OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums The History Forum Model Histories ENGINES VILLIERS - Lawnmower Makes - Late 1950s

Hello ODK History Lovers

By the late 1950s, the great company Villiers was claiming that 8 out of every 10
Australian lawnmower manufacturers were using their engines.

Whilst I do not dispute that, the reality is that Villiers� market share of the lawnmower market was in decline.
Victa, Boundy, and Pope all had their own engine designs. New engine manufacturers like Hurricane and
Southern Cross would also make an impact.

The biggest impact, however, would come from the Americans, with Kirby-Tecumseh, Briggs & Stratton, and
Clinton engines entering the rotary lawnmower market in a serious way from the 1960s.

For the record, I want to include an example of a Villiers advertisement from 1959 (see Part Two).
In that ad., they list their major Australian makes (or models) using Villiers lawnmower engines:-



This is an extensive list, but the bold statistic of �8 out of every 10 Motor Mower Manufacturers Choose Villiers Engines�
is a bit provocative in that some of these manufacturers did not use Villiers exclusively, and some of
these manufacturers were quite small companies.

TO BE CONTINUED �

PART TWO � Typical Advertisement - 1959

Here is a typical advertisement, taken from the Sydney Morning Herald, 8 November, 1959.
I have also included an enlarged detail from that advertisement.

The ODK History Forum needs help on some of the mower makes listed in the Villiers' Advertisement.
I need any information, but particularly info. relating to Malvin, Kit, Wasp, Speedwell and Meadowbank.

Any information would be most welcome.

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