OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Collectors Corner Identification of Particular Machines COLDA: Old Mower with Hurricane & Victa Engines

bloke who gave it to me told me it was a Victa, but I've never seen a Victa like it, the engine type I saw in google images page which led me here..

Welcome Mate,

This is only the second example we have seen recently, and unfortunately we have yet to determine its Maker.

Currently the assumption is strong that it is an Amplion Brand mower.

With this said, enough examples are yet to be found to determine this accurately.

Can you find any markings on any parts, and is there any writing on the wheels and/ tyres.

The remanants of the logo may help when we match it with an original Amplion logo and see if it follows similar lines, although it looks more like a base size decal. Possibly it just says 18" bound by a large V"...

The Forum Historian may have more information for you...


Regards Mal...

Hello BriggsHandy

So far these mowers have presented with alloy and
pressed-steel chassis. Yours is missing the height-adjust knob.

I have not been able to identify them at this time, and I have no
strong assumption about them at this time.

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

So it definitely is not Victa, wonder why owner assured me that it was.
I knew it was not an '18" toecutter, and I have posted the close-up of what is left of the front decal residue and imprint, which definitely to me is not the right outline for the Victa logo.
Only markings I have found so far is the 'Hurricane" on front of engine alloy casts, the wheels actually look same to me as the ones on the Ezycut mower that featured on the Google image page that led me here.
I was already signed up to this forum previously, for some reason, I did not even recall signing up here.
So someone else had one of these?

What are "Hurricane" engines, anyway?

That's right: definitely NOT a Victa.

Hurricane was an Australian Engine and, later, lawnmower manufacturer.
Their engine designs were similar to Victa engines of the day.

The close-up of the decal remnants is a great lead.
I wonder whether it would be possible to get a photo of a wheel side-on,
and of the fuel tank? This would help also.

I date your machine to late 1950s / early 1960s.
They are certainly rare.

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

I'll update those other pic views tomorrow...glad of the help so far..

Could not find any more writing on parts like wheels or anywhere..wheels are held on with split-pins.Look like old-fashioned solid hand-trolley wheels..

Yes, I found other Hurricane-engine machines when I googled, I also found a one-page site which just consists of a long list of some guys mower and outdoor power collection...there is something vaguely like it there, as he has at least one Amplion, but it is not really like it...

http://www.vintagemowers.net/Andrew.html


one exhibit mentioned there is an Amplion 1955 18"

some of his pics will not open for me.Some do..

ATCO was the other company which occured to me, because I had one of their green-keeping mowers here last year, and the handle and tank set up on this reminded me of that one..

Hello BriggsHandy

Yep, I know that page ...
there are a number of technical and factual errors there.
It is an old webpage, but with some good stuff.

The Amplion there is a 'toecutter' base and not similar at all.
It does use the same engine though. Hurricane engines were used on
a number of 1950s and '60s lawnmower makes.

Atco is ruled out. They are reasonably well documented at this time.
Having a Hurricane engines means this lawnmower originated in Australia.

Your machine has quite a deep steel pressing, suggesting a 1960s mower
(rather than 1950s). That it has a single point height adjustment is significant,
as is its unusual central front location.

I think we need to see the close-ups of the wheels, tank, handle, etc.
The best lead is your logo photo. It defines a very specific winged shape.

Thanks for helping us in this mystery.
-----------------------------------------
JACK

yeah, logo looks like it was a wide-top triangle pointing downwards, with a red oval imposed over that.

t/y..

Actually I took more pics of it this morning but did not post them because I thought it would make the OP too long-winded. I've got a view of tank, even though no side views of it which I will add tomorrow...

Hello BriggsHandy

Thank you!!! These are very helpful indeed.
This is a mower reluctant to give up its secrets.

It is rare and it is Australian made.
It has a mix of unusual features:
- the deep-pressed steel base suggests early 1960s (not fifties).
- the wheels are not semi-pneumatic (suggesting 1950s).
- the fuel tank is similar to, if not identical to Victa Rotomo ones.
This does not, however, necessarily link Victa to this. It's a copy, or
was sourced from the same supplier to Victa.
- the cowling over the Hurricane engine is unusual, but similar to the
British Bux engine and the Ogden version of the British Trojan Major.
I do not believe the cowling was necessarily made by Hurricane.

Because of copyright impediments, many news and magazine records are not
available after 1954. I have no doubt that this machine would reveal itself
if that were not the case. I am hoping some vital clue will come forward as
piecemeal urban and regional records (not subject to copyright) are made
available. It's a waiting game.

Having said this is a rare mower, I do not mean valuable.
The problem is ... this little mower has no story to go with it ... yet.
Thanks to your photos we, at least, have a better record.

I have to ask this:
- First, Is it possible to get a photo of the upper handle. That is important.
- Second, a photo of the handle brackets (where they meet the base).
[It is not clear that the handle is foldable. It appears that it has to
be un-bolted and removed.

