Hello Paradox and Mod CJ,
I've been watching this thread with much interest.
This model 45 is definitely Powder Coated. Just look at those welds and how bulbous they look, that's the effect powder coating gives as it's a good filler material opposed to paint, also the powder coating line was in full swing by the 1990's.
I have started my timeline spread sheet on documenting all the changes made on the model 45 since it's inception way back in 1968.
Just an interesting point on this thread which shows the brochure with a date of 8/84, the photos still show images of the 20 inch Model 45 due to the wider reel but the blurb on the brochure only mentions the 17 inch machine as it's cylinder mower offering and in it's dot points it refers to 5 cross over points in the reel while the 20 inch reel pictured has 6, but in saying that the 17 inch model 45 offering from SB only ever had the 5.
I feel that the photos were either older stock shots on hand or they still had a 20 inch machine on hand to use as a photographic model.
My opinion is that the 20 inch was well and truly finished by Aug/84 with production of it ceasing here in Adelaide at the time of the Holland Street Plant closing down and that they had simply made a mistake on the brochure with the photos used and felt no one would really know anyway.
Like the disclaimer always says, "Photo's are for illustrative purposes only" and "we reserve the right to change specifications without notice"
BTW Jack when you refer to the "Orange" colour scheme, don't you mean "Rover Red" ?
Cheers,
BB
