OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Collectors Corner Rotary SUPA-SWIFT: Some Models

My SupaSwift You don't see many around, there is some other models on this forum but not this one that I could find
What I understand they started making mowers in 1955 but used other brands of engines
SupaSwift is still in business today and still Australian owned? If so that would make it more Australian than Victa
How many different models of SuaSwift are there and why do you see very few around the rally grounds
Ian

Hi Ian,

That is a very tough looking chassis design mate, and would make a fantastic restoration.
I couldn't find much info on that model....could you please post the model, type and code stamped onto the metal air cowling...that will at least give us the date of manufacture of the Briggs and approximate age of the machine.

Here's what I have found:

Nice looking mower,Ive never seen one like that before even has a cast iron bore biggs nice.....

The engine numbers
Been a bit slow getting to the mowers we have another one of those windy things of the coast again
Ian

Thanks Ian, for the reply.

Your engine is a 11 cu.in, vertical shaft with a Pulsa-Jet carby, plain bearings with a vertical pull starter, manufactured on the 6th September 1984....I can't tell you the plant, but it would have closed prior to 2011.

hi all here's a pic of my old superswift, engine is a villers torque major 140 deluxe, 4bhp , 142cc, two banga, mower still runs well and gives a nice cut, mower deck is alloy and very well made, these old girls were built to last not like the cheap tin decks on the mowers made today.
cheers damo

I like the handle it is different
Ian

Found some interesting paper work in my to many boxes
Ian

As usual Ian, you have come up with something that is of historical interest for our members and for the ODK archives...Well done mate!

Just acquired.



A nice machine. here it is.does anyone know what the catcher on this model would have been?

Catcher would have been the same as that shown on the Model 747V2 above.

Not sure what model yours is; it could be a later 747, or something like the storebrand MSAA Craftsman shown in this 1973 newspaper ad.

thanks gadge. it has galaxy gt on the front cowl. and i have seen those catchers around from time to time so will keep my eye out for one.cheers

Here is my old Supa-swift, don't know a lot about the mower, but it works well

shes a beaut

Here's another for the archives , same base as bunipper's but different donk,
apparently the one which was hard to sell.

Cheers
Al

Hi Al, and my on another brilliant restoration, mate!
I see that your machine has the ubiquitous Villiers Mk7F 'Torque-Master' 2 stroke engine fitted as also used on Pace machines; whereas Bunipper's machine has the 4 stroke Kirby Lauson (Tecumseh) engine that was coming into vogue at that time.

I really like to attention to detail on yours Al, and particularly the wheels ( with the whitewall effect) that you have chosen to use....a very nice job.

Hello ODK members,

Supa-Swift is very much an underrated and under-appreciated make.
I have been struggling to get quality information for years.
Here is my response to some issues:-

First, Ian -
- I understand they started making mowers in 1955 but used other brands of engines
- SupaSwift is still in business today and still Australian owned?
- How many different models of SupaSwift are there and why do you see very few around the rally grounds?

I cannot find any evidence that 1955 is the start date Ian.
My best guess at this time is late 1959.
The original model does not appear in this post.

The 'brand' does continue and the range is quite large.
I do not believe there is any real DNA heritage to the original Vulcan company.
In fact, I can't find any confirmation that Supa-Swift are made here at all.

The current owners, Allpower Industries, present as a distribution and marketing company.
They manage several brands, some sourced in Europe,Japan and China.

Allpower do present the Supa-Swift as "a truly Australian brand".
Yet there is no suggestion that this brand is still made here at all!
Of course they're not.

Ian has asked a very interesting question:
"why do you see very few around the rally grounds?"

I've asked that myself. They are certainly deserved to be.
These were quality machines. It may be that vintage mower collecting
is a very fickle thing: subject to the vagaries of fashion.

Dodegy has also said something thought provoking:
"these old girls were built to last not like the cheap tin decks on the mowers made today."

I have observed that too; but I have also noted that some
vintage mower bases have weathered better than others.

I may have found some sort of answer in early Supa-Swift advertising.
This may explain their durability and longevity. It was the
quality of casting and the emerging trend for skirted bases.



Bunniper's machine dates from the very early 1960s.
It is a deluxe base, and highly collectable (in my view) because it
has the catcher. There is a short period in history when side-catchers
were all in vogue and they were steel. Supa-Swift had this from 1959.

Alwil says:
"Here's another for the archives , same base as bunipper's but different donk,
apparently the one which was hard to sell."