I am confident that we will solve this - at some point...
It's just bad luck that the decal could not reveal just a couple of letters

Thanks for assisting in giving this little mower an identity.
It sure is an interesting one, whatever it may be.

--------------------------------------
JACK

Having said this is a rare mower, I do not mean valuable.

--
no, I know it does not work that way necessarily, from experience of many other things...probably be worth more if it was just another Victa 18...
I'll take some more pics next day or so..
the two bolts were missing from one side of handle mounting, I replaced them with a couple of spare whitworth bolts I had because it was putting fatigue on the other mounting and it is showing signs of beginning the process of fatigue strain shearing off..

That's great BH

It looks like this handle is not foldable, suggesting a late 1950s lawnmower.
The handles are quite agricultural looking - and distinctive.



In the last few months two versions of these mowers have been found.
No 1 below is an alloy chassis and has a Victa engine. No air cowling.
No 1 is the earliest machine (because it does not have single point height adj.)
No 2 and 3 are the same model, pressed steel chassis; Hurricane engine.
All have the same tank, muffler, carby(?) and handle bar.

These mowers have not come from a small manufacturer.
I guess there would be at least half a dozen possible candidates.

We'll just have to wait for a breakthrough.
------------------------------------------------
JACK

pic #2 is definitely a match, isn't it...did owner of same not know what it was either ?

Did that one still run?
I've not attempted to start mine, long long time since I tried a cord start, don't fancy it,
who knows what state the points and whatnot are in in it, I might just pull plug out and check spark in a bit..i

Hello BH

Yes, No 2 is the same as your No 3.
Yours is in better condition, only missing the height knob.

The No 2 machine was on another website; I have no other information.

p.s. You should still be able to get ignition and carburettor parts for
your Hurricane engine (if needed).

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

Hi Briggs,

What are your intentions with this Machine?

Will you be restoring it or just getting it going?

It really is an appealing little mower, I love the style and fall back of the rear, It reminds me of an early Pace...

Oh, I won't be restoring it..getting it going is iffy as well...If I had a way of spinning it over other than winding the rope on the pully a bazillion times and tugging it attempting to start a dry old mower that probably last ran just b4 a 1970s Grand Final...maybe I'd have a go..

Since Jack has softened me up with
' of course just being rare does not mean valuable!!"

probably it is open to offers from keen collectors/restorers who want to do the hard yards on it...:) location SE Melbourne

the height adjustment knob usually fits over that adjuster nut on front deck, does it? what is it, hard plastic or bakelite knob, or something?
So you can still adjust height by socket on that nut ?

I can tell you that that engine still turns over, anyway, it is not seized at least...

Hello BH and HT6

I think that is a good thing - not restoring it.
My personal view is that I'm glad this one is saved - whatever it is.
I hope you either keep it and stay in touch with ODK, or sell it to
a loving collector who understands the issues here.

From my point of view, I would like to give it an identity - for the record;
as it is important we document all vintage lawn mowers made and/or sold here.
It's value will increase if we can do that.

To answer your question about the knob: I think it would have been a bolt with
a cast alloy head. But that's a guess. I would think it would still function as it is.

I have some supplementary questions
- I guess you've cleaned all the grease off the back to see any identifying marks?
- The colours of green and red are odd. Would you say the base is a sort of aqua green?
- Is it possible to get a profile photo showing the complete mower (with handle)?

Cheers & thanks.
-------------------------------
JACK

or sell it to
a loving collector who understands the issues here.
==

that will be the outcome, I feel..I do not want to openly spruik it here, because I know that bends rules or causes vexatiousness on these sites..
I did that with an old bike on a cycling site once, and I got abuse and threats..

I will supplement pics tomorrow..

Hello BH

Thanks for that. Appreciated.

I guess you know this but just by posting here has added provenance and value
to your lawnmower. We have a For Sale forum here, but eBay is probably the
best way; given that these machines have had exposure on another forum.

If you intend to sell, ODK members can PM you if interested.

Best of luck - and thanks for helping the vintage mower record.
------------
JACK

yes, I'd welcome PMs of interest..

Pickup SE Melbourne subs, as I mentioned..

never thought of wiping grease off rear deck see if there is any nomenclature under there..will try that.

Pm Sent....:)

sorry, did not get it, I do not seem to be settings for PM notifications..looking now.

i wiped back deck, anyway, cannot see any brand or makings under there, but green paint is fresher looking there, protected from sun and water by the coating of greasy dirt, I guess...

Hello BriggsHandy

Thanks for that. It was worth a try.
Member paul_c did some great research in finding another
machine. It now comprises a third variant:-



This one has a different height adjuster.
It appears that two pins have to be pulled and inserted
in different notches in the height rod. Odd.

All very interesting.
----------------------------
JACK