PART NINE - Analysis & Comment
The Scott Bonnar Model 40 was the second post-war 14" residential lawnmower
made by this great Australian company. It improved on the first, Model 19,
in that the Model 40 offered a primary clutch for starting, and a fully
enclosed transmission cases. This was a well-built machine of quality that
made "lawn-care 'child's play".

What the Model 40 took from the Model 19 was the brilliant hair-trigger
secondary, landroll clutch. Otherwise, its main design cue was the 16"
Model 33,released in about 1959.

The biggest criticism I have of the Model 40 was the lack of a split rear-
roller with differential action. It is completely understandable, though,
why that had to be the case. This was a machine that had to be priced within
a specific market segment.

There was little change in the model over its production lifespan.
All machines would have a colour change to Hammertone paint (over the original
aqua green). The petrol version would receive a change of engine - a Briggs 2 hp
60102 - in its later years. There would also be a change to a folding-chrome-handle
design on the Cordless and Petrol versions.

The model 40 sold well, with many example surviving today. The biggest challenge
at the moment is the finding of replacement parts - particularly the rubber drive
for the primary clutch. This is not an insurmountable issue.

I have argued in these records that the early-to-mid domestic range of Scott Bonnars
lacked scalability - with three cut sizes involving three different design approaches.
This would be, finally, corrected with a single scalable design, the great Model 45s
of 1968.

The rest is history.

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