Al is the master restorer. I don't know how he does it!
When I first saw his machine I was curious about the very unusual
carby manifold and carby placement.

Deejay correctly says this is:
"the ubiquitous Villiers Mk7F 'Torque-Master' 2 stroke."
It is original to Supa-Swift; though clearly not the standard Villiers spec.
I date this machine mid 1960s.

Supa-swift are important to vintage mower history.
They were one of the first to use 4-stroke engines on rotaries
[Briggs, Kirby, and Villiers (yes, Villiers!)] and they were one of
the first in introducing side-catchers. They also appreciated the
effect of larger wheel sizes on manoeuvrability.

All very super and ... swift.
-----------------------------------------
Jack

I had one very like Dodegy's. My father bought it new and ran it for about 20 years until just before he died in 1987. It had become unusable due to its old 2 stroke Villiers being just about impossible to start. I immediately took it over, replaced the magneto (the cause of the hard starting), fitted new rings and re-bushed the strange governor butterfly valve in the intake pipe, and it became a first-pull starter again, for 18 years. By then it had become hard to start again - the second-hand magneto I'd fitted in 1987 had given out. The only other work it had needed in those 18 years was a second-hand replacement spring for the impulse starter - I don't think I even replaced the sparkplug after the initial repair job in 1987. I hate 2 stroke mowers, so when the magneto failed I dumped it on the nature strip, still in pieces.

The Villiers engine was amazingly light and remarkably easy to start, but I find impulse starters very unpleasant to use. The thick aluminium base was completely free of damage or maintenance requirements through the machine's 38 years of regular use, but it was ridiculously heavy - I'd say the whole machine weighed as much as a Honda, despite a very much lighter engine. The rear catcher had no maintenance, but was not particularly effective by modern standards.

I acquired that machine in 1987 to replace a Kirby-Lauson engined store brand (perhaps H.G. Palmer?) mower which I had by then detested for about 15 years, after buying it second hand in a run-down condition, which I never remedied. The SupaSwift was a big improvement on the Kirby-Lauson, being far more powerful and having an at least somewhat-effective rear catcher, compared with the strictly ornamental nature of the store brand one. However two magneto coil failures in a mere 38 years is a pretty poor record in my opinion, and the stink and uneven running of the Villiers was pretty awful. I bought a 30 year old Briggs-Victa to replace the SupaSwift, and I wish I'd done it about 15 years sooner. That 1976 Victa Impala 4 was the first good mower I ever owned. I moved from that to a 1984 Honda, which was another big step up, and is still my favourite mower, though I've upgraded its cutting system, and I use a 2007 Honda HRU in winter because it can handle wet grass.

All that is quite possibly off-topic, but my point is that by the standards of the time (1960s) that SupaSwift-Villiers was quite a good mower in my opinion. By the standard of a good Briggs mower, its engine let it down, mainly due to it having a British magneto - but those good Briggs mowers didn't arrive until ten years later. A ten year life-span as a good mower by the standards of the time, is a pretty good record.

For sure, finding accurate information on the Supa-Swift brand history isn't at all easy. It's not made easier by the brand name having changed hands quite a few times over the years, either.

Despite Allpower's claims, I doubt that Vulcan was the original owner of the brand; probably just one of the succession of owner companies. They did own it in the late 1970's, going by ads for 'Vulcan Supa Swift' mowers that appeared then, but by the mid 1980's it had passed on to Jetfast Industries in Sydney [founded as Bragg Industries], later Jetfast Supa-Swift P/L. Supa Swift also distributed Greenfield ride-ons for a time [1970's on], co-branded with their name.

Allpower Industries has a bit of interesting history too. As their website says, it was founded in 1977 as Ariens Echo Australia, but there's more to the story. The founders were a group of former managers of Mobilco Limited, the previous importer of those brands among others, and also a manufacturer of farm equipment. Mobilco had been closed down after an 'asset stripper' got control of its parent company, Pizzey Limited, in 1976. The youngest of the ex-Mobilco crew, Keith Billing, ended up as sole owner of Allpower, and sold out to a 'private investor syndicate' in 2007. Reference - industry mag article

CyberJack is on the money about Allpower ceasing manufacture, but this seems to be a recent occurrence. Allpower's CEO from 2011-14 lists 'outsourced manufacturing to China' as one of his achievements in that role...

