OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Collectors Corner Rotary Lawn Patrol

Hello everyone.
Steve here, and I am new to this forum but have read helpful information about mowers on this site (thanks). I have kept for 30 years my grandfathers 1958 Lawn Patrol mower. I am going to restore it next year and have been trying to collect parts for it. However, I have gained 3 working mowers this year - a bit much. So, I thought I might continue writing the history of this mower, the John Boundy story and hopefully, justify a place for an exhibit of one in the Australian National Gallery Canberra over time.
I like the advertising material that was produced for LP and the slogan - Lawn Patrol 'out mows 'em all' Not as catchy as the Victa slogan but, nevertheless its all part of the history. Any information about the mower and Boundy will be gratefully accepted. The history starts from "John Boundy Diesels" - prior to Boundy Manufacturing Pty. Ltd.
In the meantime, I will continue to enjoy the variety of activities members communicate.
Regards,
Steve

Hello noileg

A warm welcome to these forums.

The story of John Boundy is yet to be told.
I hope to write a History Record for the Cub, Scout and Patrol shortly.

Just type in lawn patrol in the search box and you should get some
topics, including the Gold Cheetah outboards.

Hope this helps.
------------------------
Jack

G'day Noileg welcome aboard. I did a bit of poking around when I acquired my Lawn Scout and as Jack already said they used a Gold Cheetah engine the same as used in some outboards. Parts seem to be around but scarce. Would you mind posting a pic of the Patrol please? There was a write up in "The Old Machinery Magazine" on a bloke fixing up a Gold Cheetah maybe 12 months ago.

I hope photo is there now.

Hello noileg

For information on how to post images click HERE.

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

What a beauty! One of my favorite lawn mower brands from the 1950s, and yours has known history!

Hello noileg

You said that you plan to restore your Grandfather's Patrol next year.
Yet, this image seems to show a restored machine.
It looks fantastic though!

I have a supplementary question
The names 'Patrol', 'Scout' and 'Cub' are problematic; in that
they appear to change designation over time. 'Cub' originally
referred to the 15" machine, but I am unsure what features
differentiated the 'Scout' from the 'Patrol'

Do you have any documents that support a 1958 Patrol?
I say this because all the records I have found suggest a line-up
of 'Cub' and 'Scout' for the 1958 season - with the 'Patrol re-
emerging for the 58-59 season (from September 1958):-



That doesn't mean too much - given the lack of records for the late 1950s.
Also, do you have a close-up of the air intake?

Thank you for sharing this great machine on ODK!

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

Well, The old girl was 'worked on' by my father in 1980 and has stayed that way since then. I last used her in about 1998. The air intake is the diaphramatic 'snorkeled' version that was decalled with Patent Pending etc or Patent No etc. I have 2 mowers with different labels.I have 2 other versions with 2 standard air filters evidenced on earlier models as per advertising in 1957/58.
As far as the Cub, Scout and Patrol were concerned - (1956 and 1957), Patrol was always in existence. The Argus and The Age have ads supporting this. For example, in 1957 Boundy promoted tanother Lawn Patrol Golf Tournament - Kel Nagle won !!!(The Age 1957). I have other info to suggest that the golf tournament was held in 1956 as well. The cheaper Cub and Scout were both initially manufactured with the 1.75 BHP motor (Points under fly wheel). The Scout was up-graded but short lived - it became so close to the 'standard' Patrol that Boundy et.al., dropped it. Both were designed to meet the under 40 quid and under 50 quid markets respectively.

Lots more info at some stage but too may gaps in the info at present, so I am on the hunt particularly for Boundy's story. I would like to see a version of the LP 21 inch cut.
Time for dinner.
Regards,
Steve

Boundy also had a 2.5 BHP motor which powered the Myer Pathfinder and the George store brands.
Lots more

Hello noileg

That's great info.
I guess 'worked on' means restored then?

The diaphramatic snorkel suggests a 1959 model (or later)?





