OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums The History Forum Company Histories KURANDA INDUSTRIES - Kit Mowers - c1959

Hello ODK History Lovers

I have placed this post in Company Histories simply because I have less knowledge
about the elusive Kit Lawnmower, than what I have about their maker, Kuranda Industries.

The Kit Lawnmower was manufactured and distributed by Kuranda Industries of Banks Street, Padstow, NSW.
[Padstow is about 22km from the Sydney CBD].

I know very little about Kit lawnmowers. I�m not even sure if I know whether they were reel or rotary machines!
I�m guessing �rotary� because of the timeframe evidence.

This is what I know:

[1] I know that Villiers� advertisements list Kit as a brand they supplied engines to in 1959 advertisements:-



[2] I own a physical bit of Kit. It�s a manufacturer�s plate I bought at auction years ago.
Here is that manufacturer�s plate for a Kit mower:-



[3] I know Kit mowers were sold in the late 1950s. I also know they were sold outside N.S.W.;
because I have a few advertisements from the famous A.C.T. store, Scott�s Mower Centre, that says so:-



[4] I know that Kuranda Industries started post WWII (about 1947) and their main product focus was
the manufacture of chicken and turkey, incubators and brooders. This side of the business was developed
throughout the 1950s. Here is a typical advertisement:-



[5] That�s about all I know about kit mowers. I have been unsuccessful in locating any pictures of them.
They were clearly a small manufacturer, and they entered the lawnmower market late.

My best guess is that they made a rotary mower, but it did not last more than a season or two.
Because Kuranda was a small manufacturer and self-distributor, I think they lacked the capital and
market exposure to survive in the competitive world of 1960s lawnmower production.

Little players simply could not compete.
I still would like to know what one looked like �

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

PART TWO - Identification

It was with much surprise that I fell across an illustrated advertisement
for a Kit Lawnmower from the Sydney Morning Herald, 01 November, 1959.

The ad gives significant new information about this lawnmower. It appears
to have a cast base (side discharge) with a low skirt, has an 18 inch cut,
and �fingertip height control� (there is a height knob at the centre front.
Perhaps another one operated the rear wheels). This one was fitted with a
Villiers 7F 2-stroke engine.

Of note is that it was sold at a large department store � Anthony Horderns �
and an established lawnmower dealer, Lawrence Brothers.

The most significant revelation is that this machine was capable of
receiving an optional grasscatcher, making it one of the earliest
Australian rotaries to do so. This little mower now has an identity!

The rest is history.
-----------------------------
Jack

Source: https://www.outdoorking-forum.com.au/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=73188

AUSTRTALIAN ROTARY MOWERS


Do you have information on the Kit Rotary Lawnmower?
A new topic has been created in the Old Soap Box HERE.