Quite so. Their ignition reliability issues led me to take to calling Villiers engines 'villainous', in my time in the family garden/farm machinery business in the 1970's.

Hi Gadge and ODK members,
Thanks for posting this concise information to the forum, it all adds to an interesting archive.
Trying to pin down manufacturing time-lines is made all the more difficult when there are so many mergers and changes in company ownership.
But Supa-Swift....all very enigmatic
Thanks again, Gadge.

Hi ODK members,

I never tire of Grumpy's anecdotes and considered observations.
"...two magneto coil failures in a mere 38 years" is outrageous.
This is a classic to-die-for Today Tonight story.

I couldn't agree with Deejay more, about the challenge in constructing
time lines for vintage mowers.

I especially thank Gadge for his research into this. I had no idea about the
Mobile Industries link.

I can't help but agree that the original manufacturers were not Vulcan.
It may be, though, that they introduced the Big Bob utility mowers in the '80s.

So far, this is what I have on the puzzling question: who first made Supa-Swift
mowers. I have already said that I believe their start date was 1959.

In 1959 advertisements I have, there is a sole Australian distributor:
H.C. Paul 106 Kent Road, Pasco Vale. No mention of the manufacturer!

In 1960 advertisements in Vic, the manufacturer is listed as Swift Motor Mowers,
with the Victorian Distributor being Hynes Bros. Fireplaces Pty. Ltd. of
491 Nicholson St., Carlton. Telephone 34 2643.

In an early brochure (copy) I have 1959 or 1960), the manufacturer is listed as
Swift Motor Mowers, 270 Broadway, Reservoir, Tel. JM1164.

In an early 1960�s maintenance guide (p24) there is a very interesting list
of mower manufacturers. One is Swift Foundries Pty. Ltd., 50 Carween Avenue, Mitcham, VIC.
[I reproduce that page below].

In a 1966-67 original brochure I have for the range, there is no manufacturer listed,
nor any contact details!

In 1971 advertisements I have, the manufacturer is listed as
Super Swift Mowers Pty. Ltd.
Head Office: 32 Radford Road, Reservoir, Vic. 3073 Tel. 460 2122.

A NSW Branch: 25 Major�s Bay Road, Concord, NSW 2137, Tel. 73 5360, 73 5357.
Interstate Representatives:- Brisbane: Tel. 53277; Adelaide: Tel. 376477;
Mt. Gambier: Tel. 2 3643.

By the late 1970�s, advertisements are listed as Vulcan Superswift,
but with no manufacturer's address.

So ... all we can do, I guess, is keep finding pieces of the puzzle.
In the amazing list below I have identified all in the left column
except for three: J. Bartram, K.B.C. Limited and Swift Foundries.

Thanks all for an enjoyable post topic.
All very interesting.
----------------------------------------
JACK

I'd say you're dead right there. Every 'first-generation' Big Bob I've seen has been branded 'Vulcan'. Like IanOZ's in this thread

'First generation' here is just my description of the handle bracket construction, that had successive modifications in the 1980s. As illustrated in that other thread. It's about the only visible design change on the Big Bobs!

just been told my supa swift should have a windup starter, so I have found the parts and will fit a new starter setup , thanks dodegy for the help with this.
I will post new picture when I have it completed
cheers
chris

Hi Bunipper,

That's right.
If you want it totally original, the Kirby would have had an impulse wind-up starter,
not the later trip-release lever one. Housing (12) in the illustration.
I believe the starter cups for each type are different as well.



Cheers,

JACK

thanks for your imput jack. I assume that an impulse starter you wing and close the handle to start the mower, I will print your diagrams and check it

thanks again, I will post picture when I get the starter

cheers chris

Hi Chris and ODK members,

Yes, That's right.
There was no lever to release.

p.s. These impulse starters were very reliable but were replaced by
the trip lever design after just a couple of seasons.

The anecdotal evidence is that this was because there was a safety concern that
a repairer of the starter would not read the spring casing's instructions -
that the spring should NOT be removed from its casing.

The new trip lever design was repair-friendly; in that the spring could be
safely removed from its alloy enclosure for replacement.

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

THANKS FOR THE INFORMATION

CHEERS

CHRIS

Correct, there is a fixed pin in the upper part of the winder handle, that trips the starter when the handle is closed. It was always confusing that this pin was never shown in the Victa parts diagrams, but the corresponding hole in the lower section is.
Might be more to it than that, though. The first-generation impulse starter spring came in a pressed sheet metal casing, and was installed and removed as an assembly. This was a single-wound spring. For sure, if the spring came out of the casing, forget about getting it back in without special equipment!

