OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Restoring, Customising and Modifying Victa Walk-Behind Rotary Mowers H G Palmer

Hi all Contributors,

It seems great headway is being made this year on H.G. Palmer.
Gizmo, this is the first VK30 Kirby version I have seen and I appreciate these
photos and video for the record.

I feel I can accurately date it. Earliest record from early 1964.
I believe this model was offered for the 1963-64 and 1964-65 season(s).
The big surprise is the use of the recoil starter. Every other VK I have seen from
the period had an Impulse starter. So the recoil design is original.



Mal, the Hurricane engine was also used on the early HG toe-cutter base.
This later design seems to use the same base but a quick-set height adjuster -
so I'm not sure whether it should be included in the engine count (5) for the earlier
base with rotary knob height [Villiers 7F, Kirby Hi-Torque, Victa Tiger, Hurricane, Briggs 4].

Mal the 'H' in HK designates a horizontal c/shaft Kirby. The HK 25s were used
on AUS reel mowers and the like.

It's such a shame Palmer's collapsed in such a spectacular fashion.
They were such an interesting, inventive company (in their accounting too).
I would have preferred if it had been another company [who I won't name ...
but it begins with 'Harvey'.]

----------------------------------
Jack

Cheers,

Its crazy that 5 engines were on offer. Too many choices wouldnt necessarily give more sales if that was in part their aim....I think it would cause more confusion.

And all on a basic Utility style base?

Id expect a flagship of sorts.

Like this one below, The Deluxe" which is actually from 1961. (And also has a recoil starter)
Why did such an archaic design go fo so long when a more modern stylish base was on offer?




In any case this is very Impressive to now have 5 engine variants available, and pretty full on it wasnt really by one of the Major Manufacturers.

Cheers Gizmo, this is gonna look sweet restored, and would be an awesome collection if you had all five of them (or 6 If you count the mirror 125 tiger/ cleanskin fitted Models.

Where is the Hurricane version? Ive seen and nearly bought a HG with a hurricane, but it was definately not original when I asked a few questions. He was also selling the 7F version in the sale.

Id love to see a real one though.

There is an unkown on these forums, that may be the BS version, Ill try and find it so we can link them.

Thanks guys...

Hello Contributors

Cheers!
I don't think the evidence implies quite that.
This is speculation, but I think HG Palmer branded machines were not on
a continuous production line, but were made in batches from X supplier(s).
The advertising records I have found do not suggest anything but two choices.

Palmer's had over 100 stores by the very early sixties, and I suspect that
only one two stroke and four stroke were offered at any one time at any one place.

For the same reason that Victa and others did so. There was a separation between the utility
mower (with no skirt) and the side-discharge mower (with a skirt).
Both, in time, would become known as 'utility' lawnmowers.

The skirted, side-discharge base could accommodate the all-important side catcher.
Two types of lawnmowers evolved: the utility and the side-discharge mower.

I might also add that the deluxe HG base was offered with other engines -
the Villiers Torque Major 2-stroke and the Villiers Lightweight 4-stroke.

I think this is a genuine Hurricane HGP. What do you think?



That would be great. The utility & side-discharge HG definitely offered - at some point - a Briggs.



The Briggs ad from 1961 has a wind-up starter (not recoil). It says that in your ad. [picture above]

Hope this helps.
-------------------------
Jack

Cheers,

Yes of Course,I didn't even think about that. It makes perfect sense various engines would be used over time, as Technology progressed or suppliers changed. It did strike me as odd they would use so many types at once.


In regards to the Hurricane? Ive really no Idea. This is the mower I missed out on, (Just like the Wizard, Tad, first Minter and so on) lols. Questions asked at the time swayed me as to its originality. At first look I thought non original as Id not seen one on any Palmer mower previously. And at the time id seen more than most and had 2 restos underway.

I was going to use the engine on my amplion at that time. And revert it back to a Victa 125. Plus it had the rear flap.

In any case after all was said and done, it was the seller who said he was certain it wasn't original. The Engine Prefix was also far to low for this model mower. A 3 digit serial is something id expect to see on an early Amplion or Hurricane.

With what I knew at the time I definately thought it was incorrect.

I was also under the vague impression that The Hurricane" was all but finished prior to 1960-1 in favour of more modern options?

So I really don't know, and if pressed Id say No. If you can prove Otherwise..... I definately want one !

Hello all Contributors

I would say that Palmer's probably did use Hurricane engines.
My 2013 auction photos suggest it; and the myriad of engine makes
they did use makes it more probable than not at this time.

They also used the Hardman & Hall Simplex on the Ute chassis:-



It would appear not so. In fact, Hurricane lawnmowers appear to have only
started in 1960. Last records I have are late 1964. This might be a reason
for the decline of their engines being used on other makes.

The more likely reason is the decline of other makes. The BIG 5 didn't
need Hurricane, or any other small engine manufacturer. The 1960s
consolidated the lawnmower industry to just a few manufacturers.

There is certainly more work to be done on the infamous Palmers.

-------------------------
Jack

.

Hello Mal

I guess you're addressing me.
One is shown in my second-last post.
The other photo I have is from the other side.
If you would like it, too, just PM me.

Hope this helps.
-------------------------
Jack

.

Here are a few pics of the palmer I have cluttering up my place.

Doesn't run but I'm yet to look at it. Could be simple...








Interesting catcher design. Anyways I'm having a clear out. Looking for a bigger boat so the mowers have to go. If anyone wants it pm me an offer.

Pete

someone is selling a HG palmer badge on my facebook site Vintage Mowers:Buy Swap And Sell

Hi ODK Members,

Something that I spotted in another post, this is my second HG Palmer of this style. I noticed this advert



The same base but advertised as a Walmac fitted up with a JAP engine, what an industry.

G'day Paul
I'm glad you posted that one.
I have spent many-an-hour researching Walmac.

I am not ready to write a record on Walmac Electrical Products yet.
... I need more time to do that.

I feel comfortable in saying this: -
Walmac was formed post WWII and gained notoriety in the manufacture
of gas and electrical stoves and florescent lighting units.

By the early 1960s, it expanded into other consumer goods, including
the manufacture of lawnmowers.

I am almost certain that Walmac made many HG Palmer branded lawnmowers.
I know Walmac had the capacity and experience to do this.

The mower factory was located at 23 Lusty Street, Arncliffe, NSW.
That was not their first address, nor their last.

Walmac would be dissolved c1975.

I hope to write something about Walmac this year.

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