OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums The History Forum Model Histories UK & EUROPEAN Power Reel Models RANSOMES - Minor MarK 7 - c1956

Hello ODK History Lovers

The Ransomes Minor Mark 7 was a reel mower manufactured by the famous firm Ransomes, Simms & Jefferies
from about late 1956. The Ransomes Minor MK 7 is an important machine in that its design DNA lingers
in many reel mowers made around the world today.

The great New Zealand firm, Morrison, would build their licensed version as their own Morrison Olympic
in the early 1960s, and they would re-sell (and export) the design as a knock-down kit, or re-badged it, to become
the Australian Victa Imperials or the Turner-Morrisons. Masport, who bought Morrison, would successfully
market the design world-wide. Have a close look at the current Atco range some time ...

In the meantime ...



TO BE CONTINUED ...

PART TWO - CONTEXT

The Mark 7 continued the tradition of the revolutionary Mark 6 (c1951) but with one major exception.
The Mark 6 popularised the idea that modern reel lawnmowers should be lighter, have a lower centre
of gravity, and be easier to operate.

To this end, the Mark 6 introduced the centrifugal clutch that made the lawnmower be managed by
only one control - the throttle. This 'fully automatic' approach was used to maximum advantage in
advertising, expounding the idea that even children could use this wonder, post-war machine, as we
entered the modern age, and the 'automatic' period of mower design.

The biggest selling feature of the Mark 6 turned out to be its most significant drawback:
'one control'. Because there was no separate land-roll clutch, these machines could not be manoeuvred
around tight or demanding gardens. They lacked delicacy in that they behaved like 'on-off' switches
and were not so easy-peasy for the kiddies after all!

The Mark 7 introduced the separate land-roll clutch that permitted separate control of the
self-propelling of the machine. This connected 'Dual Clutch System' would influence future
residential reel mower designs. Scott Bonnar engineers, for example, would have taken a very close look!



TO BE CONTINUED ...

PART THREE - Specification

The Mk 7 was offered in 14 inch and 18 inch variants, with the 14 being by far the most common.
It was a top-end lawnmower commanding a price way above rotaries and way above most residential reel
lawnmowers. It was quality; but it was expensive.

It was powered by the venerable but ageing Mk 4 Midget air-cooled Villiers engine.
Like the Mk 6, the engine was positioned with the cylinder at about 30 degrees, lowered the centre
of gravity, and giving the machine a more modern look.

The big feature (other than the land-roll clutch) was the kick starter. This was 'in vogue'
at the time and we see it on a number of imported and local machines in the late 1950s.
For examples: we would see it on Greens, Atco, Austral-Villiers and Mobilco reel mowers, Champion,
Mofast, Austral-Villiers and Scott Bonnar rotaries.

The reel and bottom block assembly design was clever in that it was removed for servicing as a
single unit. This design feature would be copied by many manufacturers down the track.

The last feature, previously discussed, was the landroll clutch. Fitting nicely within the
chain case, this was a single-plate, pressure plate clutch; extremely robust and reliable.



TO BE CONTINUED ...

PART FOUR - Significance

The Ransomes Minor Mk7 is the only Ransomes lawnmower, to my knowledge, that was manufactured here
in Australia. I don't mean all Mk 7s, but the Mark 7s sold here. I have no doubt this was a result
of a tariff advantage that was offered in the late 1950s. Atco would do a similar thing with their
14" reel model, and their enigmatic rotaries. I should also note that 'manufactured' really meant
'assembly' of imported parts. These were assembly factories.

The Mark 7 was assembled at a Clayton, Victoria factory. However, I have never been able to establish
the actual street address:-



These are collectable machines because they have heritage value: coming from the premier
manufacturer of lawnmowers - the first manufacturer of the Budding patent of 1830. They have
the Australian connection in that there was local manufacture. Lastly, they are highly restorable
because of the enduring quality of the design and the availability of many parts.

The rest is history.
-------------------------------------------
JACK.

PART FIVE- BROCHURE

I have made available my original brochure for the Ransomes Minor Mark 7.

Source:

A full restoration:-
https://www.outdoorking-forum.com.au/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/82208/Ransoms_Minor_Mk_7.html


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