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by maxwestern - 25/04/24 10:58 AM
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Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 373 Likes: 5
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Scott Bonnar Centenary Model Drag this out over the weekend I'm only calling it 'Centenary Model' because that is what is cast on the side of the mower Scott Bonnar most likely had a model for it What year is it and what is the centenary for??? Ian What is this on the side of the head
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Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 6,362 Likes: 10
Administrator - Master Technician
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Hi Ian, Information on the 'Centenary' is very thin on the ground. From my research, I cannot tell you the reason for naming it the 'Centenary', but in came in 2 versions, a 16" and an 18" and was first introduced in 1936. The 1st (early) (what we shall refer to as the Series 1) I have an advert for: Unfortunately Ian, I don't have an image of your later(Series 2) model to show you, but your pics will be great for the archives. Thanks for showing us Ian,
Please do not PM me asking for support. Please post your questions in the appropriate forums, as the replies it may receive may help all members, not just the individual member. Kindest Regards, Darryl
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Joined: Dec 2013
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I was told it was for the Centenary of South Australia 1936 but never followed up to prove it Ian
Last edited by IanOZ; 28/01/14 06:09 AM.
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Joined: May 2011
Posts: 98 Likes: 1
Atco Specialist
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Hi Ian,
From all that I have been able to find, the Scott Bonnar Centenary was indeed named for the SA State Centenary in 1936. I have two of these and have had one running. They are very strong machines but the gearing is a bit quick. The knob on the side of the head is a decompression valve which is a common feature on Villiers engines of the time - Atco had decompression valves on the cylinder head for many of the larger engines until the 1930's. I believe these mowers were fitted with a variant of the Mk XI C (or XII C) Villiers - a 148cc engine that was introduced in 1931 and had a 53mm x 67mm. The Centenary mower appears to have been in production between 1936 and 1951. I am aware that Villiers were producing engines with fully covered flywheels as late as 1952.
I suspect that your machine, like mine, was produced post war from about 1949 - 1951.
Cheers, Sir Chook
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Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 6,362 Likes: 10
Administrator - Master Technician
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Hi Sir_Chook and Ian, Well that is splendid news, we now know why is was named the 'Centenary' and many thanks for the update. Sir_Chook do you have any pics of your machines and if so, could you please post them here....? I would suggest that the Centenary may have been the forerunner of the mighty Model 17 'Supercut', first introduced in 1950
Please do not PM me asking for support. Please post your questions in the appropriate forums, as the replies it may receive may help all members, not just the individual member. Kindest Regards, Darryl
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Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 6,362 Likes: 10
Administrator - Master Technician
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Hi to Ian, Sir_Chook and ODK members, Here is another pic of the 'Series 1' with the metal cooling shroud..Notice the change in the fuel tank position....
Please do not PM me asking for support. Please post your questions in the appropriate forums, as the replies it may receive may help all members, not just the individual member. Kindest Regards, Darryl
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Joined: May 2011
Posts: 98 Likes: 1
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Hi All, Just a couple of photos of my Scott Bonnar Centenary mowers. As you can see they are in "as found" condition. I have provided a view of the drive gear as well to show the chain and gear combination. They are numbers C647 and C538. Cheers, Sir Chook
Last edited by Deejay; 29/01/14 05:07 PM. Reason: Rotated Image
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Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 6,362 Likes: 10
Administrator - Master Technician
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Hi Sir_Chook, and ODK members, Thanks for posting mate, what an awesome pair of mowers from circa 1936....awesome...and you said one runs..Just brilliant... Thanks for posting the images, great for the archive,
Please do not PM me asking for support. Please post your questions in the appropriate forums, as the replies it may receive may help all members, not just the individual member. Kindest Regards, Darryl
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Joined: May 2011
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Hi Deejay and ODK members,
I am glad to be able to share these machines with you all. From all of the sources that I have been able to find so far it looks like these two are probably from about 1949.
There are several key differences between the early and late Centenary mowers. In particular the engine is oriented in the opposite direction (i.e. the magneto is on the inbound side on the early machines and on the outboard side on later machines - consequently the cooling fans are on opposite sides), the clutch is different (lever operation versus rod and linkage), the fuel tank is located on the cross bar of the handle bars on the early machines and on the engine cowl on late machines, the drive cover is tin on the early machines and cast aluminium on later mowers. The last detail whilst not a major change to the mower it (and the aluminium cooling fan cowl) does give a bit of a clue to the date of manufacture. The use of aluminium in manufacturing became quite prevalent in the late 1940's. With the end of World War 2 the need for vast amounts of aluminium for aircraft and other military uses also came to an end, thus resulting in a large amount of aluminium being available for other uses.
