I believe it is a pace Model Number 1585 from what i can see in this pic
G'day Kye and
slashnburnYep, quite rare and important.
The doc Kye supplied is a bit unclear. This machine is rightfully
designated as the
1S85 [one - S - eight - five]. The 'S' is for Simplex;
'85' for the cubic capacity of the engine.
Assuming the Pace doc is correct, Pace say their first models
appeared in
1956 for the 1956-57 season. They were offered with
two engine choices: the Villiers 70cc Mk 3G or 85cc Simplex Mk3.
Both engines had fan-forced cooling.
However,
John Longhurst (who created
Dreamworld on the Gold Coast),
was clearly making lawnmowers before that. The earliest ad I have is
from
August, 1955. In 1955, the engine would have been a Villiers Midget, and it would
have had no assisted cooling. This is the photo that appears on
the Vintage Mowers website.
http://www.vintagemowers.net/mower_pace.phpSo, Kye, you own the first 'official' Pace rotary mower.
This mower is important because of that fact alone.
But, it also has the larger Australian-made Simplex engine.
This is an all-Australian machine.
We look forward to following your progress on this machine.
I understand you intend a full restoration.
Kye, if you have ever visited Dreamworld, I bet you never
guessed that the creator also created Pace mowers in his
early 20's from a backyard garage. He also served as an
apprentice for ... Lawrence Hall ... the person claimed to
have inspired Merv Richardson and his Victa. That's another
story.
p.s. Would it be possible to get a low side-profile photo?
That way, we can compare it to the 'unofficial' Pace base.
------------------------
Jack