OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Restoring, Customising and Modifying Reel-Type Mowers SB 45 id plates

Evening all

What is the difference between the 45's that have a metal id plate and the ones that have a sticker ? sticker the later models ?

wce

Hello wce
Yes, stickers represent the last 45 models.
These were the 'orange-red' Rover models.

This is an interesting question you raise ...

Historically , the ID plate was a statement of pride in the manufactured good.
Some of these plates were incredibly elaborate, sometimes expensively cast.
They were also used as an identifier for spare parts acquisition.

Even agents of manufacturers added their own 'Agency Plates'!

The modern world of 'bean counter' owners were not really 'mower men'.
The sticker ID plate was a cheaper ID identifier now used extensively
in this post-modern world. clearly not as a statement of pride, but
born out of commercial necessity.

It is a reflection of the a World we live in.

It is ironic that an early SB slogan was "A Matter of Pride".

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Jack

Hi Jack

Thank's for the reply, I have seen 2 traditional green ( original paint ) 45's in the last week with the sticker instead of metal plates. must have been very close to the change over to rover.

Regards
wce

Hello wce
I think that would be right and I correct myself.
For a short period in the late 1970s it appears that
Challenge Corp did use stickers. Note the pride taken in its placement ...



The thing is that when Rover acquired SB in 1980,
the Rover 'green' models reverted back to ID plates
but of a poor quality ...



Later, when Rover adopted the new 'red' colour, we see
the return of the cheaper sticker...




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Jack

Hi Jack

The one I have doesn't have the holes for the metal id plate, at some point it was decided that there was no point in drilling holes for a deleted item.

Cheers
wce

Yep, those stickers were on models from about 78 to 80 when for some reason they moved away from the alloy stamped plates.

They briefly reverted to a green "Scott Bonnar Limited" branded alloy plate around 1980, which then changed to a "Rover-Scott Bonnar Ltd" plate (first green and then black and had a statement about noise compliance) when Rover bought the company in 1980.

Around 1984 or so they started making the Green Kermits and at some stage after that dropped the noise statement and inserted "155 Fison Ave Eagle Farm" at the bottom.

Then at some stage in the mid to late 80's it transitioned into the black "Rover-Scott Bonnar Ltd" plate Jack has shown with just Brisbane on it. That plate is on a 1992 Kermit.

They actually seemed to continue this final alloy plate onto the first Red Rovers, but then moved to the stickers as per the one shown by Jack on a later model Red Rover.

The plates and stickers can be the best way to date mowers these days considering many have had the original engines replaced.

Note that plate designs did not change with the coating or colour changes and seems to be independent. I suspect they only changed plate design when they ran out of stock or they were forced to change by the Rover aquisition in 1980.