The second generation, with the trip lever, used a 'double-wound' spring like that shown [pic pinched from EBay],



This spring is much heavier gauge than the first-gen one, and it winds up as two layers. Thus more turns of preload ['windup' if you like] can be applied, compared to a single-wound spring in the same diameter space.

So I'd expect it to achieve a higher initial cranking speed. This is the critical factor in getting the engine to fire [assuming all is well on the fuel side], and the critical minimum speed is higher on the breaker points ignitions of that day, than it is on modern solid state electronic systems.

I have got a mower that's a supa swift base , as per the ones in the photos, but with no name "supa swift " on it. anyone have any info why and what it is. I am doing up a supa swift with a Villiers motor as per the al 's mower. the bases are quite retro looking and look even better with the Villiers engine.

Hi Bunniper and ODK members,

Yes, I have come across that before.

The answer is that Supa-Swift did make Store Brand mowers for other clients.
Your machine would have been made for a large Department Store or other retailer in VIC.

Any photos for the record would be most welcome mate.

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

heres another supa swift ive never seen before .its on ebay now. too far away from me or i would have bid on it.

Hello Gizmo,

Yes, this is the 18" Vac-Ro-Cut, the first Supa-Swift lawnmmower.
It would be later named the Supa-Swift Standard.
This is one of the earliest manufacturers to offer a grass catcher.

I note the highly modified fuel tank (the original being part of the engine.

I have records on these from mid 1959 to 1961.



Hope this helps.
------------------------------
JACK.

awesome CyberJack. there is just something about the level of detail the old designs have that appeal to me greatly.same with old cars too.

Yep, I feel the same way mate.

By the way
That model Supa-Swift appears on a roof in this story...
https://www.outdoorking-forum.com.au/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=59153#Post59153

Cheers
----------------------
JACK.

i purchased the mower a few weeks ago, just need to find a tank, go 8 supa swifts now, another project. its a real cool retro looking mover, decks in good condition,

cheers chris

Hello Chris

That's great news that you pulled a Swifty.
It means another one is saved.

I agree, the first model was the nicest looking - in my view.
That 'auto grill' front really seals the deal.

The tank should not be a problem - Villiers 7Fs regularly appear for sale.

All very super.
------------------------------
JACK.

when I get a chance I will document the supa swifts that I have collected. heres another one. ????. once you start collecting and have a few, they just keep turning up. counld not help my self
cheers chris

i'm impressed gadge with your recount of the Mobilco / Ariens Echo story, most accurate i've read, most are pretty far off the mark. When they moved into Middleborough Rd, they where still putting together SupaSwifts in the back shed.

Ahhhh that's where the Super swift went, good to see it go to a Member:)

I had a mint base, and always wanted to own one, the base is damaged and I need another tank, so I will keep my eyes open and restore it one day

I'm relying almost entirely on memory, but from first-hand knowledge of the events and personalities involved, at the time it all occurred. Not from latter-day research - there is much of the story that was never documented.

So I think that ODK is an appropriate place to do that documentation. Even though it's been piecemeal so far, CyberJack and I will likely try to draw the pieces into a more coherent article/thread, at some point.

We ex-Mobilco dealers used to curse the name of Mr A.Y. Zion, the architect of Mobilco's demise, but I've come to realise that he was very much a man of his time, and just a part of the adjustments that Australia had to make.

That is, in transitioning into the real world of global competition, after decades of over-protection behind high tariff barriers.

you may be right Gadge, i was to young to really understand what happened, but your right about the distain the name Mr Zion brought from Dad and his colleges.....the thing that ticks me off most i've read about what happened is the idea that Mobilco was going bad at the time, and would not had servived if he hadn't stepped in. i don't know what your take on that is mate?

Glad to see my original post the FIRST ONE is still going over 11,000 views now
Ian

Mobilco wasn't going bad at all, as a company!

In fact it was the star of the Pizzey Limited empire, I believe, in terms of return on investment [aka ROI], and profits.

The other Pizzey operations - some listed in an old post of mine HERE - were another story; in particular some import/distribution businesses that the Pizzey family had started up.

This was in a desperate attempt to diversify their business risks, after the import tariff barriers were dropped, by the Whitlam Government in the early 1970's.

