PART SIX - ConclusionThis was a particularly rewarding story in that identity was given to an
almost forgotten lawnmower that played its small part in our history.
It also played its part in British lawnmower history.
At about £75, it would have made the
Marvel lawnmower an extremely expensive
lawnmower in the mid-1920s. It was a mower perhaps bought for a wealthy
South Australian estate.
It appears the Marvel was the smaller sister to the
New Godiva for the 1920s.
Whilst the New Godiva was an all-new design - with plate steel sides - the
Marvel presents as having been based on a push reel-roller mower. Note how
there is a steel frame above the main frame that suggests this. I hope, some
day, that we know more ...
How the Marvel at the
Saddleworth Museum came to have a twin cylinder
Douglas motorcycle engine on it will remain a mystery. It would be
tantalising to think that our pioneering firm of
Scott Bonnar was somehow
involved; given their known use of the Douglas in experimental or prototype
machines. Who knows? I big thank you must go to
Geoff Nowak in recognising
and recording this mower from our past.
The rest is history.------------------------------------
Jack