I found a mower in the next street to where I live yesterday. It was an MTD with Briggs Qantum but was too heavy to put in the boot as it was SP.
I could have wheeled it home but just didn't want to bother at the time. When I came back 40 minutes later it was gone and of course felt regret as I realised I could have used the parts for a Briggs Victa which I forgot at the time.
This also reconfirmed that mowers never stay long on kerbside rubbish. Plenty of tinkerers out there.

Ahh, if only victa had kept producing the thumblatch catcher series, they would be in better shape today!