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

The picture just arrived, the handle bars are the same! so now the only difference is the base (which is designed very similar) and engine (which was not made by Clyde in the first place). It seems that Clyde is the best answer to this!

Hi Kye,

Let me get this right.
So the photo is of the Clyde 18" and you have confirmed it
is identical to your Gardener.

So, same handle, bracket and wheels.

This handle on the Clyde tells me it is the later model.
The first model - like Paul's did not have a folding handle,
and the brand was not cast in the base.

So, two new pieces of information.
Well done mate! So I guess you are now happy to call
the Gardener a Clyde Gardener?

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

Yes I asked him to send me a picture of the handle bars and thats what he sent me.

I am sure its a Clyde, but I am not sure why they stopped the Clyde name for Gardener and why did they change from using Villiers to using a J.A.P???

I will call it the Clyde Gardener until it is proven to be something else, which I doubt it will.
I just need to find some more Clyde wheels for the front of my mower.

I guess Gardener was the model - Clyde the make.
Villiers owned JAP at this time.

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

Do you think Clyde might have made the Gardener as the other version for the Clyde that was posted on my Fb page? Perhaps as the deluxe version, it had special wheel placement and a larger cut (I think).

Do you think Villiers wanted Clyde to use the J.A.P.? or Clyde used it for there new type of mower? maybe as another new feature.

Hi Kye

No, I believe the Gardener is a different class of lawnmower.
I do not believe it could be fitted with a catcher for a start.
I believe it was a commercial machine - rather than residential.

We seem to have established that the tubular folding handles are
original - yet the height adjuster is primitive. This combined
with a more robust JAP and wider cut(?) suggests early 1960's
commercial lawnmower.

I might also add that Clyde Engineering had a separate company -
Clyde Sales - so I am not as convinced as you that this is a
Clyde Gardener - though I am more convinced Clyde was the maker.

Kye, I feel we still need more evidence on this one.

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

It has something on the back to hold a catcher Jack, I might be wrong about the wider cut, I will have to measure it again.
I am not sure on the date, I got told once that it was a 1958 J.A.P and the engine numbers hinted towards 1958. Maybe we can find someone who knows more about J.A.P engines who can help us out more.
I am sure that Clyde must have been the maker, but just the fact that it was called Gardener and not Clyde made me think that it was made for someone else so when I say Clyde Gardner, I mean Clyde was the maker of the Gardener. (sorry about any confusion)

I doubt we will find the answer 100% for this any time soon, but for now I am happy.

Hi Kye
Just like the Rotoscythe County, there appears to have been the
capacity to fit a safety plate on the back. Whatever the Gardener
proves to be, I do believe that the British Rotoscythe County was the
inspiration.

There is one other feature that supports my view this was not intended
for residential use: the large opening at the front of the base.

I believe this may once have had a toothed cover (like the Clyde rotary),
but the large opening suggests this was intended to take higher grasses.

I think that is the right attitude.
Remember that when you first showed this 'unknown' mower we
had little to go on. Since then, progress has been made in
wheels, brackets, and handle. This seems to point to Clyde.

So, progress has been made. This one will be solved.

p.s. I have not seen any info. on how to accurately date C80 JAPs.
They were introduced - best guess - 1957 but stayed in production
into the 1960s.

All the best.
-----------------------
Jack

The mount on the back certainly doesn't look like it would hold a heavy grass filled catcher well! I think you are on the money there Jack!
Would be interesting to get some sheet metal and remake a few cover designs and see what one looks like it matches best.


Once again Jack, you are on the money! on one side of the gap there is a small screw hole, sadly on the other side the base is chipped, my guess is there would be another screw hole for the toothed cover.
I wonder if I could make something up to replace the tooth grill, not sure if sheet metal would cut it.

Custom parts might be the way to go unless I can find originals, other wise the mower will look (and be) un-complete.

Thanks for the idea's Jack! Hopefully soon some restoration progress will happen...