OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Finding and Swapping Rare Finds & Donations Small Rotary Mower - c1950s - What Is It? [Pathfinder]

This is not my mower and so far can't be ID
SO what is it ??
Ian

Some more pictures have come through on the above mower
and it has 'Qualcast' cast onto the barrel
Ian

Hello IanOZ and ODK Members & Guests

From the outset, I don't know the manufacturer of this unusual lawnmower.
All I can do is discuss the unusual features of this interesting mower.
At least, we now have a record of it, and I have filed it as 'Unknown'

[1] Engine.
I believe this engine is a JAP Model 80 (not the more-common C80).
The features that indicate this are: removable head; unusual port locations;
crankcase design; small flywheel; muffler design.

[I am not ruling out that this is, in fact, a Hardman & Hall Simplex engine
that had similar port locations to the JAP]

I can only speculate that 'Qualcast' appears on the cylinder as it was made
by the foundry division of Qualcast - a foundry that made component parts
for other manufacturers (including auto parts).

However, I note that Qualcast did takeover the Suffolk Iron Foundry in the 1950s,
(makers of the Suffolk engines), and 'Qualcast', itself, was the brand name
of the Derwent Foundry (originally). My best guess, though, is a JAP.

[2] The Chassis
This is not the run-of-the-mill 'toecutter'. It is mostly alloy.
The base is alloy with a very narrow skirt, and the alloy rails for the wheels
and height adjustment is most unusual.

The primitive height adjustment and lack of folding handle makes me feel that
this mower dates from about 1954 - 1956.

The blade holder is most unusual! It is cast alloy! I can't recall any other
rotary manufacturer that used this on petrol-powered machines.

There is a clue to identification in the fuel tank design. It appears identical to the
Pathfinder mowers that were sold through Myer Stores. The maker of the Pathfinder is not
known, but I have a suspicion it was a Melbourne manufacturer.



[3] Summary:-
I believe the mower is of Australian manufacturer (because of the base design).
The extensive use of alloy makes me think the manufacturer had access to a non-
ferrous foundry. The tank design is a clue that points to the manufacturer of
the Pathfinder mowers.

[4] Possible Suspects:-

The fuel tank design indicates a 'Pathfinder' link.
Other contenders are: Mi-T-Mow,Kleen-Cut, Eclipse and Park mowers.

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

Hi Jack,

Thankyou for the detailed information. I'm the one with the mower. Thanks to IanOZ for posting the pictures and introducing me to ODK.

Pity there's no pictures available for comparison. I guess if it was just a small company that sold from the factory there probably wasn't wide sales.

...what to do?

Hello Weary!

A sincere welcome to these great ODK forums.
Ian is one of the perceptive collectors that realises that the richness of Australian
lawnmower manufacturing was varied and considerable in the early years.

The reality is that in the rotary formative years - the 1950s - there were dozens of
little companies that sprung up. By the 1960s, I estimate that about 5% survived!
The reasons for this are complex; but involved the increasing sophistication of designs,
advances in technology,and intensive competition. The little maker was squeezed out.
Rotary lawnmowers was BIG business that would be controlled by BIG companies.

Your machine is important for the specific features I have covered.
This was a small manufacturer with above-average expertise in rotary construction.

I hope we can put a name to this little mower in the fullness of time.
The digitalisation of many records at the critical time (post 1954) is sporadic.

I guess you'll have the damaged casting repaired?
Thanks to IanOZ and Yourself for bringing this rare mower to our attention.

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

Hi Jack,

I'm a bit undecided about the resto. I'd need to talk to a good welder about repairing around where the wheels bolt on. Also one wheel is missing (I don't know If they're original anyway). Another issue is that someone welded the top of the flywheel onto the crank. It'll be a challenge to separate it without too much damage. I can then pull the crank out and drill and tap to use a bolt to hold the flywheel in place. That'll all take a bit of time.

Thanks again for the information and support. I'd like to think there are other examples of this mower remaining in Victoria where they may have been originally sold.

Cheers

Weary

Hi Weary!

Yes, it will require some thought.
I hope the casting can be repaired - at least for static display.

Some parts for the engine should still be available.
Here is a picture of a similar engine on a highly-collectable Australian Grasshopper:-



It would be great to give us updates from time to time, as this site
has a considerable number of vintage mower enthusiasts.

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

Hi Jack,

did you notice that my mower spins the opposite direction to your Grasshopper?

Weary

Hi Weary,

No I didn't notice that.
They should normally rotate clockwise from the flywheel side.
Another mystery ...

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

Being 2 stroke it doesn't really matter. Timing will just be retarded rather than advanced. If there's enough movement in the timing plate it could probably be made to rotate the other way. I just thought it was interesting.

Mark

Another example of this mower has come to light, here are some photos. They are much the same as the previous ones posted but still good to have

I now have this one in my collection so I will have a good look over it and see what turns up.

The only similarity to be found so far is the fuel tank is identical on this Pathfinder mower

Hi Paul
I feel your, second machine, is a significant find.
There appears to be no decal traces suggesting this mower had a name!

This is the most curious of mowers - in that it does not conform to the 'usual'
design ideas for lawnmowers of the 1950s.

The base is all-alloy but in three parts. Who else did that?
The 'toecutter' base seems to have been cast for the the JAP engine.

The blade holder is a smaller alloy disc - compensated by longer swing-blades.
There is primitive height adjustment.

I now give this machine a time frame: 1955-1957.
This does not rule out a later mower - for specific purposes.

I hope we get a break-through about this one.

Thanks for the update.
---------------------------------------
Jack

I have found a few more pics of the Pathfinder mower and the base profile and bars are very similar, the �unknown� mower could be it�s predecessor.

The mower has a very unique style of base, with those raised fins that run all the way along and then sweep up near the wheels. I did some searching online but could not find anything like it. In some ways, such as the way the base is curved acutely in some places, reminds me a bit of an ALEX GRAHAME style of base. The handlebars are also remarkably similar to the ones that were on Alex Grahame mowers. Other aspects are entirely different of course.

G'day M-F
Many thanks for adding your thoughts on this one.
The mystery of this little machine has not been solved.

But, progress has been made ...

As you say, the base is unique - not in look - but in design.
I do not know of any other maker who joined a round alloy base to
alloy frames for attaching wheels... and then used an alloy blade-holder!

The engine is a JAP Model 80.
I feel my dating is about right.

It is clear this is an AUS made mower.
The fact the base is cast - without a name - is suggestive ...

That's the best I can do at this time.
I hope this one is solved.

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

Hi Jack,

Yes, the alloy blade holder is really strange, and it is amazing to me that it has survived the test of time so well, given that the blades are so long in proportion to the disk. Even the Southern Cross KX-C only had part alloy and part steel frames for the wheels (and they were a separate feature, not a part of the base). Incidentally, the KX-C also had alloy connections (midway joins so the bars could be folded down) on the otherwise steel handlebars.

I'm guessing whatever this mower was, there are only a few of them still in existence.

Hi vint-mow
Yep, it's a rare machine - and one on the list to identify.

Yes, the only other rotary that used an alloy blade holder with long swing-backs was
the British Ladybird ... at least as far as I know ...

https://www.outdoorking-forum.com.au/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=59572

Cheers
Jack