OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Collectors Corner Identification of Particular Machines What Mower Is This? [Bragg Jetfast]

Hello IRB73

I filed this machine as unknown a couple of years back and have made no
progress since then. It does have some unique identifiers:-

- The front badging base
- The 'wash port' hole behind the badge area

The inconsistencies: the metal catcher and engine combo says to me
this machine dates between mid to late 1960s. The 1970s air cleaner,
if original, would indicate this was a store brand from the early 1970s,
when manufacturers could still 'get away' with metal catchers...

Maybe an early Jetfast?
Perhaps a member might be able to spread some light on this.
I would love to have this one identified.

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

hi jack yes its an odd looking machine im still tossing up wether to get it or not could it be a bitsa or you have seen this machine before

Hello IRB73

I don't think its a bitsa at all.
The amazing thing is that it appears to be in such good condition!

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

Hello again IBR73

I spent a few late night hours looking at this.
My initial hunch was an early Jetfast and I dated it to
late 1960s or early 1970s. I now think that's right.

The detail of the front area does match a slightly later 1973 Jetfast machine.




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

hi jack yes that front detail certainly looks the same well I think ill try and buy this machine as you said before it looks in fantastic condition and it would be something different you don't see many of them around

Hello IRB73

I have looked at this mower over the last couple of days.
It is identified (as best as I can at present) - as a Bragg Industries mower.
Little is known about that company.

The badging may not have said 'Jetfast' though.
Your mower may date from as early as 1967.

I speculate it was made exclusively for ... Homemakers, or later, Eric Anderson.
When HG Palmer collapsed in the mid-1960s, the company was restructured.
The new name (on the surviving stores) was 'Homemakers'.



However, it would appear that the Eric Anderson group took over Homemakers
in 1968 (including the Sydney stores), and the mower was probably badged as
a 'Lawnmaster'.



Later this machine would be branded as a 'Jetfast'
So, it's unclear what this mower was originally branded as, as
it appears to have been an exclusive brand in its earlier career.

If you get this mower, there is a vital clue.
The starter has a service phone number (can't fully read). It may lead
to the more accurate identification of this mower:-



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

thanks jack for all the research I'm hoping to pick it up next Saturday so this would be a rare machine then

Good research there, Jack.

AFAIK, Bragg Industries originated the Jetfast brand, and may have later changed their company name to include 'Jetfast'.
The ASIC website is down today, so I can't run any business name history searches.

It can be informative to run a few trademark searches at http://www.ipaustralia.com.au
Bragg Industries, Jetfast Supaswift and Allpower all had relevant mower-related trademarks registered at one time or another.
'Assignment' in the records means that the TM was transferred to a different company, AFAIK.

The company name succession appears to be Bragg Industries P/L [to late 1970's], then Jetfast Industries P/L [early 1980's], then Jetfast Supaswift P/L [late 1980's], quickly followed by Allpower Industries P/L.

Jetfast Industries Pty Ltd were definitely trading in the mid-1980's - my 1985ish SupaSwift Big Bob has that name on it as manufacturer.

Hello Mod Gadge and IRB73

Great information there, too, Gadge. Any info. will help with this
illusive company. You have given me some extra ideas...
... A picture is slowly emerging.

Yes, I am convinced "Jetfast" became Bragg's main model name
from the early 1970s. It would appear that this chassis (of IRB73)
started life as an exclusive brand for the restructured Palmer's.

This was a mid-arch chassis which had a clear implication for the 1970s:
it would be an entry-level rear-catcher lawnmower. The price (in two ads)
supplied here was $99 ... the same price as Victa's stencil Mayfair!

Here's an ad from 1980 of an updated version of the chassis:-



Here's an ad from Geoff Nowak he dated to 1981. It shows the Bragg logo
and the Jetfast name [with safety clothing]. This would be, I think,
their first high-arch machine. Better late than never ...

