OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums The History Forum Model Histories AUSTRALIAN Power Reel Models POPE MOTOR MOWER – Model 310 - c1954

Hello ODK history lovers
Pope Products introduced the highly successful Pope
Wimbledon reel hand-mowers for the 1949 mower season.
It quickly followed the hand mowers with both electric and
then petrol versions. Here is a later (1956) Women’s Weekly
illustration of the range: -



The Pope Motor Mower was the petrol version of the
Pope Cente Court introduced c1950. The petrol version was
introduced in 1954 for the 1954-55 lawnmower season.

The Pope Motor Mower was the last sibling to complete
the Pope family of reel mowers – the Wimbledon; the
Centre Court; and then the Pope Motor Mower.

It was 14 inch, 7-bladed, rubber-tyred, and the frame was of
all-steel construction. The handle was of the new tubular steel type.

This was a modern, elegant machine finished in baked
primrose stoved enamel with chrome trim. It would have
looked fantastic!

The Pope Model 310, like most of its side-wheel competitors,
was not self- propelled. There were two variants: The MK1
was powered by an Australian Wills 2-stroke engine; the
MK2 model would be powered by a British J.A.P. 2-stroke
(as shown above).

The Pope Motor Mower was well-received and widely
advertised across Australia. The gallery (below) shows a
selection of 1954 newsprint. Many examples survive today.

TO BE CONTINUED …

PART TWO – The MK1 Pope Motor Mower Engine
The Model 310 MK1 was powered by an Australian made
51cc 2-stroke engine. Note that in advertising blurb this
engine was always referred to as a ‘Pope’ engine.

It was only when member Gizmo started posting images of
the MK1 that an anomaly became evident. A name plate
stated that the engine was, in fact, manufactured by
W. Wills Engineers of Leslie Avenue, North Coburg, Victoria.



I feel there was good reason why Pope wanted to
present the Wills engine as their own. It must have
been a contractual arrangement that favoured Pope.

Wills had previously made this engine for a specific purpose –
to offer it to manual (hand) reel mower users as an opportunity
to ‘power’ their old lawnmowers!

TO BE CONTINUED ...

PART THREE – Pope Model 310 MK1 Gallery
The MK1 version of the Pope Motor Mower is the rarest.
Gizmo was generous in giving the History Record good,
detail images of this first model. Thank you.

PART FOUR – The Model 310 MK2
The Pope Mk2 310 introduced an engine change.
Pope moved to a more powerful power mower in late
1956 for the 1957 season.

The new Pope used a JAP Model 80 [79.7 cc] 2-stroke engine.
This engine was used to power some other Australian lawn-
mowers too [both reel and rotary], but mostly in its fan-cooled
variant, the Model 80C.

The Pope Centre Court [electric] and the Pope MK2 Motor
Mower were now living on borrowed time. At this time, the
'rotary revolution' was quickly becoming a juggernaut;
becoming Australia-wide. Powered side-wheels were
becoming far less viable. Their price made them more
expansive than the new rotaries!

The Pope MK2 is far-less-common when compared to
their MK1. The 'rotary revolution' was underway!

The following gallery reflects one auction model from 2013.