OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums General Discussion Forum Off Topics Pope collectors might like this one

$80 looks like a bargain to me: Pope ad on Gumtree

nice one . too far from me though.
still if i ever come across one near to me it probably wont be as nice as this item.

Looks very tidy, but I suspect it's had an engine transplant.

The 'real' Pope mowers, made by Simpson Pope Ltd, never used Briggs engines for their 4-stroke models AFAIK.
They started out with Kirby and Clinton engines on these in the 1960's, but I'm not at all sure what the 4-strokes shown in the 1970ish brochure HERE are.

Could be Fuji Robin [as some of the 2-stroke models are], but definitely not Briggs.

I bought one exactly like that with the wire catcher back in the early seventies with a rod out the side. I wanted a catcher because I didn't have time to rake up the grass from my Hurricane. Fitted the Hurricane motor and used it till about 10 years ago when the family convinced me to buy a new Victa with a Honda on it

Would have originally been something like this one



Not uncommon but this looks to have been tidied up rather well. He's used the new pope logo but appears to be a decent tidy up.

Pete

Yes,certainly does not look the real deal.but still looks cool,and I like those catchers.but then again...... I am probably biased

Bad thing about those catchers is they get dented and rust in place (Wire mesh). Cool design though.

That era was all about experimenting to find the best design - all about going one up on your competition.

Pete.

Isn't that the truth!

G'day all
The term 'grassbox' was really taken literally.
I found accord with IHWS's observation about experimenting.
It was not just about shape, but the attachment to the mower.

Some catchers looked like literal boxes, others streamlined; like
motorcycle sidecars; others bird cages; some moggy apartments.

My favourite side catchers of the early sixties were the streamlined
Victa's and the bird-cage Pope's. I don't think Pope's biased, he
just has good taste




Some were not so handsome:-


Some were cat catchers:-


So ... and odd mix: sidecar, birdcage, cat catcher, ... box.

The rest is history.
----------------------------
Jack



https://www.outdoorking-forum.com.au/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=51487

The real problem though with a lot of the early catcher trials is they are so buly and cumbersome. Not good handles to empty them out.

Pete

I actually have a soft spot for this one.




This is one I have sitting around (HG Palmer). Can't bring myself to destroy it even though there is enough rust in this thing it could pass as a 1980's Jaguar.

Pete

Rust can always be repaired, history must be preserved