OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums The History Forum Model Histories AUSTRALIAN Rotary Models TECNICO - The Electrics - c1948

Hello ODK History Lovers

Along time ago, in a galaxy far away, I started researching the history of Australian lawnmowers.
I soon came to realize that the 'authorities' had no idea about even the most basic questions:
When did we start making our own lawnmowers? Who made our first powered lawnmower? Who made our
first rotary lawnmower? I could find no answers.

In fact, I found much obfuscation ... propagated myths and hearsay claiming all sorts of nonsense.
Much has been lost...

In this Post I would like to focus on our first Australian-made rotary mower - the little
Tecnico Electric of 1948 and its subsequent development. The Tecnico Electric was released in
late 1948 and would be the best selling of the half-dozen or so Australian brands that would
shortly follow; and all of this prior to the first Victa rotary of late 1952. This pre-Victa
story of the Australian rotary has been all but forgotten.



TO BE CONTINUED ...

PART TWO - Context

Post WWII, the move to civilian (non wartime) production was gradual. In some cases,
companies were faced with bloated workforces, and in order to survive, needed to find
and develop new products for the post-war consumer.

Tecnico, a radio company, played an important role during the war. They were
manufacturers of aircraft receivers, but also manufactured magnetos for Australian aircraft
engine production. They repaired and serviced these devices for all allied aircraft in
Australia. Domestically, they continued to sell their most recognisable products - radios
and radiograms for household use.

Post-war, Tecnico made the bold decision to raise capital and expand into other consumer
goods that were in demand by the Australian public. In addition to radios, Tecnico would
develop vacuum cleaners and floor polishers, and then lawnmowers, for domestic and export
consumption. Below is a beautiful advertisement from the magazine Woman from March, 1950.


[Image: CyberJack Collection]

TO BE CONTINUED ...

PART THREE - The First Model

The first Australian-made rotary - the Tecnico Electric Lawnmower - had a cutting width of
just 10 inches. It seems to have been a styling hybrid: with American-style front teeth grill,
two fixed, solid front wheels, but with a small diameter rear roller, in the British-style.

The chassis was pressed steel with the electric motor encased in a die cast alloy dome.
The 5 point height adjustment was achieved by a rotating cam that lifted the motor up or down.
Of particular note is the 'saw tooth type blade' that delivered a mulching cut to grass.
Interestingly, the handle was similar to many push mowers - and appliances like vacuum cleaners.
In Tecnico colours of yellow and red (with black highlights), this would be a handsome little
mower on the showroom floor.

Below is the original brochure that accompanied the release of the first model in November
of 1948. This rare copy was supplied to me by member Willingworker. Both the brochure and
the original Women's Weekly advertisement from 6 November, 1948 may be downloaded.

PART FOUR - Selling the Tecnico

Tecnico already had an Australia-wide dealer network - the appliance stores that were
selling their radios, vacuums and polishers. Tecnico was a well-known and respected
household brand. This meant that the Tecnico was sold all over Australia, with many
dealers taking advance orders on this 'new type' of lawnmower.




Initially priced at nineteen guineas (plus flex cord), this machine was market as
"Australia's ORIGINAL electric lawn mower". Heavily advertised, this was a mower in demand!

It would appear that little change was needed for the first model. Two changes of note would
be the dispensing of the saw-tooth rotary blade in favour of a conventional bar-blade; and
the addition of a strap carry handle over the motor cowling.

It was an exciting discovery when the National Film & Sound Archive released
an old government film in late 2012. This film tells the story of Cyril Thomas,
the claimed 'inventor' of the little Tecnico.

This priceless film shows in living black and white the making of the 10 inch model.

[video][/video]
Source:

PART FIVE - The 12 Inch Tecnico - c1951

Tecnico expanded the range to a second model from the 1951-52 lawnmowing season. Surprisingly,
this larger 12 inch model was not a simple scaled-up model of the 10" machine. It had an alloy
base with a new look. It sort of looked like a floor dwelling sea creature with a Rocketeer
space helmet ...