Mr Zion did make a decent try to keep the Group running, and then to facilitate a management buyout of Mobilco, before selling it all up, I think. But the Mobilco managers couldn't get the financial backing for a buyout - the value of the Mobilco head office and branch property holdings may have had a big influence there.

I do know for a fact, that Tom Burke, the Mobilco Shepparton Branch Manager [and one of the Ariens Echo Aust foundation partners], did buy the Shepparton Branch premises. He leased it out for some years afterwards, and sold it on eventually.

SupaSwift are one of the truly iconic Australian manufacturers, I reckon. So we should document what we can, while we can!

Tom did an amazing job of transforming Creeks old building in Middleborough Rd into the new home of Ariens Echo back in the 80's , then he ran Valpadana and Graverly from the back shed, i think he may have even have bought those to brands as well.

I used to see him reguarly at field days with his Australian Tractors buisness ,

Yep, Tom was a very good businessman indeed. As well as a very nice bloke; truly one of 'Nature's gentlemen'.

We went to the auction, when the Mobilco Shepparton Branch equipment was sold up.
Bought a couple of major workshop items that I can remember; a chainsaw bar reconditioning grinder [which could dress the rails and recut the groove], and an Andersen oil-fired steam cleaner. I think we may have bought a 'Demon' oil-fired workshop heater, too. That was great to have in our 'tin shed' workshop - we'd set it up under a ceiling fan, to blow the warm air downwards!

I ended up with the steam cleaner after the family business was sold, and kept it for quite a few years. Eventually sold it off in 1992, when I took up a job that would involve 'working away' for as long as it lasted, which turned out to be two and a half years. It was a very well built unit, and did a great job on shifting crud from filthy motors and farm machines.

I seem to be getting a large collection of the supa swifts, I will photograph them, I am going to do a couple of restos as well.
cheers
chris

If your collecting them, i'll keep an eye to the ground for you, they often turn up on nature strips around here.

cool, I like what I like and there a cool mower
thanks
chris

hi all having not seen the supaswift thread move for a while thought I might add my supaswift edger , if its not meant to be here please just move it to the edger section , I just thought supaswift collectors might be intrested.
it seems well made has a cast alloy blade cover and leaver behind motor puts the edger at quite a tilt





thanks all damo

Hello Damo,

I've never seen a SupaSwift edger before.
It looks very solid. I'm guessing late 1980s?

-----------------------------------
JACK

I've had this one for a little while. Was umming and ahhring about whether or not to gt it going. I have always found side discharge mowers hard to sell on in the city so thought I may use the engine for something and scrap the base. Saw this thread the other day and it inspired me to have a play with it and WOW! what a solid machine! Once I got it running it just PLOWED through the pig weed I have in the back. did the whole back and front yard in less than half the time it usually takes (A shame since I was going to test the keystart commando today too) but I just couldn't stop! Runs so smooth too. It runs as smooth as a 4 stroke honda but that lovely high pitch sound you only get with a 2 stroke.

It apparently has always been hard to start and hasn't run in years ... WELL new fuel in the tank (50:1), new spark plug and remove the air filter (REALLY badly clogged up) and way she went! I tried to clean up the filter but it just disintegrated in my hands soooo now I need to find where I can get a filter for it OR it looks like a honda gxv120 filter housing may actually bolt up to the carby pretty easily (Look a bit odd though).

Now I think I may just keep this little wonder boy for myself. Sounds awesome going through the rev ranges. It is the most responsive throttle I've ever seen on a mower. It's like revving a motor bike!

hi jack yes the edger is a good solid machine 80s is my guess too for year of manufacture will have to check engine cover stamp date.

Ihatewetsocks that mower sure looks like a beast , maybe a big Tecumseh 4hp two stroke engine.
its amazing that with some tlc a old mower that's already done a lot of work can be made to run as good as new again well done

cheers all damo

The mower has a Yamaha engine, the same as this one:

https://www.outdoorking-forum.com.au/forum/u...p;Words=yamaha&Search=true#Post11309


Here is some detail on a similar Yamaha, the MT110 (it may be the same engine, though the top of the cowl looks slightly different):

https://www.outdoorking-forum.com.au/forum/u...p;Words=yamaha&Search=true#Post61173

Dug out a mower today to give a run and thought I would add some pics , I believe its a supaswift going by the frame wheels ect but the

deck is named tudor .
I know its been re engined at some time in its life, and am not sure what the original motor would have been , I have a couple of kirbys that I,m going to do up and think would be a good match for it and may have been fitted when new.


