OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums The History Forum The Old Soap Box Some Scott Bonnar History

Hi to All,
I have had the pleasure of talking to a gentleman today, who owned his own business; part of which was selling and repairing, sharpening, and spare parts for all models of Scott Bonnar reel mowers and has kept excellent records.

From his records, we can now state that the Model 17 Supercut was first released in 1950,the Bonmow in 1953, the Model 33 in 1960 , and the Model 45 was first released in 1968 (with the Kirby-Tecumseh engine)and Model 45 with the 2.5HP Briggs (Model 450520 17") in late1973/1974 which later became the Model 450589 17" with the larger Briggs 3HP. engine; prior to them being badged Rover-Scott Bonnar after the take over in 1980 and finally as Rover in 1983.

The difference in the model numbers sometimes relates to the width of cut (eg. 14", 17", 18", 20" etc.) and also changes in engine manufacturers, the engine size (also petrol or electric and also battery powered).

This information has proved invaluable as we can now date our machines a little bit more accurately, though, unfortunately not an exact date. But at least we're in the ballpark.

Hi wazzbat, you're right mate, Scott Bonnar history is very thin on the ground, as far as I can ascertain, no records survive, and that they were scrapped after the take-over by Rover Ltd., and the only knowledge of the Company is held by the prior employees or dealers themselves....Thank God for that.
Unfortunately, these gentlemen are getting on, and unless someone can document their history, it will be lost with them.
In fact, Rover have stopped production of the Model 45, and no longer manufacture mowers in Australia. I have it on good authority that the factory in Brisbane is just a shell of what once was a thriving plant.

There were a lot of players in the Scott Bonnar saga, with companies such as Flymo, Masport, Morrison (Victa)in New Zealand, Rover-Scott Bonnar all playing their part until be swallowed up by an international conglomorate.

Scott Bonnar itself started in Adelaide back early last century by a Mr. Scott Bonnar and his brother Mr Malcolm C. Bonnar producing low pressure brassware and agricultural equipment before dedicating their business to the manufacturing of various types of mowers including the first successful electric bowling green mower in S.Aust. Mr Scott Bonnar left the business in 1947 due to illhealth and died in 1961 aged 68 years. Upon the death of Mr.M.C.Bonnar, the company CEO was Mr Bonnar's son, Fax, who ran the company until the take over by Rover Ltd.
That is as much as I can find out at present, heres hoping more of the history will come to light.

I heard a rumor that the SB 430 and 590 are slightly different because both brother's had different opinions on how it should work. Hence they still have most of the same parts and cutting width. The major difference is the drive system. I've gone back to my source for more info, so treat this as just a rumour at the moment but I look forward to getting more information on that topic and reporting back.

The model 17 Supercut was built for professional turf conditions and had a cast iron side frame for tennis courts, cricket wickets and lawn tennis courts while the golf greens mower had machined cast aluminium side frames for lighter weight on greens. If the Supercut was still available today it would be one of the best mowers available. I was foreman of the production line when we roduced the last unit that was taken by the Kerry Packers group "World Series Cricket". I actually cut the oval before the 1st game of world series cricket with a Toro 7 gang Parkmaster and the Supercut was used to cut the wicket that was grown in a green houses in 2 12 yard tubs above ground with heat banks to grow the grass. The model 17 supercut had to be manually lifted up to cut the grass

Morrison NZ used to produce the Victa Imperial for Victa back in the 70's with limited success. Morrison's NZ though Challenge Corporation purchased Scott Bonnarfrom Flymo in about 74/75.
Rover took over Scott Bonnar through GWA who owned Rover in December 1980. GWA also owned Coroma bath room fitting, Sebel Town House a 5 star hotel in Kings Cross and Sebel furniture for stadiums and where the distributors of Mazda in Australia.
With Scott Bonnar the brass factory producing taps and plumbing fittings ceased in about 1974. The cast iron factory continued until 1981 with a local soccer identity Alan Crisp as foreman of the factory.
Mr Thaxted (FAX) Bonnar, retired after Morrison Industries,(Challenge Corp NZ) took over and Mr. Stan Rapson was made Managing Director and there were many changes, Mr. Ron Charleston Works manager was replaced by a hero of mine Bill Henderson who was in the Scott's Guards. Brian Tonkin took over from Bill Brown as National Sales Manager and Scott Bonnar became the Australiasian distributor of Toro.
I met Mick Bonnar in the late 70's, a small man in stature but huge on ideas and a driver of industry in SA and a twinkle in his eye.

It is just a rumour. The 590 came out 1st of all without a cutter clutch, when in drive the cutter operated all the time. Demand from consumers saw a cutter clutch added and an edging attachment as well. The 590 was introduced in 1975/76 during Morrison Industries NZ time of ownership.
Mick Bonnar was in his early 90's?

Hello pmorrison

Again, thanks for that insider's info.
That is an important anecdote on the Model 17.
It would appear that there was a Morrison influence on the SB Diplomat's design.
It is amazing that you met Mick Bonnar!

Any photographs of the factory etc. would be most welcome.

It's a matter of pride
-----------------------------------
JACK.

I wish I had some photo's of the factory but unfortunately no. I could draw a plan of the factory from the car park, through to service and part, cast iron factory, brass shop, sheet metals shop, machine shop ++ we did the lot including in later year die casting our own rotary mower bases.
I last saw it in 1981.

Hello pmorison,

That's a pity about the photos - so much has been lost about this great firm.
It would be most appreciated if you could give us a plan of the factory. We don't
have any record of how it worked.

Any information, however small, would be relevant for the record.

Cheers and thanks.
--------------------------------
JACK.

Hi All,

Gee I'd love to see a good drawing of how the factory worked as all we see nowadays is a cold room inside an empty shell.

Cheers,
BB

Hi pmorison, CyberJack and BB,
As Jack has stated, any history of Scott Bonnar is extremely helpful for our ODK archives and a plan of the factory at Thebby would be greatly appreciated.

It is a real shame that a lot of the SB records were destroyed just prior to the closure of the Thebarton factory.

pmorison, I'd like to give you a warm to OutdoorKing, its great to have you aboard!

at least while I was there in 1963-1966, Lance Harris was CEO and Fax was Asst CEO..Mick used to come in from time to time to see how the place was going, especially at Christmas. Mick was a lovely gentleman, he would bring the office girls chocolates.

Allan Crisp (known as Crunchy) was foreman of the foundry..each section had it's own foreman. Brian Osborne, Machine shop foreman; Bill Slaughter, sheet metal foreman, (plus under him was Bill Bourn, who was also the Safety Officer); Brass shop was K? Taylor.