Yes, I believe the first, 1956 models, were the 15" Cub and 18" Patrol.

I have a question of the 'points under flywheel' machines.
Do you have evidence that these engines were Boundy, rather than Hurricane?



Do you know when production ceased?

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

G'day Noileg, I see you've got the pics sorted out. Your machine is in sensational condition. I'd love to polish my base up nice and shiny but it is so far corroded I think it will need some filler just to fill the low spots in the deck. You seem to have been quite busy collecting and researching. I might have to pick your brain when I get around to sorting mine out.

Also Jack. Difference between Scout (4 height adjustment) - no recoil starter and Patrol, 8 height adjustment lever and frame over chassis.

Jack. I am unsure if you received my detailed email regarding attached photos and info. Just in case here is one again.

Jack, I will give you a very brief outline of the email that got lost.
1954 JAP 80 powered LP advertisement - 1953 start of Boundy Manufacturing, formerly John Boundy Diesels (1952). I assume all design and development started in 53 prior to marketing and distribution in 54. The JAP model was also advertised in 1956.

The Hurricane engine I have to research. The LP advertisements over the years show variations either in the model(s) or their class - standard vs Super or what was left in a dealers sales room. I find it problematic to try to date models via advertisements, since the air filters varied as did the year of publication of the ads.

The Cub and Scout sold from 56 onward until sold out. The Scout 18 inch cut had a 4 height adjustment with no visible mechanism over the chassis as shown in your LP photo. A photo of the coil and condenser should be attached to this reply this time.

Vic Gov gazette shows that Boundy Industries was dissolved in 1973 and I believe that John Boundy died on Aug 31, 1967. I assume that the company ceased operation around 1963/64.

Question: Did JB commence the sale of the new model LP (Gold Cheetar)at the same time as the Cub and Scout? I assume it did - most expensive in the "Lawn" range and referred too in ads for the Cub and Scout as the super model (Google articles). This seems consistent with date of publication of articles on the 2,000 pound LP golf tournament.

All said and done, the history is minimal and scattered and a collection of everything in one location can help interpretation and story telling over time.

Thanks Jack for your interest and reply.


Steve

G'day Steve

Great information there ... and images too.

Yes, the Lawn Patrol seems to have been the first model in 1954, followed by
The Cub and Scout in 1956 (as you say).

Cessation in the early 1960s seems right, but I am keen to know when
Wiltshire became involved, and whether Boundy was involved after that.

I also note that, by the late 1950s, Lawn Patrol was covering both
15" and 18" machines.

I have never been able to ascertain what BMS stood for?
And I do not understand why the BMS 10 was renamed as a Gold Cheetah
on the lawnmowers. I suspect it may have had something to do with
technical 'issues' surrounding the engine at one point. I have sent
you an email on that, and I hope to present that stuff in the
History Record.

I feel that Boundy's engine addressed an early problem with small
2-stroke lawnmower engines - that of crankshaft twisting.
By placing the flywheel (as a bar) under the motor, this issue
was addressed (according to Boundy). Boundy appears to have persevered
with bar blades for most models (?)

At this juncture I will add this point: Crankshaft twisting probably
occurred, not through any design defect, but through manufacturers
claiming that domestic rotaries could cut any length of grass. They
were land clearers - bull dozers! What rubbish!

Merv Richardson, though making these claims, took a different route,
with swing-back blades mounted on a blade disc holder (no bar holder;
no bar blades). Other manufacturers - Ogden, Tecnico, Qualcast - used
slipping clutches mounted above the blade holder. Merv's idea has proved
the most elegant solution.

In this Cub illustration (below) note the flywheel (40) and the bar
blade (39).



In this Boundy ad (extract) from 1958, the Lawn Patrol is dropped from the model range.
The Scout becomes the Patrol, and the Cub is the smaller machine. Boundy perseveres
with a bar blade (now also a flywheel) rather than the swing-back blades and disc.

Also note the guide for a 'vertical pull start'!
This is amazing isn't it?