It has a unusual catcher , colour is sun faded now but I think would have been a brighter pink .
its a well made mower built to last
damo

that is one awesome looking catcher on that machine.seems to have the same way of attaching to the mower as all the supa swifts catchers ive seen?
i still havent managed to find a suitable catcher for mine. before i got it a had seen quite a few of them. if i only i had known at that time i would get one without a catcher i could have saved myself some grief.
i do like how the supa swifts stand or pose or whatever youd call it .they are strongly built and impressive looking.
i wonder if the pink catcher was supposed to be a lure for the ladies ,like the victa purple and coloured vc series.

He Dodegy, Gizmo and All

Yep, these are not common at all.
The catcher does look like it was designed by a space cadet, like the
incredible ones from Turner. I might add, these were made by Nylex Plastics.

The Tudor was the entry-level Supa-Swift - the economy model.
p.s. I wonder if the Briggs is a re-power? It seems odd that so many
colours would be used on a new model - though not impossible...

-----------------------------
JACK

hi jack gizmo and odk members
thanks for the comments, jack the reason I think it has been re-engined is that it has 9/16 nuts as spaces on the mounting bolts between deck and motor, and the engine is slightly off-set , the spark plug is not exactly dead ahead ????.
amazing this is the economy model when compared with todays economy models , bunnings 16inch sprinter briggs motor , lawn beetle ect , theirs no comparison.
maybe my Kirby motors are a bit to old for her, I have a later model Kirby with the plastic tank I could use , may be I should just leave it with the briggs as it runs like a clock , jack thanks for posting the supaswift add .
damo

Is this any use to you gizmo?

HI DAMO

WHAT A COOL EDGER, SO WELL MADE MATE. MUST KEEP MY EYES OPEN FOR ONE.

THANKS FOR THE PICTURES MATE

CHEERS

CHRIS

Thought I'd pop in and share this one with the thread

thanks Lennyb
finally someone has the same model as me.
and i did just recently acquire an identical catcher as per your pic.
saves me having to dig my mower out of the shed to test it for fit.now i know its the correct one.
cheers

I know the post is getting a bit old but here's my Supa Swift edger � cousin of Dodgey's one I think

Paint is still mint, I've a video of it running on my YouTube channel.

.......heres my recently acquired Supa Swift edger... i need check the motor number but I'm guessing newer than yours Geoff and that blade!

So SS had their own disco purple mower. I wonder if it was in response to Victa's VC Sportz?

G'day Mowerfreak
I think ... highly likely.
The disco 1970's encouraged vibrant colours ... flairs.

This was the finale decade in exciting rotary lawnmower design.


Maybe not ... the '80s was the last hurrah with Victa, who still
produced exciting lawnmowers the mid-eighties.

After this ... oh well ...

--------------------------
Jack

Hiiii CyberJack.
It's a shame no one had GM technology to develop purple buffalo grass and the resultant disco purple clippings.
I'm surprised if Rover didn't release a purple base with sky blue 3.5hp B&S vertical start. Just imagine the female attention that would bring.

Hi Mowerfreak
It's an interesting question - about 1970s mower colours.

I would have to say Rover was quite conservative, but Victa and
Supa-Swift certainly got the mirror ball above the dance floor.

Cheers
--------------------------
Jack

Hey Cyber-boogie-Jack,
John Travolta may not have felt the need to escape to the dance floor if the hardware store of his vocation sold mirror ball purple Victa and Super Swift machines would he!!

They don't make them like they use to, which is very sad. I've got a near new SupaSwift mower sitting in the shed if anyone wants it? Going cheap. One problem with it (and one problem only): The belt keeps running off. No matter what you do or how many times you replace it, go three rounds of your front lawn and without fail the belt runs off.

VM, have you thought about making up a guide to keep the belt from running off?

Hi Norm, I tried that. It still seems to find a way to jump off. The little plastic jockey pulley is too weak for the task and warps as soon as the belt comes under tension. A mate of mine reckoned he could fix it by putting a cast pulley on it the same size as the plastic one. When I took the mower to him, and he saw the tiny space into which the pulley fits, he was suddenly no longer interested.

Hi all SupaSwift and Pope interested people.

I have now added this SS Pope to my collection.

Cheers
Max.

G;day Max
I think you first raised evidence for Supa-Swift Popes.

