Yes, your brochure image makes a lot more sense now.
I would like to draw your attention to the other company Pope took over at the time and mentioned in the Jan 1974 report ... The Lawrence Group of garden hardware makers.
I wonder if this was Lawrence Brothers of Sydney ...?
Note the Lawrence Super 4 - a sort of Supa-Swift side throw with a Pope catcher - a bit like the final Lawn Patrol.
Possibly there is a connection between the Lawrence Group of garden hardware makers and the Lawrence Brothers. I have not seen any detailed information about them or the Swift Brothers.
The Lawrence Super 4 looks like the same base casting as the last Lawn Patrol.
It looks more than likely the Swift Foundry made Lawn Patrol bases.
I was just trying to find out what BMS stood for with Lawn Patrol, I think it 's Boundy Manufacturing Systems.
I was just trying to find out what BMS stood for with Lawn Patrol, I think it 's Boundy Manufacturing Systems.
Max, I have an answer to that - from Robin Boundy. He said this in early 2018:-
I would like to add some information regarding the Boundy mower forum, firstly Jack (Francis John) Boundy passed away Jan 3rd 1995 not in the 60's. BMS stood for Boundy Mower Series by memory and the name Lawn Patrol was taken from his time as a fighter pilot on the Dawn Patrol.
Yes I think it is the first rear discharge SS,when I called this mower a low arch ,I think it is really a no arch,it's base is flat like the side discharge SS.
I think you have the date right .
"Yes, the ad (below) advertises 10 positions." "Your image shows six?"
Just to explain that ,in the image that shows the height adjuster you can see six positions but behind those serrations are another set of serrations the other set of serrations line up so the adjuster locks in between the outside serrations.
So there are two flat steel brackets both with serrations but in the image you only notice the outside steel bracket , you just can't see the second set of serrations in the image.
Here's another Supaswift that passed through my hands about fifteen years ago. I can't remember if that's the original engine or not. I'd brought it home to swap bits to keep my Little Bob going.
A parts manual would be very useful, thanks! I'm sold on the old-time Supaswifts, but I've never found one without mods or bits missing. It's frustrating.
Here's the Supaswift I found recently, with the Victa Kirby engine removed and the deck cleaned up. I like the cute Grand Prix styling. It could have been silly-looking, but it's actually quite an elegant design. The original colour of the deck was orange hammertone, which has faded to bronze where exposed to the sun. The uprights that carry the handle mechanism are silver hammertone. Notice that only three of the engine mounting holes have been used. I think that indicates that it had a Kirby engine before the Victa unit was put it. It also has two rivet holes on the side where Supaswift usually put throttles, so IF it's a 1966-67 range mower it has to be the Model 50 which came with the 143cc Kirby two-stroke. But that's a big if, it might be an unknown model from the later Sixties.
G'day suebutcher That was a great mid-arch design. I would like to point out something about chassis design for rotaries...
The best designs had front strengthening to avoid base cracking. I have seen too many bases cracked due to front impacts. The bumper over-riders (auto style) did a good job on your base.
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A parts manual would be very useful, thanks! I'm sold on the old-time Supaswifts, but I've never found one without mods or bits missing. It's frustrating.
Here's my Galaxy GT looking more like what it's supposed to be, now I've found more Superswift parts at the tip. I'm very happy with the results. The silver tank decal is ink-jet printed and on self-adhesive mylar sheet, and waterproofed with clear lacquer. I've no idea where you'd buy the material, it just turned up a junk sale, like these things do!
