Hello ODK History Lovers

When I was researching another mower I came across an entry from the authoritative
Powerhouse Museum in Sydney. The entry gave some background to the founding of Rover Mowers.

The entry says that the Anderson Family started making lawnmowers at Northgate, Brisbane, in
1956, but the first lawnmower was named Wizard.

[Linked Image]
Reference: http://from.ph/466624

I recently found one record for a Wizard lawnmower and, I believe, this is significant.
It dates from early 1956 and is an advertisement for the Wizard by the company Advance
Home Furnishers of St. Marys, Sydney (who later, incidentally, became Villager agents).

[Linked Image]

It has an 18" cut and has a Villiers engine. The handle is in the style of the first Rovers,
but the fuel tank on the handle is Victa-like. It has 4-point height adjustment (on each wheel),
and the base appears to be alloy with a thin skirt.

I don't know when machines started to carry the Rover name, but it could have been as
early as late 1957, when the Villiers 7F was released (and Rover used).

CONCLUSION
The Powerhouse's information was supplied to them, in part, by Mr Phil Richardson, apparently
the retired Marketing and Distribution Services Manager for Rover Mowers Limited. On this basis
I feel this is credible information and evidence of the Wizard is important to Australia vintage
lawnmower history.

I wonder if any Wizards survive?

The rest is history.
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JACK