When I write the History Record I feel I will have to say that
the Boundy engine was a good one (but had production problems),
but ultimately, it offered no advantage over flywheel magneto
designs. Clearly engines could be made with flywheel magnetos
that would not twist crankshafts. Victa used alloy flywheels,
and Briggs could still use heavy flywheels but with shear keys.

I might also add that one benefit of the removal of a top-side
flywheel (a low engine silhouette) was lost when Boundy had to
add a fan (flywheel) to cool the shrouded engine. If you're going
to have a lightweight alloy fan, why not make it an alloy fan
and magneto?

I will write that Boundy was an important manufacturer for many
reasons - not only an early protagonist, but one who understood
style and technical innovation.

I love the Home Beautiful colour advertisements!
In one (from 1956) this detail reveals something interesting ...





I have never found the patents or whether any production ensued
in any other country. I suspect not. Reason: the 4-stroke revolution.

This is an interesting post Steve, because it has provoked me
into consolidating thoughts for a History Record.

Steve, I'm more-than-happy to assist you in your endeavor here.
It has been way-too-long in remembering this great AUS manufacturer.
And thanks for adding a bit of spice to the forums

The rest is history.
-------------------------
Jack

G'day Folks,

This ad, from The Age, 21 April 1961, pretty much establishes Boundy's exit from engine manufacture, I'd say.



According to ASIC's records, Boundy Manufacturing Company Pty Ltd was deregistered on 22 December 1961. This was ACN 004 404 737, former Victorian Company No. C0040164U.

Jack, this might be the ignition patent: Australian Patent No. 13967 of 1955, inventor Francis John Boundy.
The File Manager won't let me attach a PDF bigger than 0 bytes, so you'll have to find it over at IPAustralia.

US Patent 2874202 is also relevant; inventor is listed as Francis John Boundy of Belgrave, Victoria. Granted 17 February 1959.

Hi Gadge

That is seriously fantastic new information for the record!
So ... Francis John Boundy.

Given I know nothing about electricity, the patent read was
pretty straight forward - those slots (15) had an interesting purpose.
[I will notify Bruce about the upload issue]

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

You have to love those old patents!

Hello gents.
What interesting and conflicting data - needs significant tracking Jack to be able to paint the correct JB picture.
I have included info below which should add to the challenge for you. Take note of the Q'ld registration of John Boundy Industries Pty. Ltd, 1957.

Also attached is an extract from the Victorian Gov Gazette (Companies Act 1961). Under said act, but enacted in 1973, is the list of companies dissolved on July 10, 1973, of which John Boundy Industries is included.
I have also included an extract from The Age, April 2, 1957 referring to the Lawn Patrol golf tournament and the Plan number for a proposed new JB factory (1956).

Regards,
Steve

______________________________________________________________________________________________
Plan 2761 File Red 1245 File Black 3716 John Boundy Industries Proprietary Limited Lot 170 Cambro Rd North Clayton New Factory
1956 -

Plan 2889 File Red 1244 File Black 3843 John Boundy Industries Proprietary Limited Dandenong Rd Clayton New Factory
1957 -
Series title: Factory Plans Standards
Description: Plan 2761 File Red 1245 File Black 3716
John Boundy Industries Proprietary Limited Lot 170 Cambro Rd North Clayton
New Factory
Date range: 1956 -
Public access: Open
Format: Physical
Location: North Melbourne
________________________________________
This Item is part of
Series number: VPRS 10150

Consignment number: P0000

Unit number: 38
_________________________________________
Q�ld registration of John Boundy Industries Pty Ltd (1957)
John Black Proprietary Limited 24/05/1920 64 1920
John Blaine & Sons Ltd 18/09/1912 265 1 1912 Townsville
[b]John Boundy Industries Proprietary Limited 28/02/1957 67 1957[/b]
John Brazier Pty Ltd 29/06/1956 300 1956
John Bridge and Company Limited 17/10/1911 138 1911
John Bright Gold Mining Company Ltd 25/07/1881 11 2
John
____________________________________
The Age April 2, 1957 The Lawn Patrol Tournament
John Boundy agrees to surrender his tournament Oct 30 date to Ampol. The Lawn Patrol tournament will still go on at Croydon Golf Club before the Open Championship.

