OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums The History Forum Model Histories AUSTRALIAN Rotary Models TECNICO & PYE - The Petrol Rotocuts - c1955

Hello ODK History Lovers
Tecnico was the first Australian Company to make a rotary lawnmower.
These were small electric mowers that sold in high volume from about 1948.
However, Tecnico was not exactly quick off the mark to introduce petrol-
powered mowers.

This occurred in 1955 with their Rotocut (or Roto-cut) machines. To discuss
the Rotocut in this Record, I refer to a number of distinct models - both in
terms of significant changes to the chassis and with choice of power units.

By the mid-1950s Tecnico was not performing too well at all, and a partial
takeover by the British Pye Company at the time changed the branding of later
Tecnico Rotocuts to Pye-Tecnico Rotocuts. By the end of the decade, they would
be branded as Pye lawnmowers (both electric and petrol models). A significant
change came in 1958 with the introduction of a new model, the Powamatic,
fitted with a complete change of chassis and engine.


Original Tecnico Rotocut, powered by Villiers Midget Mk3 engine.
Source: Vintage Mowers.

TO BE CONTINUED ...

PART TWO - The First Petrol Rotocut
When I look at the first Tecnico - the little electric of 1948 - I see
that it was 'inspired' by designs prevalent in the USA. It was no surprise
that the larger petrol model would also offer design cues from American
manufacturers. Tecnico, after all, had international contacts and connections.

The first petrol Rotocut (shown above) had an offset wheel design with
primitive height adjustment. Clearly, for the day, that was an advance upon
the Victa design (that was so primitive it offered no accurate height adjustment).
The offset wheel design with front discharge chute - typically USA - never
offered any advantage beyond the theoretical.

The first model had an 18" cut, and had an alloy base, but it was no 'toe-cutter'.
This mower had a shallow skirt, with blades contained within. The blades (blade)
was of the single bar type favoured by American makes. Engine shock protection
was offered via a spring clutch that 'slipped' when the blade encountered solid
objects. The handle was of modern tubular design and the mounting point (in the
middle of the base) should be noted. The power unit appears to have been
exclusively the Villiers Midget Mk3 (with fan cooling). The following
newsprint advertisements from 1955 and 1956:-

PHOTO RECORD - First Model Tecnico Petrol Rotocut
It appears that the first model petrol Rotocut was produced in two different
colour schemes. The first was red and yellow; the second red and green. Note
how the alloy base has mid-mounted handles.





TO BE CONTINUED ...

PART THREE - The Pye-Tecnico
When the Pye Company took a controlling interest in Tecnico the electric and
petrol lawnmowers continued. There were cosmetic changes for the electrics,
but the petrol machines had a makeover, with a redesigned chassis and a new
power unit - a Hurricane 125cc engine. This machine lacked the spring safety
clutch and fan cooling, and was clearly marketed at a lower price than the
expensive first model. This was the Pye QA-18H




This model had to be cheaper - because it was living on borrowed time.
Introduced in about 1957, it retained the American style offset wheel
design, with its primitive single wheel height adjustment (requiring tools),
and a step backward was made with the Hurricane engine (that had no fan cooling).
This was a cheaper machine in design, and the cheaper price reflected that.

MANUAL
Here is a manual for the Pye-Tecnico QA-18H. From my collection,
it may be - as always - downloaded for personal use. Of note is the
bar blade (without clutch), and the rear safety skirt. Also note the
handle-mounted fuel tank and the handle mount brackets are now rearward
(rather than central as on the first model).

Here are some 2015 auction photographs.

PART FOUR - The Pye-Tecnico Rotocut Power-Matic
It would appear that by the late 1950s Pye-Tecnico had a two model range.
In addition to the Hurricane powered Standard Model (QA18-H). There is clear
evidence of another, more expensive model - the Powamatic (or Powa-Matic).

This is the rarest of all the Rotocuts. I have only found a
couple of print advertisements:-



I'm guessing this would have been designated QA18-K, although I have found
no photographic evidence of this mower.

The Powamatic was Pye's answer to an emerging trend for top-end lawnmowers ...
the fully-governed, throttle-less designs as seen with Victa's Predicta system,
the Kirby Hi-torque, and the Villiers 7F Automatic.

In the advertisement (above) the engine is the Kirby Hi-torque GE-A1 two-stroke,
a licenced copy of Power Products Ironhorse D-400 engine, as used on the American
Lawnboy and NZ's Masport mowers of the day. Evidence that this is the Kirby
(rather than the Ironhorse) comes from a 1960s Trade-in guide.



Note how this Rotacut had a new alloy chassis - but still retained the
American style offset wheel design. Height adjustment was still the
primitive 4-point design requiring tools.

At 55 guineas this was not a cheap mower when one considers that the Victa
Automatic was priced at 56 guineas - and the Victa had a single-point height
adjuster!

TO BE CONTINUED ...