PART FOUR - The Pye-Tecnico Rotocut Power-Matic
It would appear that by the late 1950s Pye-Tecnico had a two model range.
In addition to the Hurricane powered Standard Model (QA18-H). There is clear
evidence of another, more expensive model - the Powamatic (or Powa-Matic).

This is the rarest of all the Rotocuts. I have only found a
couple of print advertisements:-

[Linked Image]

I'm guessing this would have been designated QA18-K, although I have found
no photographic evidence of this mower.

The Powamatic was Pye's answer to an emerging trend for top-end lawnmowers ...
the fully-governed, throttle-less designs as seen with Victa's Predicta system,
the Kirby Hi-torque, and the Villiers 7F Automatic.

In the advertisement (above) the engine is the Kirby Hi-torque GE-A1 two-stroke,
a licenced copy of Power Products Ironhorse D-400 engine, as used on the American
Lawnboy and NZ's Masport mowers of the day. Evidence that this is the Kirby
(rather than the Ironhorse) comes from a 1960s Trade-in guide.

[Linked Image]

Note how this Rotacut had a new alloy chassis - but still retained the
American style offset wheel design. Height adjustment was still the
primitive 4-point design requiring tools.

At 55 guineas this was not a cheap mower when one considers that the Victa
Automatic was priced at 56 guineas - and the Victa had a single-point height
adjuster!

TO BE CONTINUED ...