OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Restoring, Customising and Modifying Other Walk-Behind Rotary Mowers Turner Super

Getting there..

No fair,I dont have shiny new wheels,how can I compete . Hurry up Grandma,Im nearly done..lols
Looking sweet Mate...

Hi Chris125 and ODK members,

These are great record shots of your project.
For me, this is a chance to study this superb design.
I think I appreciate Turner more, thanks to your detailed restoration.

This is not Australia's first high-arch rotary mower, but
it would be second. However, this is the design that others took note of, and
would influence future rear-catcher rotary designs.

NOTE: how the safety flap would close when the catcher was removed...
Turner should be remembered for their safety initiatives.

I know Administrator Deejay will be salivating over those wheel scrapers

All very exciting.
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JACK.

Hurry up Grandma give me a break I got side tracked by a rotary valve Pope, full throttle on that thing is scary! lol

I agree Jack its a well made and thought out machine for its day, and that would be about 48+ years ago it's creation took place..

There is one thing I'm not a fan of and that be no bushes on the axles?, good thing this mower has done bugger all work..

Say wha? You actually touched a Pope? Lols,You are a brave boy!
Yeah my axle set up is identical,same flat bracket over the axle and no bushes,but it works fine. Base plate and blades look Identical to.
Now get your hands of that Dirty Pope,and finish of this fine machine,Frankenturner wants to play...Mwaaahaahaaa*.

Its hard to see,but the catch line reads...New Jet Age Styling" This is actually a long range fighter mower Chris! Who'd have thought....

There appears to be four models in your series,
Standard
Super
Valiant
And Utility,which still retains its basic early form(same base as mine)

Another item that may be of interest is a few ads showing the soon to be released SP62 MODEL. Although it seems unclear if it was actually released. This mower is an earlier model than yours(same as my F62)it may be one to keep your eye out for as im sure youd love it:)

Hi Chris125, Blue and ODK members

Blue, nice find with the advertisement.
Yes, the full slogan was, "jet age styling - high powered performance"

This machine was released just years before the Moon landing,
during the 'Space Race'. Manufactures reflected this in names and styling.
[remember that Hoover vacuum that looked like Sputnik?]

Chris, That's a good point about no axle bushes - I did not know that.
Again, a great photo of the safety skirt.

Here is a brochure for the range dated from, I think, 1967.
[Mal's ad. must date from late 1965 or early 1966, on the cusp of currency decimalisation.]

TURNER BROCHURE

All very space-age.
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JACK.

Yes Jack the ad is late 66 and shows the Valiant...
The Valiant must have carried over to 67 with the indroduction of Sapphire and Coronet" As they feature in quite a few sales ads for 67. The Deluxe" Name appears to have been used from 62 up until 67 at least,as per your brochure.

Agreed on the space theme as it was especially common for childrens toys from the late 50's right through to the Moon landings.

Im currently restoring a Cyclops Jupiter Rocket Dinkie from 1959 and it was based solely on the Jupiter Rocket theme.

A very rare toy and the most prized piece in my Cyclops collection. Very few remain,One is in the Powerhouse another in the national museum and only a handfull in private collections.

Anyway thats for another forum,but highlights your point on the space theme over these years.

Cheers for the link to Jack. It's a nice clear piece and an important part of the slowly growing Turner threads.

Hi Blue and ODK members,

Yes, this Turner thing is becoming a monster
I'm almost ready to say something sensible on the first Turner in the History forums.

I have reluctantly come to appreciate Turner's contribution to history,
in terms of design, but most importantly, their contribution to safety.
I have come to even ... like them.

Yes, the Valiant.
Turner's foray into rear catcher Machines was with the D64 Conquest.
Their best machine, in my view, was the 1965 high arch 'Valiant'.
From what I can gather, Chris's Super is a Valiant, perhaps a "Valiant Super".
p.s. I thing 'Deluxe' just means the 19" version of its equivalent.

Here is a time-frame of Turner Developments:
1959 - 4M released, followed by 2M & 2A
1960 - 5 Four stroke models released
1961 - 3 Four Stroke models released.
1962 - 4 Four stroke models released including the SP30 Self Propelled
1963 - rear catcher mower - the Conquest - introduced.
1965/66 - 11 models released including the Turner-Morrison Reel mowers.
This was also the year that the first plastic (polythene) grass catcher was introduced.
1967 � 11 models with minor changes ( this continued till the close of manufacture)
1968 � Turner selling under licence the TORO USA range including the TORO 21� Reel mower.

