OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums General Discussion Forum OutdoorKing Showcase Alex Grahame Rotary Mower

Thornleigh Mowers are closing down and In their window was this Alex Grahame rotary mower it is fitted with a Villiers Mk 3 Midget engine. Unfortunately the mower was sold.

Hi Woodsy, mate, what a shame it was sold. It would look nice in any collection wouldn't it! I am amazed how close it looks to a Victa Model 1 Rotomo....Almost bordering on patent infringement, wouldn't you say?
Thanks for posting the pic.

who was first,mr victa or alex grahame.i have read on the victa story that another brand mower was produced but was heavy...ken

According to the Yanks Leonard B. Goodall of Warrenburg Missouri is said to have invented the rotary power mower in 1939.
Ref: The Small Engine Handbook by Peter Hunn
I believe the Victa was made before Alex Grahame's. My Villiers info has specification 132X as the Victa and Alex Graham's was 187X. Unfortunately I don't have any dates of manufacture.

Hi Woodsy, here is a little more info for you....
The Victa two-stroke petrol lawn mower is a light weight mower with sufficient power in its rotary-action blades to deal with long thick grass. The mower was developed in 1952 by Mervyn Victor Richardson and was an immediate success. Richardson set up a family company in 1953, sold 100 mowers in the first year and 60,000 in the fourth. Within a few years Richardson was a millionaire. The original designs were never patented - British patent 385473 of 29 February 1932 is earlier so the idea was not new. However, various improvements have been patented and all products have trade mark protection. Reference: Australian Government Patent Information.

I have a victa that looks like that

g'day guys

am going to restore one of these alex grahame rotaries very soon, just after a mufler and air cleaner if anyone can help?

cheers
matt

A History Record has been created for the Alex Grahame Rotary.
To view that record click: https://www.outdoorking-forum.com.au/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=66640