OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums The History Forum Model Histories AUSTRALIAN Rotary Models PACE - Brochure - c1956

Hello ODK History Lovers
I would like to discuss here what might be Pace Mowers' earliest recorded brochure.
It is in great condition, but it belies the truth – that the devil is in the detail.

BACKGROUND STORY: -
Pace Mowers was a threat to Victa Mowers in the 1950s.
Not a serious threat, but a clear nemesis to the great Victa company of
the day. Both Victa’s Merv Richardson, and Pace’s John Longhurst would have
seen and understood the mutual competition.

This was a battle about ideas and future possibilities …
John saw that alloys and skirted bases were the future.
Merv, saw that steel based ‘Toe-cutters’ were the go,
but would be history in the approaching, new decade.

Best Merv nip competition in the bud …

As history played its card, Victa’s Merv Richardson would make a ‘secret’
buyout of Pace Mowers late in that decade. John was given an offer too
good to refuse. Mum was the word.

This brochure pre-dates that buy-out. This brochure shows Pace in
its earliest days, but things are not always what they seem …



TO BE CONTINUED ...

PART TWO – The Brochure
This brochure is from my collection and it is in good condition.
I date it to about 1956-57, but clearly Pace were in business one
to two years prior to this. My earliest records date to late 1955.

The brochure says that the engines offered were the Villiers 70cc
and 98cc engines. These would be the fan-cooled Mark 3G [70cc]
and the Mark 3 Midget [98cc] engines.

There is a problem: three of the four images in this brochure depict
an Australian Simplex engine – and Pace were using these too
[at this time]; as well as AUS Hurricane and Vinco engines.

The Factory publication of Model info [c1964] (below) is not entirely reliable.
It says the Villiers 3G 70cc was first used in 1957-58. Evidence shows otherwise.



I think this brochure - with its anomalies - suggests the rapidly
changing rotary industry at this time. Pace were certainly generous
in supporting both AUS and overseas engine makes. Note the
Australian map outline on the front page. But they were certainly
changing model specs within the season!




But it is odd that a factory brochure – at a point in time – was just
offering the Villiers, albeit courtesy of Villiers Australia Pty Ltd.
Who knows!

Other things of note in the copy are: -
[1] the ‘deeply flanged base’ … yes, Pase offered a thin skirted
alloy base – way ahead of Victa at this time.

[2] Note the typical Victa advertising copy … “cuts backwards as
well as forwards”; “velvet-like finish”; and “so simple and safe that
a child can operate”.

[3] Note the Blade Holder. It seems quite small …


I make this high-resolution brochure available to members for personal use.