Mal, I envy that you have a Cyclops collection. That's an expensive hobby...
Tinware toys are just so interesting from this era.
And remember, the 'Cyclops', too, was a monster!

I think we're lucky in having Chris's great restoration-in-progress.
In my view, it is the most significant Turner design.

All vary Valiant.
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JACK

Chris, I disagree with you about the rigid front axle mounting being a bad thing. The wear that happens to the base around the front axle, is caused by the spring clips that hold the axle in place. There is pretty much no wear on the frame around the rear axles, because they have a rigid mounting, like the Turner front axle. The plastic bush is not chopped out by rotary movement of the front axle, it is chopped out by vertical movement. Get rid of the vertical movement, and you don't need or want a plastic bush. Use a rigid U bracket, and there is no vertical movement. It costs more than a spring clip, but it is way better.

Your Info is Spot on Jack...

Im also,dare I say it..Starting to find them interesting.

Agreed the Deluxe is the 19 inch Version.

Unsure on the Super as it has the least references,but is possible.

What I did notice was A woolworths advert showing this,so possibly it had an alt name for sale in there stores.

Also in the same year as Chris's mower
seemingly 65", there is reference to the
New Tornado which also appears similar if not the same.

The time/model line at least is becoming easier to decifer and accurate as youve stated. Actually slightly easier to determine than the model 4/5 victa was.

Im really interested in the SP 62, I just havnt found any info yet,so im hoping it actually made production. An example would be great.

Thanks jack,your contributions are valuable and make our restoration process easier....


And im going with the Grumpster on the axles...Mine have zero wear on the axle,retainer and base arch...considering the base/axle arch is load bearing and unbushed,is pretty impressive that it hasnt chewed it out.

On the other hand My wheel axles also have no wear and this is due to the full length one piece bush. NO more groves and uneven wear from spit bushes. So a plus for both
when used in different areas.

Hi Mal and ODK members,

Yes, the Self-propelled did make it into production as the SP62 & SP64.
I have been told that there was only tinkering with the designs after 1965.

I also now know the GEB kirby engines lasted to 1963, and were sold alongside the
VKs that were introduced in 1960.

Note the unusual engine mount bolt in the front centre of the SP.
The cable for the stater trip release was novel, and introduced on the
SP64 Conquest in late 1963. The conquest was medium-arch, the Valiant, high-arch.
These were thoughtful designs.

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

Stop dragging the chain Blue I'm about done! well almost lol...few pics

That air filter housing - it would be correct for a 1970's Pope, but I'm not so sure about a Turner.

Pope pic in this past thread - Pope used both black and orange versions.

I was thinking the same thing Gadge as there is more than one mounting hole on the handlebars for the filter box..Does anyone have a pic of a turner airbox I may have one??...

Fantastic Brochure Jack....

Im assuming this is the SP 62 As it has the same cowl as mine and the only one of its type listed on the models chart.

This is a huge help in filling in a few gaps like cowl and cap simply due to its clarity.

I really wish now the parts for mine were obtainable,but unfortunately they are just to rare.

Chris im in awe mate! I wouldnt have given this a second look,but with the condition of your parts(most being in excellent cond) and your restoration skills,this is now one of the best restorations of any mower ive seen on or off this forum! That catcher is all but mint.

A credit to ODK mate...Fantastic! As is the contributions from Jack.

This has evolved from a company just a few weeks ago,we new very little off and is fast turning into an accurate account of Turner models dates and history...very impressive indeed.

Be great to see some more enthusiasts with these models tucked away due to lack of info...

Im right behind ya Chris...Just waiting for the paint to dry lols.

As for accuracy,I cant find anything out of place...throttle control is correct and filter seems accurate as per diagram,although its white. Ill check further and maybee jack knows,but if it is wrong,its damn close to the image. I would however have expected to see black or white...

Damn im never this nice! Whats come over me? I guess I recognise fine workmanship....but shhhhhh dont tell chris,his head will explode! Lols

Hi Blue, Chris, Gadge and ODK members,

Mal, I guess you're right - it's an SP62 in the brochure.
The '62' is not the release date though, that occurred in late 1963.
It's an interesting machine though.

Gadge is clearly right about the filter housing. That is a Pope one, even with 'Pope orange'.
I don't know what the right one exactly look like. The only clue is Mal's photo from the
State Library of Victoria, and that isn't from a Villiers:-



I guess this shows, as Mal has said, how much we don't know about Turner.
What is becoming more clear, though, is that these are interesting machines.

All very interesting.
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JACK.