contact them on with regards to your mower.

ok! will try that, hopefully someone has something!

Hello Kye

Mate, you're missing the cues.
I posted that information on the vintagemowers website.
I do have information for you, but I have asked for specific information here:-

https://www.outdoorking-forum.com.au/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=70048#Post70048

If you can do that, I will supply you with a possible identity
for your rare Gardiner lawnmower. I am keen to help you.

All very interesting.
----------------------------
Jack

i searched "gardener" in the search bar but found nothing about a mower called gardener might have to post something about looking for info

Hello Kye

OK, Mate, you're missing the cues again.
I have asked you here for more information.

Please post that information here.
A photo of the full rear wheel, side-on, will help me.
Also, a photo of the handle bracket - where it meets the base.

If you do that here, I will respond with a possible identity
for your rare Gardener lawnmower here.

Cheers
----------------
Jack

Sorry about the bad pics, i can get better ones tomorrow!

i can also take the wheel of tomorrow, theirs no bearings, its just bolted on!

Hi Kye

Yes please.
I would like to see the handle bracket from the other side.
I am keen to know if it looks like this:-



The significant features are the peening of the stop stud,
and the slotted cutout for the handle. Also, is it possible
this is a 24 inch cut machine?

Cheers
------------------
Jack

spot on with the handle bars! But i have just measured the blade and from tip to tip of the blades it is only 19 Inches, and from side to side of the disc it is about 14, someone from a British Facebookpage has just said he may know something about this mower too!

Hi Kye

Well, progress is being made, and I think we are closer.

[1] The photo (below) shows a rare AUS machine.
I would like to get a measurement on the front wheels.
[Both diameter and width]

A photo with a ruler sitting over the wheel would be helpful.
Note that the photo shows two distinct features.



[2] Is there any trace of paint on the base or engine?
I'm hoping you find traces of blue on the base, and yellow
on the engine.

Paul C will need to join this conversation to assess
the finding you give us.

Cheers
------------------
Jack

there is traces of blue on the engine, handle bars and wheels, there seems to be a silvery colored paint near the wheels on the base and the front wheels are very similar to the pic! its hard to see but the wheel is about about 4 cm i have been striping the paint of the engine cover so we can paint it and it has red paint underneath.





wide

Here is my wheel



Wheel rim is 1" wide at the top which is the tyre mounting area

my wheels seem to be a little bit bigger then yours

Yours still has quite a thick tyre on it.

perhaps, the tyre seems about 1 cm thick so that would add 2 cm onto the diameter of the wheel, and the wheel without a tyre was 2 cm smaller then the one without a tyre

Hello Kye an Paul

Sorry for delay in replying.

After looking at all the evidence, I think it is more probable
than not that your Gardener was made by Clyde Industries.

I was originally distracted by those slotted rear wheels, thinking
there may have been a connection to Kelly Engineering:

https://www.outdoorking-forum.com.au/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=59982

I have just recently posted the discovery of a significant machine,
the Clyde rear-catcher mowers from about 1956. This is Paul's mower,
and it will be helpful to hear his thoughts here.

WE have bracket and wheel designs that appear very similar.
The bases are cast with similar features.

See what you think:-

https://www.outdoorking-forum.com.au/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=70076

------------------------
Jack

the clyde looks most like it, im pretty sure my gardener has a 1958 J.A.P engine so perhaps its the next model after that one, but the rear wheels of mine look very similar to the Kelly wheels!

could you send me some pictures of the thing that holds the catcher onto the back? i would like to see if that matches

wait just realised yours doesn't seem to have one

does anyone know where the engine codes are on these types of J.A.P engines so i could date the mower?

Hello Kye

There's plenty of information on the net as to how to date early
JAP engines. But JAP was taken over by Villiers in 1957.
I can't find any dating system for later engines.

I think your engine is a C.80, but I am not sure.
It may be that they are un-stamped. Here is a good guide
to the history of the famous JAP:-

http://www.gracesguide.co.uk/J._A._Prestwich_Industries

As you know, I have dated your machine by its features and its engine.
I have dated it to the late 1950s. That's as close as I can get.
I hope a member might be able to spread more light.

Hope this helps.
-----------------------
Jack

thanks for all that info! i have checked all over the crank case for any numbers like on 7F and victa engines but i can't find any