SIGNIFICANCE

The 320-01 is surrounded in mystery. It is merely referenced in Parts Books, but I have never
found any detail of the first model, or any exploded view of the chassis.
It was as though Pope denied this machine existed.

[Linked Image]

The 320-01 lawnmower lasted but one season. The newer pressed-steel base was introduced in
late 1958, and it is pressed steel bases that would define pope lawnmowers - side and rear discharge -
for decades to come.

In terms of timing, this radically styled mower lacked many of the features that would be expected of
a modern lawnmower in the years ahead:

- Base not optioned for a side-catcher
- Base could not accommodate a 4-stroke mounting
- The lanyard rope start was essentially obsolete
- Base and engine cowl castings were too complex (and expensive)

On the positive side, Pope introduced the most advanced blade disc of its day,
in terms of shock protection and blade fastener serviceability. It also used a lawnmower wheel suited
to the hostile mowing environment of dust and dirt.

The 320-01 would have made a great mulching mower; but mulching mowers would only become popular
decades later. It was a mower both ahead and behind its time.

The rest is history.
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JACK.