Oh god !!!!

with an image like that no wonder they called themselves "Bragg Industries" because if I had a girl like that doing my lawns I'd be bragging all day long LOL !!!!!

Cheers,
BB

hi jack I just picked the mower up this morning I have taken a couple of pics
one thing I have noticed with this is the front of the mower I thought at 1st it was broken but it appears that's it isn't and its shaped unlike the pics you showed of the homemaker and lawnmaster also both pics show white engine I know its a b&w pic if they were a darker colour engine it would've showed up in the pics I also found on the wheels it says A PRODUCT OF WALTER BARR PTY LTD ENFIELD NSW

Hello IRB73

That's good to know. I wasn't sure whether the front was damaged or
intact. A photo would be good. Also, one from underneath to show the
front safety skirt.

I have noted the phone number. It appears to be a Sydney number ...?
Thanks for the wheel manufacturer's name - Walter Barr.

Are you happy with your purchase?
---------------------------------------
Jack

hi jack I'm happy it caught my eye and the better half likes it as well so its a win win
its a runner as well it seems in really good condition quite amazing as the seller didn't even know if it ran
now to find out who made it and whats its identity
I took a pic of the front but it wont let me upload it ive tried numerous times
so do you think its an early jet fast or super swift

Hi Jack,
If that was a Sydney number then I think it was in the South around to South-West area, being 7-digit it should be from the 60's or later, shich would put it in the further out and likely newer (for the time) 'burbs. So I'm guessing from Taren Pt bridge, Hurstville, Revesby, Padstow down to Sutherland and roundabouts, maybe out to Caringbah. I think west of Bankstown was in the the 6xx-, Liverpool would have been a country code I think ( and 6xx- if not). Inner areas ( inside) say Hurstville - Strathfield were likely 6-digits still, unless perhaps new.

Not sure, but down SE towards Botany may have been 3xx and/or 6-digit anyway.

Enough dredging of the dusty corners of my mind on off-topics! I obviously spent too much time reading telephone books!!!

hi pitrack
well that could possibly make it undercliff as jack stated bragg industries was situated
undercliff was incorporated into earlwood in 83 and is in sydneys south west

Hello IRB73 & Patrick

Great detective work there men.
A wrapped telephone book makes the ideal Christmas present.

I've got nothing on the phone number.
The factory at Undercliff employed about 30 people and its
phone number at the time was 559 3055.

"so do you think its an early jet fast or super swift"
Well, the best descriptor would be ... this is a Bragg Industries' mower.
I have no doubt that Bragg made this lawnmower.



IRB73, this is a wonderful example for the record.
It may be that Bragg made one (or more) of the HG Palmer designs as well.
All these things were 'trade secrets'.

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

I have recently been shown this mower by a member of my facebook page, it seems to be the same but with a different engine.

Hi Kye,

Yep, a later model.
Kirby 'modernised' the engine by incorporating the much used
plastic ful tank that clipped on to the front.

In this ad from late 1973, note the Bragg name Jetfast appears
on the mower but not in the text. The engine is a KAV74 (not KAY).
The catcher is now plastic. At $99 this was entry level. It's
competitor ... the Victa Mayfair of course.




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

Thanks for that Jack, will tell him this info. Also I just realized that the wheels are made by the same person who made the wheels on my early Pace mower, Walter Barr!

With whats left of a Bragg Industries sticker on the rhs and a good match to the SMH 1973 advert my recent find has to be a close relative of irb73's purchase. Similar snorkel and throttle layout and tell tale red paint flakes on the motor mount and very similar baseplate. Motor details are KAV 73 spec no. BJ6648A , SERIAL NO. Y8 94572.

G'day gnomester
Yep, I think you have done your research there.

The '73 advertisement would be a good guide as to date.
Note the lack of a 'dress cowl' over the metal cowl.
This started to appear late 1960s.

I can't say too much is known about Bragg Industries.
They seem to have found a niche market for quality entry-level
lawnmowers - and catered to small dealers too.

Many thanks for the Kirby spec numbers.

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