At this time, the 10 inch model was also upgraded; both stylistically and in features, including
a new motor specification. I am unsure of what other upgrades occurred, but advertising suggested
several changes. Heavy advertising continued. Note the considerable rise in retail price.




TO BE CONTINUED ...

PART SIX - the end is nigh

It would be very wrong to assume that when domestic, petrol-powered rotaries were introduced
in late 1952, that the electric rotary was finished. Electric lawnmowers - in reel and rotary
form - continued to be widely advertised and sold. It would be a few years later, in about 1956,
I guess, that it was clear to manufacturers that the petrol rotary was a serious threat, and was
here to stay. Within a decade the petrol rotary would become hegemonic and ubiquitous.

Tecnico did respond to the market by introducing its larger, wider cut, petrol Rotacuts in the
mid-1950s. These mowers would augment the electric model range, which would continue to sell.
However, time was running out for this large Marrickville firm.

By the mid-1950s Tecnico - the company - was in financial difficulty, was not paying dividends,
and was recording losses. In this climate, the UK firm Pye bought a half interest in Tecnico
in late 1955, and by the end of the decade, it would be a total takeover with the company
changing its name to Pye Industries. In this period (mid to late 1950s), the lawnmowers would be
branded Pye-Tecnico, and then simply, Pye.

There was a last hurrah - a cosmetic makeover at some point, with more modern, angular features
not to my taste. Here is a 1960 Harris Scarfe Catalogue ad, and a 1963 newsprint ad. The little
Tecnicos would be gone by the mid-1960s. I guess it's amazing they survived that long!




TO BE CONTINUED ...

PART SEVEN - Significance

It was a rewarding moment when I felt confident enough in announcing that I had identified
Australia's first rotary mower - the 1948 Tecnico. That was a few years' ago.

I hope, at some point, museums will update their records to reflect the significance of
this important Australian company and their first little mower.
- See for example: http://www.powerhousemuseum.com/collection/database/?irn=112605

History seems to have forgotten the story of the first rotaries, which defined the market
for five years before the rise of the petrol-powered rotaries.

In that time about half a dozen Australian electric rotary brands sprung up, taking
advantage of post-war prosperity and the demand for new household appliances. A number of
these were the old radio companies that expanded their product lines to include vacuum
cleaners, floor polishers, lawnmowers, and the like.

Tecnico was, by far, the most successful of these. In the 1952 newsprint advertisement below,
they boast "tens upon tens of thousands" of their mowers had been sold by that time...
Electric lawnmowers were BIG business.

I hope collectors will gain a new appreciation for Australian vintage mower history,
and recognise - and preserve - the little Tecnico.

The rest is history.
---------------------------------------------
JACK

THE 10" Tecnico

This is member IanOZ�s little 10� Tecnico.
This is the pressed steel base and it would date from about 1949-1951. It is an early machine.
Note the rotating cam mechanism for the height of cut control.

THE 12" Tecnico

In my view, the 12 inch is the more handsome of the two models.
I like its Art Deco curves and stylised features. Unfortunately, these machines are rare.

Here is an example of the later PYE Electric:-

UPDATE - 2017 - Brochure c1951
In late 1951, Tecnico introduced its larger 12" model. This was the alloy base
on a new chassis. The pressed steel base 10" would continue ... but with revision.

In early 2017, Grant Simpson sent me a rare brochure of the new models. A 'range'
style was introduced - both 10" and 12" - with that attractive 'Rocketeer helmet'
over the motor.

The styling was less aggressive than the first model. Nonetheless, this was all
about "man's leisure". Of note is that the brochure shows a move to the single bar,
double edge, cutter. Of course, the "lady of the house couldn't miss out" with
that wonderful Tecnico vacuum cleaner...

The Tecnico Company:
https://www.outdoorking-forum.com.au/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=51678

The First Australian Rotary - Some Thoughts:
https://www.outdoorking-forum.com.au/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=51085

IanOZ's 10" Tecnico Restoration:
https://www.outdoorking-forum.com.au/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=51458


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