With respect to the lineage of successor models, the Supercut shared some key design elements such as the handlebar design, clutch design and operation, crank start and other minor details. In some respects the Supercut could be considered the refined version of the Centenary.
Cheers, Sir Chook
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Joined: Dec 2013
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Hi Sir_Chook, and ODK members, They can be dated by the engine flywheel number some are easy to read but I don't how to read this one My number C552 is between your two Ian
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Joined: Dec 2013
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Hi All Has anybody come across 'Ron Wiley' he runs the Australian Villiers records and has lots and lots of info on Villiers and can date all Villiers engines he also does Cooper engines Anyhow this is what he sent me on my Scott Bonnar Ian Hi Ian. Your Scott Bonnar mower; it is a Century model that came out in 1936 to celebrate the first one hundred years of SA. It was replaced by the Super Cut in 1950; I used to have a Centenary # C831 dating from 1949 so not that many were made in 14 years. The magneto with a date of 12/6 (December 1946) means you have a 1947 model. The engine is a 147cc Mk.11-C that first appeared around 1931/32, the 11-C was replaced by Mk.25-C in 1949. My centenary has a Mk.27-C q 25-C minus the metal cowl, it had a cast iron flywheel and fan on the drive side crank with cast alloy cowl to direct air over the cylinder and head. Regards, Ron
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Joined: May 2011
Posts: 98 Likes: 1
Atco Specialist
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Hi Ian and ODK members,
The month/year dating system on Villiers flywheels is only able to be used on post war engines. What needs to be understood though is that the date only provides an indicator of the year of manufacture of the engine and it is only relevant where the flywheel has not been replaced or exchanged. Both of the flywheels on my Centenary mowers are dated 10/7 or October 1947 so it is possible that these were from the same shipment of engines. Given that Ian's flywheel is dated December 1946 and his Centenary is numbered between both of mine it raises the question of when were these mowers actually assembled. The answer to this cannot be easily answered and can only be assumed to be somewhere between 1947 and 1949.
Cheers, Sir Chook
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Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 6,362 Likes: 10
Administrator - Master Technician
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Hi Sir_Chook and ODK members, Here is a little snippet of info on SB centenary mowers: (Courtesy of Willingworker (Grant Simpson) Letter from Malcolm.C. Bonnar to Claude Dewar (Company Secretary) 18th July 1939 Dear Claude, We went to see the Briggs and Stratton 4 Stroke mower at Knock and Kirby's. Reg Marsten (Sydney Manager) was disgusted with Sid Bowditch's attempts at the 4 stroke on the Centenary and said Sid was too old fashioned and behind the times. I told him strongly I would not stand such criticism of anyone. Yours, Malcolm. So it seems that SB were at least trying to place a 4 Stroke on the Centenary way back in 1939 before WW2.
Please do not PM me asking for support. Please post your questions in the appropriate forums, as the replies it may receive may help all members, not just the individual member. Kindest Regards, Darryl
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Joined: Dec 2013
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I know Knock and Kirby's (Wollongong) that was my first job as a tool salesman Ian
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Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 73 Likes: 1
Trainee
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HERE IS A SCOTT BONNER I PICKED UP YESTERDAY, VERY SIMILAR, DIFFERENT EXHAUST
a mind that is stretched never returns to the same dimensions
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Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 6,362 Likes: 10
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Hi bunipper,and on a good score there mate, and a catcher to go with it.... Are you contemplating doing a restore on it? It would come up a treat!
Please do not PM me asking for support. Please post your questions in the appropriate forums, as the replies it may receive may help all members, not just the individual member. Kindest Regards, Darryl
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Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 73 Likes: 1
Trainee
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not sure as yet, its in working condition, so I will keep it dry and give it some thought. never even seen or used one of these before. so its something new. I will either restore it or sell it. ????
is it worth while as a resto project
cheers
chris
a mind that is stretched never returns to the same dimensions
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Joined: May 2011
Posts: 98 Likes: 1
Atco Specialist
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Hi Chris,
Having had a look at your photos and those of my two mowers I do not think that they are different. I have a sneaking suspicion that the cylinder head and exhaust have been reversed on yours at some stage. This is very easily done as it is only a few nuts to undo. From all of the photos that I have ever seen of these mowers and the two in my possession all have the exhaust and decompression valve to the front and the carburettor to the rear.
If you have a go at starting your Centenary take care as it could take a few goes and be careful of the crank handle when the engine fires. Once running it should pull along like a train.
Cheers,
Sir Chook
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Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 73 Likes: 1
Trainee
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thank for that information, I will let you know how it goes
cheers
chris
a mind that is stretched never returns to the same dimensions
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Joined: May 2011
Posts: 98 Likes: 1
Atco Specialist
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