OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums The History Forum Model Histories AUSTRALIAN Reel Hand-Mowers OGDEN - Hand Push Mowers: 1949 Onwards

Hello ODK members,

Context:
Australia has a long, varied and interesting history of manual sidewheel mower manufacture. The great Aussie brands
of Clyde, and Crowe, and Presto, and Rexmow, and the like all deserve recording and recognition.

In the early 20th Century it was American machines that dominated the Australian market. The British Qualcast changed
all that with their setting up shop here in 1931. It's probably that single event that encouraged a new dynasty
of Australian manufacturers. The American stranglehold ended.

Post WWII saw two new Aussie kids were on the block. Both were produced by large companies and both started their
respective mower operations in the same year - 1949. They were Ogden and Pope. For the
whole of the 1950s the TOP THREE players were Ogden, Pope and Qualcast.

Ogden attempted to become a force in the emerging power mower era of the 1950s, introducing
their Motor Mower (Motamatic) (power version of reel mower) and the Rotamatic, their rotary mower.

OGDEN Models:
The Model A was introduced in 1949. Six blade, 14 inch.
The Model B superseded the Model A in 1951. It was the longest running model.
The Model C (rare) was the 16" version of the Model B.

THE MODEL A - Detail
The Model A only lasted a couple of years in production: 1949-1951
It is identified by a central, single point adjustment for reel and bottom blade.



[I think there were inherent defects in that system]

THE MODEL B - Detail
The Model B is the consummate Ogden and pretty much on par with the 5-blade Pope Wimbledons
of the era. They were well-speced: rubber tyres, ball bearings, light alloy wheels.
They had an improved blade adj. and spring pawl mechanism.

By the 1970s the Model B was marketed as the Ogden Classic.


All very interesting.
-------------------------------------
JACK

BROCHURE

MODEL A - Restoration by IanOz

INSTRUCTION SHEET & ENVELOPE

In 2018 I acquired a rare Ogden Model A brochure in mint condition.
This augments the Model B brochure above.

The main difference between the Model A and Model B was the reel/bottom
block set mechanism. The Model A had a single set adjuster acting from the
centre of the machine (via a turn wheel). This was never a good design given
bottom blade flexing in the field. Traditional designs had used two adjusting
points - at each end of the reel - for a more accurate set. The Model B
would recognise this.

Scanning the Ogden Model A brochure was problematic in that this was no
pocket brochure; but a slightly larger than A3 size one, presented in a
quarter fold-out design.

Pending ...


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