OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums The History Forum Component Histories VICTA PATENT 8359 - Snorkel & Control - c1955

Hello ODK History Lovers

The 'Who was the first?' is an important question in vintage lawnmower history.
It is of some interest that mower anoraks can answer basic questions like,
'When were rotary lawnmowers first fitted with snorkel air cleaners?'

The best answer is that Victa introduced the snorkel design when they introduced
the Model 1 in early 1955.

It was a borrowed idea in that the first application was probably automotive.
In any case, Mervyn Victor Richardson's Patent 8359 was lodged in April of 1955.
Mervyn was listed as applicant and actual inventor. The patent was titled 'Intake
Means for Single Cylinder Two-Stroke Internal Combustion Engines.' Interestingly,
the patent lapsed before acceptance.

I don't know why that is, but I suspect that the defining feature of the patent -
'an air outlet adjacent to the carburettor and at an angle to the flow line of air
through the pipe' [Item 5 below] - was made redundant by Merv's new Choke Control
and Filter assembly, and better control of carby jetting. I think expert comment
is needed on that.



TO BE CONTINUED ...

PART TWO - Patent 8359 of 1955

The patent is short and well worth reading.
It seems obvious now, but a remote air intake was quite novel
for a lawnmower in the 1950s. I might add that Australia, with
often dry conditions, and short cut preferences, was the perfect
place to understand the advantages of reducing dirt particle
ingress for prolonged engine life. Merv saw and understood this!

PART THREE - Model One Design

It is of note that the first brochure of a Model 1 listed
the snorkel as its first feature.




I guess the brilliance was in a simple choke control design
and moulded snorkel tube.

Component Histories:-
https://www.outdoorking-forum.com.au/forum/ubbthreads.php/forums/146/1/Component_Histories.html


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