OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Collectors Corner Identification of Particular Machines Scott Bonnar Query

Hi Guys,
having a clean out and in 2 minds about whether to keep an old retro looking Scott Bonnar. If its worth something might sell it as one piece or in parts. It says on the body 19 Model 47 and the engine number is 2018720. Its got a cast pull cord set up on the top and a round metal air cleaner. I will try and get a photo up next week but thought it worth asking now as if anyone knows about these things I am sure they are on here

I cant find a photo on the web anywhere of this model. It is a push mower not a reel mower.

Thanks

Rod

There isn't much here about SB rotary mowers Rod, but there was a thread not long ago that attracted a fair amount of discussion:
https://www.outdoorking-forum.com.au/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=35770

Most likely you will hear from the contributors to that thread about your mower, which sounds like a 19" Model 47. A picture would be appreciated: I'm not sure we've seen a Model 47 so far.

Is your pen name based on the Plymouth Belvedere that was popular in Australia in about 1959? Sharp looking car at the time, I even remember it.

Hi Grumpy, thanks for the reply and pictures below. Yes you are right on the name, I am restoring a 54 at the moment. The mower below is better looking than Bel presently but she will get there.

Thanks, I added a couple of rotated versions of your pics in the hope they will be easier to look at that way. The mower looks to be in remarkably fine condition to me, but let's see what the collectors say.

Thanks Grumpy

Hi Plymouthbel, and a warm welcome to the forum.
We all like to learn new things and tinker here and we're certainly doing that here with your Scott Bonnar Model 47. I have never laid eyes on one before.... on a good score there, mate! She is a rare one and in surprisingly good nick for it's age.

It has an original smooth-cast engine made by Scott Bonnar and looking at the small screw hole in the cowling and non-faded paint underneath, may have had the mysterious Wico/Wipac "Magister" originally fitted to it. It would be good to find out the original colour scheme it sported...perhaps it was similar to this Model 35 recently undergoing restoration by one of our members Mal (Bluegmhtmonaro)...Here is a pic...looks brilliant doesn't it!


Yours would make a great restoration.
Thanks for posting the pics for us and once again.... to OutdoorKing.

Hi Darryl, thanks for the reply and not finding anything anywhere on this one did get me the impression that they are not too common. With regard to the colour at this stage I am of the impression that its original as I cant find any other colour on it anywhere. It also has the old man look about it where it has been repaired with bits and pieces like wood to hold the height from the ground, the handle bar is off a later model and there is a bit of aluminium along one side of the base. The guy that did that to it wouldnt have painted it.
I did contact bluegmhtmonaro after seeing his post and he mentioned the 47 series in his thread. I almost took it to the tip

Having another close look at you pics...I see that the front alloy model plate is secured by what appears to be 2 rivets...
If these could be carefully tapped out from behind with a pin punch or suitable tool, (there should be 2 small holes in the underside of the base) there would be an original sample of the original paint underneath; that could be used for matching the original colour....and would aid in the restoration of the model plate, itself.
Having a good sample of paint to refer to is a real bonus on vintage machines.
Hoping this helps,

Ok mate will be back tomorrow with the results.

Hi Darryl,
You were right re the colour it was actually the same as the top. The original paint is still under the darker colour and it came off just using my fingernails (see name plate photo). Even the blades are in great condition and not a type I have seen at the mower shop. I took the plate off that had been screwed to the side and it would have been put there assuming that he lost the side cover and there was also a bit missing from the base at that point.

Well done mate, I thought that it was not the correct colour....is the original a solid colour or is it a hammertone finish?....It is hard to see in the pics.
You are very lucky to have the wheels and hubcaps in such good nick, the original fuel cap, and the recoil starter in place... are you considering restoring it? It would make an excellent project and come up a treat.
If all else failed....it would make a great coffee table like my Victa 18 Special!!

Hi Darryl,
When I first got it i liked the look of it and was going to tuck it away in the one day pile. A few weeks back I had a clean up and was going to take it to the tip but I guy came over to buy another old mower from me and suggested that I wreck it. I went looking on the web for details on it to do so and after finding nothing it became interesting. So here I am

Not sure what to do now. If we cant find anything about it anywhere and it is rare wrecking it isnt an option. I have my Plymouth to keep me busy playing presently so I guess its either going back in the one day pile or I sell it in one piece. Its a bit hard to put a price on it at the moment.

The paint is a solid colour.

Do you find it strange that I have the pull cord but the gold one has the winder? The gold one would be older than mine but I though that the winder was a later idea?

I agree, wrecking it would not be a good option...it is rare and collectable...but most probably to someone that is into and collecting Scott Bonnar rotaries....
But as one of our members (Sir Chook) said in a post today;
"Like all classic machines they are collectable. However collectable and valuable do not always go together. It really depends on the model, condition and what someone is willing to pay."
That is good advice, if your Model 47 is a 'Magister' magneto model and it was still attached to the machine...it would be valuable to a collector...just for the Magister alone, as they are very rare...

Re: the impulse starter versus the recoil...I cannot answer that....the impulse may have been an optional extra....I am led to believe that they sometimes were.

Love your work Darryl we did get a little sidetracked in here and my mower is still the only one in the world.

Hi Plymouthbel, the problem is that the Magister issue lies across 2 threads, Blumbly's SB Model 35 and your SB Model 47. Both machines have the Magister in common.

What we have decided to do (which will make for a good archive) is to create a new thread using posts from both the previous topics for just the Magister discussion. This will be contained in an engine forum as it falls into that category, as an ignition system. wink

This will make it easier for anyone researching the Magister, as being buried in 2 different lawnmower threads would make it harder to find.
The transfer has been completed.