It now appears that when Simpson-Pope ceased production
of lawnmowers in the mid-1970s, they entered some agreement with Supa-Swift
to brand Supa-Swift machines as Popes.

Your machine must be quite rare: given that Supa-Swift would, itself,
fall into new hands.

So much is unclear about this.

Cheers
-------------------------
Jack

p.s. I have just posted this brochure that may date the Pope-SS ...
https://www.outdoorking-forum.com.au/forum/u...supa-swift-brochure-c1975.html#Post93134

Gidday Jack
Yes I found an ad for a SupaSwift Pope (1974) but had not seen any surviving mowers.

The brochure you have Jack I would date , 1970-1971. I have looked at that brochure many times, thanks for
uploading better quality images of that document.( I'm sure you have seen the date on the document
before and forgot it was there, it's in the right hand top text.)

Cheers
Max.

Hi Max
What was I thinking?

Many thanks for the correction!

Today I found another piece of the puzzle ...

Cheers
Jack

Gidday Jack
Many thanks for finding that news article 1974.

The news article confirms your point,
not many SS Pope mowers were made because Simpson-Pope ceased production
of lawnmowers in the mid-1970s ,quite rare.

A few more SS mowers for the records.

Cheers
Max.

G'day Max

Many thanks for the gallery records.
I think you were the first to record the Jensen and Morwell machines.
I had never heard of them.

There is so much we are not likely to know about Swift foundries.

There are some things I don't get.
It's more likely Pope acquired the Swift foundry for other manufacturing purposes -
not necessarily the manufacture of lawnmowers.

That Pope decal on the Supa-Swift presents as a rushed job.
The Pope-SS's must be rare.

Great research Max!

Cheers
------------------------
Jack

Gidday Jack

Your information about Pope taking over SupaSwift would mean Pope started with an alloy base mower
and ended production with a Pope alloy base.

This ad for SupaSwift in September 1974 makes more sense now because it advertises SupaSwift and Pope together.

I was hoping the Pope name on the base would be a casting instead of a decal.

With the Vulcan SupaSwift the name is cast on the base.

I have yet to see a surviving Whirlwind SupaSwift , the model with the rear catcher,this advert below is from vintagemowers.net.

Another one for the records is this first model Vulcan SupaSwift (first model Big Bob early 1960 s)
it's mostly still in one piece.

Cheers
Max.

Hi Max

Yes, your brochure image makes a lot more sense now.

I would like to draw your attention to the other company Pope
took over at the time and mentioned in the Jan 1974 report ...
The Lawrence Group of garden hardware makers.

I wonder if this was Lawrence Brothers of Sydney ...?

Note the Lawrence Super 4 - a sort of Supa-Swift side throw with
a Pope catcher - a bit like the final Lawn Patrol.

https://www.outdoorking-forum.com.au/forum/u...oundy-lawn-patrol-final-model-c1961.html

Cheers
Jack

Gidday Jack

Possibly there is a connection between the Lawrence Group of garden hardware makers and the Lawrence Brothers.
I have not seen any detailed information about them or the Swift Brothers.

The Lawrence Super 4 looks like the same base casting as the last Lawn Patrol.

It looks more than likely the Swift Foundry made Lawn Patrol bases.

I was just trying to find out what BMS stood for with Lawn Patrol, I think
it 's Boundy Manufacturing Systems.

Regards
Max.

Hi Max

Yep, that's my thinking too!
Max, I have an answer to that - from Robin Boundy.
He said this in early 2018:-

I would like to add some information regarding the Boundy mower forum, firstly Jack
(Francis John) Boundy passed away Jan 3rd 1995 not in the 60's. BMS stood for
Boundy Mower Series by memory and the name Lawn Patrol was taken from his
time as a fighter pilot on the Dawn Patrol.

That story has more to tell.

Cheers
Jack

Gidday Jack

Thanks for the interesting information about Boundy Mower Series and Lawn Patrol.

Cheers
Max.

Another low arch, rear discharge, SS with catcher.

Cheers
Max.

G'day Max

I wonder what your thoughts are on whether this is Supa-Swifts
first rear catcher model?

Note the gate lever that is lifted upwards in conjunction with the
height lever to change height adjustment.

Yes, the ad (below) advertises 10 positions.
Your image shows six?

My thinking is that the the first SS rear catcher was as per
your image. A fantastic find!

Also, this makes me thing SS rear catchers were introduced in late 1964,
for the 1965 season [or even earlier]. This is speculation.

Cheers
-------------------------
Jack