OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums The History Forum Model Histories SCOTT BONNAR Models SID BOWDITCH - The SB Shanks-Douglas - c1925

Hello ODK History Lovers

I have recently written about Sidney Bowditch, the Head Foreman and lawnmower designer at the
Scott Bonnar Company. The only publically available photograph of Sid is held in the Bonnar Collection
at the State Library of South Australia (SLSA). The library�s description of the photo is:



The SLSA have dated the photo to about 1930. Here is that photo in a better resolution than the one
readily available. There are clear signifiers of rank within the company. In a class-conscious Adelaide
of the time, note Sid's wearing of a tie and hat. Also note the foreman�s coat, sleeves rolled up.



The mower appears to be about 30� cut and it has the same model Douglas engine that appeared in my
story on the Scott Bonnar Queen City Douglas Mower HERE.

I tried to identify the lawnmower a couple of years ago, but with no success. I started with some
wrong assumptions: I guessed, correctly, that it was a Shanks� machine; because of the Shanks Agency
Scott Bonnar acquired in 1924. I did keep in the back of my mind, though, that it could have been
another make; given that the Company were general repairers and second-hand mower sellers.
Scott Bonnar would have seen every make of lawnmower in Adelaide.

The incorrect assumption was that it was a Horse or Pony mower. I held this view because I knew it
was not a recognised motor mower by any British make, and large American machines never made it to our
shores at this time. So what was it!!!

The transmission held the clue. The machine had what appeared to be a large, slotted clutch housing
on the outside of the landroll, and a higher mounted drive sprocket mounted on a jackshaft, that led
to the chain-driven reel. Here are some close-ups:-




The way that the sideframe unusually ended with a flat (where the handles connect) was also telling.
I had not seen that on any animal mower. It was a Eureka moment when I changed my basic assumption:
this large machine was based neither on an existing power mower or animal mower. It was a �

TO BE CONTINUED �

PART TWO - Mower ID Solved

The mysterious lawnmower was a unit off a Shanks�s Roller Type Triple Mower. These were units designed
to be pulled, not by animals, but by new technology � the tractor. Scott Bonnar had converted a 30�
gang unit to a petrol-powered lawnmower!




Whilst it was the Americans who introduced the concept of the Gang Mower, the British were
very quick to follow. There was money to be made in the efficient mowing of large grassed areas;
including golf course fairways and the new aero-ports for those amazing � and still novel -
flying machines.

The Shanks roller machine that Scott Bonnar used was intended for golf fairways. I have no
doubt that this unit was originally based on an animal-powered mower. The use of these roller
gangs would have been in decline; the new side-wheel machines in their ascendancy. Here is a
1930s catalogue photograph of both types:



Here is a triple gang roller unit being towed by a purpose built tractor of the period:-



TO BE CONTINUED �

PART THREE - ANALYSIS

I don�t think anyone knows more about this wonderful, beastly machine. The SLSA say the photo
dates from about 1930. However, given that it has an identical Douglas twin as that appeared
on the 1925 Scott Bonnar Douglas, it is possible that it dates from that period, a few years
earlier than the approximate date and, in fact, pre-dates The SB Queen City Douglas.

My best guess is that it was a prototype for the development of Scott Bonnar�s first �true�
lawnmower, the Queen City. Authoritative member Sir Chook has commented to me that he thought
early Scott Bonnars had clear resemblances to Shanks� lawnmowers. I think this is clear proof
of that � a sort of missing link � a golf link, perhaps

Given that Scott Bonnar�s first lawnmowers were converted machines, it seems quite logical
that this machine formed part of the evolution that resulted in their first company designs �
the Queen City and Standards of the 1920s. I therefore date this machine to 1925, but before
the Douglas engine appeared on the Queen City chassis. The SLSA dating, I believe, is incorrect.

Alternatively, if the SLSA dating is correct (about 1930), this machine could reflect a time when the
Company was considering (again) the production of their first petrol-powered lawnmowers. Who knows?

CONCLUSION
I am confident in saying that this machine � a Shanks�s roller mower gang unit coupled to
a twin cylinder Douglas engine � could never have made it to production. It would have been
way-too-expensive. At a time when Atco � the top-selling petrol mower of the 1920s - was
proving the concept of the �lightweight� lawnmower with their cut-size-scalable Standards,
this intriguing machine seemed � obsolete. I guess Scott Bonnar saw that too!

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

SCOTT BONNAR - The First Decade



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