Hi .Gman The JAP engines were indeed British but I think you will find that most of the mowers that we have seen in Aussie were mowers that were made here usung the imported engines
JAP engines , were taken over by Villiers around 1945 and were taken over completly sometime in the 1960 era J.A.P was the shortened version of the founders name John Alfred Prestwich. He made many types of engines and my 1963 ACL piston Ring Catalogue lists about 14 engines used here in Aussie on small lawnmowers and up to something like a 9 hp Twin cylinder which was used here a lot on swing saws. I think the engines were quite famous as used on the Three wheelers around 1930 up to wartime days and looked real great stuck out on the front in the open air for everyone to look at. Big Vee Twins
If Bruce gets the picture thingo up and running I will send him a pic of the Jap fitted to a lawn mower fron around the 1960 period Regards Joe


Joe