Hi Jack, Ty and ODK members,
This thread has definitely sparked some food for thought.
I am so glad that someone has given the electric rotary its correct place in Australian lawn mower history. And Jack, I think your thesis was well put and a lot of thought behind it, as was your reply Ty.
From my own perspective, as a youngster growing up in Brisbane in the 1950's and 60's, I was always fascinated by the gentleman who arrived at our house in Clayfield, regularly each fortnight, to mow our lawns.
He was a jovial fellow, who arrived on an old WW2 WLA Harley Davidson motor cycle equipped with an open box side car, which contained a Model 17 Scott Bonnar 'Supercut' 18" cut machine (probably where I got my affection for all things Scott Bonnar) and proceeded to cut our lawns, whistling while he worked, and collecting all the clippings in the catcher and emptying into a cloth wool bail kept in the front of the sidecar. His Harley even had a reverse gear!
I don't recall the exact reason, (maybe the old fella retired) but came a time (probably as I was getting older) that my Dad reasoned that I could earn my pocket money mowing the lawns and that he would purchase a suitable machine.
I remember one morning when he was reading the 'Courier-Mail' newspaper, when he exclaimed that another 'unlucky' person had been electrocuted by running over the cord of his electric mower...and the words "bloody dangerous" coming from his lips.
About this time, one of Dad's best friends had purchased a Victa 18 ( I wish I knew the model) and had inadvertently placed his foot underneath it whilst it was running and ended up in what was then called as I remember (citation needed) the 'Victa Ward' at the Royal Brisbane General Hospital having lost 2 toes!
My Dad's exclamation on hearing the news, "bloody dangerous!
About a fortnight later, a delivery truck arrives and delivers a large box containing a brand new 'Pace' rotary, powered by a Villiers 7F 'Torque-Master' engine with its little sight glass and fuel tap, to which I was to be firmly attached every Saturday morning for what seemed forever, and all for 2 bob!
He was well aware that I was most in favour of him purchasing a Victa, as most of my school friends Dad's owned one. But, I must admit it was a reliable machine, and did a reasonable job of mowing the lawn, but nowhere like the finish of the old 'Supercut' Scotty.
