OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Repairs and Maintenance Questions on Engines Questions on Other Engines What Eng Barrel is this? [Atco-Villiers]

Hi Gizmo

Again, much confusion about this.
The Villiers Midget was a 98cc engine.

This engine is the smaller Atco-Villiers, developed because of some 'special relationship'
between Villiers - who started engine production and the 1910s, and Atco, who started
making lawnmowers in the 1920s.

This association resulted - post WWII - in an Atco-Villiers engine.

These engines did make their way to power Australian Austral-Villiers.
It is unknown what enable this. The evidence - from the Powerhouse Museum - is
that there was some commercial arrangement between Atco and AV. Who knows?

But, they should not be referred to as Villiers Midgets.
To my knowledge, the Midgets were all 98cc - in Mk1 to Mk 4 guises.

It may be that 'midget' has come to refer to any generic small Villiers' engine.
This makes it more important to distinguish them...
- Villiers Midget;
- Atco-Villiers Midget.

Similar designs - different cc capacities.

Any clarification welcome.
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Jack