Hello ODK members,

The Tempest was Villager's most radically styled mower.

It was released in very early 1960 and was manufactured and sold for just a couple of seasons.
It must have been a huge investment by Villager to enter the alloy base market that became the
expectation for lawnmower manufacturers of the 1960s.

Powered with a Villiers 7F Torque-Master (fully automatic), this machine was also offered in a 4-stroke variant,
powered by a Kirby GEB 4-stroke motor. These are rare machines today.

The Tempest used "sleek, automotive styling" and would have looked most impressive on the showroom floor.
It had a rather uniquely placed height adjustment lever and a beautifully made alloy nameplate. It had the
mandatory 'folding handle', one of the biggest defects of the first Australian rotaries.

Apart from that it had ... nothing, a sort of a tale about sound and fury...

The biggest defect was that it lacked an optional side catcher, at a time when they were gaining popularity.

I don't know how long this most-desirable model lasted but, best guess, no more than a couple of seasons.
After that, Villager appears to have concentrated on its traditional design ... the Typhoon - in what became
known as the 'utility' lawnmower market. Villager lawnmowers survived until about 1970.

Here is an edited brochure for the Tempest.

[Linked Image]
[Linked Image]