Hi Steve,
I am the son of John Boundy, my name is Peter Boundy and would be happy to provide additional information.

Kind Regards

Peter

Hi Peter and Steve

I am the Forum Historian and we are excited you have made contact.
The John Boundy story is far from told. Your father made a serious attempt
in making an Australian engine with unique features. He made damn good
lawnmowers too!

Any help you may give in telling this story would be appreciated by all.

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

Hi Peter

Thanks for your above post.
I am a long time collector of Boundy mowers, and am looking for any
information on the last of the line Patrols, ie. the 4 stroke model.

We do know they were fitted with B&S engines as listed, in a modified and revised
alloy base from the previous Model 9 series 2 stroke.
We also know they were released sometime in 1960 and continued
until their demise alongside the Patrol models 8 and 9.

There can only have been a handful of them released which certainly
makes them a rare bird indeed.
Any info you may have would be most welcome.


Cheers... Ajay

Hello Peter.
Thank you for contacting me. I have 4 Lawn Patrol mowers, one of which was my grandfathers. I started mowing with it when I was 8 years old - it still looks great and works OK.
However, when I finish my PhD - very soon, I would like to write about John Boundy - from birthplace through to the development of his brand of mower.The glimpses that the limited articles and advertisements provide suggest an enterprising man and one worthy of research. Any information about his background and the development of his businesses would be fantastic.
I will work with Jack, the site historian, and overtime, we will have a worthy story written.
Regards,
Steve

Hello again Peter.
Can you supply the following information:
JB's birth date; place of birth; date of death.
Where he was educated.
Family
Early career - apprenticeship
Early enterprises such as Boundy Diesel - Boundy Industries
Background on the development of the Lawn Patrol mower - what motivated him
Mower development issues
Factory development - size of workforce - level of production
Cause for closing his business.

I know this is a big list, however, any information on any of the above would be fantastic.
In appreciation,
Steve

G'day Steve,

You may want to see if you can get access to his WWII RAAF service record via the National Archives, as well. IIRC he was a fighter pilot. Just keep in mind that his full names are Francis John Boundy, for that!

Edit: Yep, they have his records - RAAF Service No. 40403; DOB 22 Mar 1923.

https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/NameSearch/Interface/NameSearchForm.aspx

Well this is fantastic.
i have to admit i dont know a whole lot about these mowers but i have always loved the styling of them and am truly thankful that this site is such a wealth of knowledge.
there is a definate uniqueness to these mowers which sets them apart from most others. on the surface they just look like any other mower but the subtilties are what makes them so special.
looking forward to the progress of this post. cheers and thanks to all for sharing.

Hello Gizmo and all
Many thanks for the site comments.
I hope member noileg gets a reply from Peter.

I totally agree - Boundy dared to make their own engine and they
'took on' Victa in the late 1950s. They failed, for diverse reasons.

The second point is that Boundy started with a skirted base.
No 'toe-cutters' at John Boundy.

These are great lawnmowers - with fantastic styling.
Yet, the Boundy story is yet to be told with detail!

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

Thanks Gadge. I will follow up all information opportunities.
Regards,
Steve

Hi Noileg, Hi everyone
I might be coming onto this a bit late but I have recently become owner of a 1956 Lawn Patrol with JAP 80 "R" engine.

I am just starting the refurbishment / restoration process and that is a whole post on it's own but I was interested in some text that was on a decal applied to the JPA engine cover. I was hoping one of Noilegs units might have the same text that I could grab a copy of.

I can see the title is "Helpful Hints" and I can see at the bottom of the decal is has some company detail but a photo of someone else's unit would really set the record straight.