OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums The History Forum Model Histories UK & EUROPEAN Rotary Models ATCO: The Australian-made 16" Rotary - c1957

Hello ODK History Lovers

The Atco Rotary Mower is a rare lawnmower on these shores.

The Atco Company entered the rotary market relatively late; about a decade after
the first Australian rotaries, and five years after the first Victas.

Their first Atco rotary was Australian-made but may have been replicated with
UK manufacture for the European market. The machine had a 16 inch cut with a steel
base. Its design influence clearly both Australian and English, and as such I have
classified it as a European Rotary, rather than Australian.

I believe it sold for the 1957-58-59 seasons and that was about it. Atco rotaries
would continue to be developed in the UK for the European market, but the first
model is, to my knowledge, the only model sold here.

The Australian-made Atco must be considered unique in Atco history. I believe
two model Atcos were made here by Atco (Aust) pty. Ltd., and probably the result
of taking a tariff advantage of the time. These were the 14� domestic reel mower
and the rotary discussed here. The largest dealers would have been Stokoe Motors
in Melbourne, and Motor Tractors in Sydney.




TO BE CONTINUED ...

PART TWO - Specification

I was lucky enough to acquire an Australian brochure last year in mint condition.
The brochure (below) claimed that the mower was 'designed with safety in mind' ...
meaning it had a pressed-steel base with a thin skirt. This feature was clearly
aimed at the safety defects of Victa's 'toe cutter' base: 'Toes are safe around
the Atco'.

This was a rear-discharge utility mower, but with no safety flap to deflect
projectiles or safety skirt (that would be shortly introduced on other makes).
The blades were 'spring-back' for shock protection. The handle could be adjusted
for height but was not foldable. The wheels were the 'Latest American-type', but
manufactured here by Walter Barr Pty. Ltd.

The engine was the Atco/Villiers with its unique identifier of slanted ribbed
cylinder cooling fins. Of note is the yellow paint scheme, the decal, and early
use of the extended air intake:-

PART THREE - Analysis & Summary

The Atco rotary entered the market at a most dynamic time in vintage lawnmower
history; with important new features becoming part of 'expected' lawnmower design.
That was unfortunate timing for this little Atco rotary.

In 1957 the expectation for a rotary was becoming single-point height adjustment.
The Atco had the primitive single-wheel adjustment requiring tools. It did not
have a folding handle, and though it had a safer narrow-skirted base, there was no
secondary safety skirting. Its rear discharge was, to say the least, problematic.
It was not capable of taking a grass catcher. The engine lacked fan-cooled air
shrouding ...

For all these reasons, the first Atco rotary was living on borrowed time.
The Australians - arguably - were making great advances in lawnmower design at
this time that would put them at the forefront, and of world significance.

Atco - late in entering the 'rotary revolution' - would continue to remain behind
the times for the years' ahead. It would ultimately get it right, but too late
for this market.

It is for these reasons that the first Atco is rare today. It is highly desirable
and collectible and a good representation of the exciting and dynamic times of
vintage mowers developed in the late 1950s.

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

These are 2016 auction pictures of an Adelaide machine.
Thanks to member Paul C for spotting this one.

Note the yellow and red colour scheme and the Atco/Villiers engine.




The rear-discharge chute is not a typical Australian design at all.
It reminds me of the UK's Rotoscythe County model (see link below).


Particular note should be paid to the fading decal.
It's not the same as presented in the brochure (above) - it has
a kangaroo and emu, and a crown within the outline of Australia. An 'A'
is central. This is a more complex decal.

A Mystery Machine
There is photographic evidence of an Atco rotary that should be covered in this
History Record. It is a first-model 16" Atco with a significant specification
difference.

The photographic evidence depicts a blueish-coloured base and a different decal.
I believe the bluish tinge is faded and weathered 'Atco Green'

The decal is the more complex one not depicted in the yellow machine brochure.
Most important is the engine ... it's an Australian-made Vinco! How could this be so?

The Vinco-powered Atco is an outright mystery. I can only speculate that this
machine was the earlier model ... and it may be that the impetus for an Atco Rotary
originated here - on these shores! The Australian engine, the different colour, the
decal (the same as on the yellow machine above) all point to an earlier machine.
I wonder ...

In mid-2016 a second Vinco-powered Atco rotary surfaced.
Owned by Richard Ballard of Dalby, he confirmed the originally
colour was an 'Atco Green', rather than the red/yellow machine.



Acknowledgement: thanks to Richard and Kye for updating this record.
Source: https://www.facebook.com/groups/Vintagemowers/

Old Lawnmower Club (UK) entry:
http://www.oldlawnmowerclub.co.uk/mowers/moms/mp076-1960s-atco-rotary-mower


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