Hi all,

I thought I would add this bit of trivia to the historical record in case it has fallen through the cracks. Apologies if it has already been written about.

As a restorer I tend to be fussy and try to purchase original parts if they are still available. The nylon cable clamp on the handlebars of a H. G. Palmer mower was a case in point. It was badly perished but I could still read the brand name. It was made by an Australian company called ELMACO (owned by Hardie Trading Limited) and the Product Number stamped on the clamp is CAT 157. Apparently the company made various electrical connectors.

A search of the company soon revealed that it had been registered on May 24, 1967. It was taken over by F and T Industries Limited on 23/09/1970. This company changed its name to Acmil Limited on 03/09/1976. Acmil Limited was taken over by Australian Consolidated Industries Limited on 29/04/1981, and that company was delisted on 20/12/1989.

So there was little hope of me ever finding a replacement ELMACO clamp in new condition. I decided to buy a modern brand that looked similar.

Then I had a closer look at the throttle lever on my H. G. Palmer. It was clearly labelled CONWIRE.

[Linked Image]

I was pleasantly surprised when a search of the internet revealed that the company is still operating to this day! So many companies from that era are not.

Click here for a short history of Conwire Pty. Ltd.

Today they are experts at fitting cables and appear to specialize in vintage applications.

However it would appear they no longer make the little throttle lever that was used on the H. G. Palmer. Mine may be perished and a little bit rusty, but it still works fine. Clearly they were made to last!

POSTSCRIPT: It is difficult to understand how ELMACO were only registered in 1967, but H. G. Palmer went broke in 1965, and my mower with Kirby-Lauson VK-30 engine was probably made around 1965. This tends to suggest that Conwire had been in operation much earlier than their actual registration date.


Last edited by CyberJack; 13/07/17 01:53 PM. Reason: Topic heading.