Yeah, so I picked this up at the local recycle shop. Have wanted a side wheel mower for a couple of years. Tyres are branded Ansell with “162-04-38” embossed on one side🧐. Colour and features suggest it’s a pretty early version (thanks for the info!) Needs a lot of love, but excited to see if I can make this thing hum. Needs a new strike plate, hand grips, a strip down, rust removal, respray, oil and grease and sharpen. Tested today and works pretty good considering. Have downloaded the manual from this forum (amazing). Any tips more than welcome 🤓
Hmm ,I was at a recycle shop about 6 months ago and saw a Pope with catcher for about $15 ,because I have seen a few advertised with catchers for $25 and they take a long time to sell I didn't think they were very popular also seen a few thrown out in the rubbish but haven't seen catchers thrown out ,so I ended up with a catcher from the recycle shop for $5 but left the mower there .I do prefer these Pope Wimbledon mowers compared to the old heavy cast iron mowers these replaced.
Hi Max Yeah, pushies are not favoured amongst collectors.
Yet, that's all the working class had for half a century. Many Aussies were still using scythes and sickles in the early 20th Century.
I appreciate the comment about catchers. Unlike rotaries, pushie catchers were always 'optional' accessories, and I think the vast majority of push mowers were sold without them.
Both Pope and Ogden eyed each other off in the 1950s. They made similar push and powered reel mowers.
Pope was the more successful mower maker of the two, but I think there is good reason for that...
When John Stanley Ogden established Ogden in 1934 his main product was his Lockwood brand of locks. That's where the real money was.
Hi Jack, great info! Yep assumed it was the same Ansell, and wiki had them making rubber tyres back then. Part number had me thinking the tyres where made in ‘38 🤣 (newb)!
I’ve stripped it down and started the grease, oil and rust removal process. The quality of the components is unbelievable. They sure don’t manufacture like they used to.
The height adjustment plates are pitted beyond bringing back to their former glory, but other metal components are in top shape.
I’m sandblasting today, and will post some pics once done.
Yeah, catchers are as rare as hens teeth by the looks of it. I’m keen to put a catcher on this somehow, so if you’re open to selling yours let me know!
Otherwise, I’m thinking I’ll make a replica catcher and deflector, and could use some photos and dimensions if you can be bothered?
I know there is a 5 and 7 blade Pope mower because I have both, the 5 for coarse grass and the 7 for fine grass.
I can't sell my catcher Phil as I grabbed it for my Pope.
I prefer the Ogden to the Pope, personally I would not make a catcher just because I've seen a few for sale very cheap and they don't sell very quickly ,my Pope mower had $23 on the handle ,looks like it couldn't be sold at a garage sale so was thrown out, I will get the dimensions to make a catcher if you want one straight away.
I guess these days there is nothing left of the Lockwood plant. It was a huge factory in Oakleigh for as long as I can remember. Another big respected Australian company gone
Thanks all! Bloody brilliant Max. Still struggling to find a catcher anywhere near Bendigo, so will likely use your measurements I feel. I’ve got a new, more pressing issue to resolve first. The bed knife needs replacing. I thought I could make one myself, but type of steel, angles etc. as per other threads on here have me thinking I’ll need to buy another brand and modify to suit the Wimbledon (new holes and thread etc...)
Would anyone know If there’s a14” bedknife on the market that is suitable?
Also, been getting stuck into the restoration. I know it’s not an authentic restoration, as I want to expose more of the parts. Here’s some progress pics...
Thanks again for the help in getting to know this vintage machine. I’ve almost finished putting it back together... ended up getting a turf machine engineer to make a new bedknife and sharpen the reel, gave up on trying to match the yellow and have left the wheels ‘as is’ to maintain a little bit of it’s history.
It’s cutting paper like scissors the full length of each blade and looks like it’s going to do the job. After many hours of work on the mower, the catcher can wait but I’ll be using the dimensions supplied eventually (thanks again Max!)
I’m just so impressed by the build quality of this thing. They really don’t make ‘em like they used to. Can’t wait to finally put it to work after the rain has passed here, in about a weeks time!
Looking like brand new there Phil, very good detail going on there. As for the catcher, if you can find an airconditioning duct manufacturer in Bendigo they can knock one up easily as they can just lockseam the cruved face and and that will hold it all together and being in galvanized sheet it will last for years to come. Simple job for them and they like a little cash job as they don't get many..
I’m just so impressed by the build quality of this thing. They really don’t make ‘em like they used to.
G'day all, I think both Ogden and Pope set out to build the best post-war pushies. They took advantage of steel plate, tubular handles, and alloy gears to make lighter, stronger lawnmowers. The patents for the Wimbledon speak for themselves.
My reality is that pushies have been neglected by collectors. I have written about why that is so.
Hey Phil I know you did your resto a while back and the results were outstanding. I recently got a motorised version of yours.Have got running and cutting. And as you mentioned amazing quality of materials. My catcher is rusted but repairable. Only thing I would like to replace is the tyres. Did you try and were you successful?Cheers Willy
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