OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums The History Forum Model Histories AUSTRALIAN Rotary Models OWEN COX - Mowmatic & Mowmanual - c1965

Hello ODK History Lovers
The Rotary Slasher Mower really revolutionised the mowing of higher grasses
on larger size blocks. However, a large sector of the market was also with
municipalities, replacing their old sickle mowers and reel verge-cutters for
the maintaining of footpaths and the clearing of high grasses on government land.

Slasher mowers - larger than residential rotaries - were probably introduced
to Australia with the British Hayter in the very late 1940s. Australian-made
slasher mowers were probably introduced in the late 1950s, with brands such as
Deutscher & L.J. Phillips' Whirlwind.

Rover introduced their Rider probably in 1961. Another Queensland Company,
Owen Cox & Company, probably introduced their Mowmatic and Mowmanual in the
mid-1960s, after their first ride-on, the Mowmobile.

The focus of this article is the pedestrian Mowmatic on the right:-



TO BE CONTINUED ...

PART TWO - Specification
The difference between the Mowmatic and Mowmanual was in self-propulsion.
The more popular Mowmatic featured Cox's patented 'Live Drive' -
a combination of an engine drive friction cone acting against clutch plates,
with a final 'dog drive' to the solid rubber wheels (unlike the Rover).
This would have given clutch-less forward and reverse.

The Mowmanual is a bit mysterious; in that it would have been pedestrian
pushed - without the unique Cox drive transmission. I have not seen one of
these.

In this rare, early brochure we see the difference between the
Mowmatic and Mowmanual. Also of note is that John Deck & Sons were the
NSW distributors of Cox mowers - later to become manufacturers in their
own right.



Powered by Briggs & Stratton engines, this machine had a wide 26" cutting width,
an inch larger than its Queensland competitor, Rover's HD25, a 25" machine
(originally, the 'Rider').

Originally the Cox machines had a 6hp Briggs, but this would be increased in
subsequent years. Of particular interest is the clear statement that the
Mowmatic was manufactured after the first Cox lawnmower, the Mowmobile.
It shared the same transmission and wheels though...



A later, 1970s brochure (from my collection) shows that the Mowmatic and Mowmanual
were in production for some time. I love the slogan, "Ask the man who owns one",
borrowed from a famous American Automobile manufacturer. How quaint!



TO BE CONTINUED...

Here are some auction photos of 1960s models:-