OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Collectors Corner Rotary Walmac Rotray Mower - An Interesting One

Do you know anything about this one Jack?





http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Vintage-Walmac-mower-RARE-/291884942460?hash=item43f5b2c47c:g:NJQAAOSwzaJX5NQp

G'day Norm
Well spotting something different.

I have records that can date these machines to the mid-to-late 1960s.
These were arguably the cheapest rotary mower offered at that time,
in a climate when use of the 'utility' mower was in decline.

I also include the price of an average TV set, for comparison...



The seller has incorrectly described the engine as a JAP.
For the record, it's a Japanese Tanaka. These were used on Walmacs
and outboards. Quite a reliable motor, apparently.

Paul C has done a great post here:
https://www.outdoorking-forum.com.au/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=71959

I have been unable to find who made these lawnmowers.
The evidence is clearly an AUS manufacturer. But who?

Thanks for helping the record here at ODK.

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

Interesting mower, I am going to have a crack at this one. Hopefully my brother in law who lives in Sydney will pick it up for me :-)

I managed to secure one of these little Walmac mowers, I noticed two things on the build. The height adjuster pull knob and handle bar mounts are identical to my HG Palmer Victa engined mower, possibly from the same manufacturer?





It did a pretty good job for a 37cc engine


[video][/video]

G'day Paul,
Thanks for the observations and fantastic video!

Every ad I have show this machine sold by HG Palmer or Eric Anderson.
Eric Anderson bought some HG Palmer stores as Palmer collapsed.

I'm thinking both the Palmer and Walmac machines do originate from
the same Australian manufacturer. But who were they...!

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

Something interesting I just found, a Walmac electric iron!



Apparently 1930s.

Hello Kye and Paul
Yes irons! ... but mainly stoves from the data I have.

Walmac Electrical Products were located at 2 Firth Street, Arncliffe, N.S.W.

It will take some hard work to ascertain whether they were behind
the Walmac lawnmower. They certainly had the capacity.



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

Hello ODK people this may be of interest.

G'day Max

I guess that will be of interest.
We now know who the 'Wal' in 'Walmac' refers to!
It is always exciting when we have a name.
Thank you for your vigilant contribution on this.
Just Brilliant!

Many thanks for your discovering our vintage mower history about Walmac.

I guess the story will continue.
----------------------------------------------
Jack

Woohoo! So it was Walmac electrical then. Awesome to know who made them.

Nice work, love the patent but is "drivingly" even a word?

Hi Jack ,Kye,paul,the only other thing I found on Francis Edward Walters was one other Patent.

Thanks again Max

The good thing about the edging patent is that it names
Walmac Electrical as the applicant.

It would be a fair assumption to say that the Walmac
lawnmower was made by Walmac Electric then.

I note that the edging attachment may have been the one Pace
offered for a while:-



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

I wonder how the edger worked, the patent didn't read to well.

That would be an understatement.
The patent is 'drivingly' presenting obfuscation to readers

Perhaps Max or other members can make sense of it.
To me it reads as a simple knife cutter.

The Walmac "Improvements in Grass Cutting Attachments" is just saying they have made a blade with a step so the blade bolt head does not rub on the ground,they say with a flat blade the bolt head will
scorch or otherwise score the cut lawn.Also it has a reinforcement bracket so the blade will
not straighten due to centrifugal force and operating shocks.That was how I read it,I was
more interested in the names and dates than the blade.The blade is on the rotating blade plate on the crankshaft.

After seeing the patent you would say the Walmac lawnmower was made by Walmac Electric.

Now we just need to find what the mac stand for .Drivingly: with driving force or energy.

The last picture in the patent can look confusing because of a sectioned view.

Image of a similar type blade on a Pinnock Villager with under base adapter plate.

G'day Max,
Thanks again.

Yes, I think Francis could have found a better patent attorney.

The development of the cutting blade and blade holder are fascinating,
and AUS makers went down different design paths.

This stepped blade design was certainly used by Supa-swift
as early as 1959. How Supa-swift may have also introduced
an early example of the stepped and fluted blade (for catching).

I also guess the bracket to prevent straightening of the
blade proved un-necessary with the advent of pressed
spring steel in manufacture.



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

Hello Jack,
Here is a Supa-Swift with a different name showing the Supa-Swift blades,I measured a 1960 steel
Whirlwind base and compared it with a Villager base and all the mounting points for the height
adjustment were the same,the height adjustment controller is different and the center pressing
in the base has a slightly different curve radius .The Villager base has a patent so I would
think both bases were made at the same company.The pressings of the bases are the same except
one curve in the centre.Thought it was interesting that some mowers share the same base.

Thanks for the picture of the 1959 Supa-Swift,the blade plate looks different to later models.

If you are interested in some Hurricane info.
I have a patent and name Albert Geissler.1959
Improvements Relating To Two Stroke Cycle Engines
Cheers Max,

Yes Max -
It was a trade secret that many mower makers had no casting facility
themselves. It is the Swift Foundries (of Mitcham) that made many lawnmower bases
for lawnmower companies. For example, I have reliable information that
Swift made many or all of the Turner bases.

Max, I found the Geissler patent on the 2-strokes.
Of particular interest was the lodgement date - early 1959.

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