OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums The History Forum Model Histories SCOTT BONNAR Models BOOKLET - Domestic Range - c1976

Hello ODK History Lovers

This 16-page booklet is a great historical record for Scott Bonnar's domestic
range for the 1975-1976 season - the 1976 Range.

The front cover is significant in that the flagship rotary - the Model 720 -
is the sole mower model displayed. The male model displayed is not really a
male model ... he was a major celebrity of the day.

This represents a pragmatic reality: rotaries were outselling the traditional
reel mowers at Scott Bonnar, and the booklet covers that range first.

This booklet reflects SB's parent company - New Zealand's Challenge Corporation -
and their ownership of Morrison in NZ. Challenge certainly knew how to market
lawnmowers and this glossy booklet is equal to any Victa booklet of the day. Brilliant!

And just like Victa did, it was obligatory to use celebrities. Getting Earnie Sigley on the
cover was a major coup for Scott Bonnar. Sigley was a major celebrity of the day.
He was ... a Gold Logie winning Australian television host, radio presenter and singer.
Sigley was often styled as a "little Aussie battler" with a larrikin sense of humour."
Wikipedia

Earnie's clothes have been clearly designed to reflect his 'typical Aussie's
public perception. Engineer's cap (arty flair), 'Flano' shirt, denim jeans. Note that Earnie's
denim jeans had flairs that could accommodate a typical travelling circus main
tent of the day. Such was the prevailing fashion ...



The advertising slogan was "They're a cut above the rest". That slogan would
be carried over to the following season as well. Also noteworthy is the
'Lawn Care Equipment Guide' - representative of major lawnmower makers'
desires to become garden equipment specialists.

TO BE CONTINUED ...

PART TWO - The Booklet
The Model 720 leads the way with four full pages devoted to it.
Note that it was offered with 4-stroke and 2-stroke engines.
These were the 720 Vikings. The 2-stroke Kirby engines would be
the last Kirby 2-strokes offered on lawnmowers.

Here, the Mid-arch Model 49 acted as the economy shadow model to
the premium high-arch 720. The Model 49 was a brilliant design, but
fashion dictates said the future lay in high-arch designs. The Model
49 would be replaced by the Model 520 next season.

The Model 45 is given good coverage, equal to the Model 720 coverage ...
4 pages! Note the black-crazed paintwork on the chaincase and the handle
plate, and the red-boarded pentagonal decals.

The giant Morrison 24" reel mower was offered, and note the domestic
Mini-Hoe Tiller, also a Morrison product. What follows is a four-page
advertorial covering basic lawn care and mower care.