OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums The History Forum Model Histories SCOTT BONNAR Models MODEL 16 - 20", 24" & 30" Reel Mowers

Hello ODK history lovers

The Queen is, arguably, Scott Bonnar�s crowning glory.

It materialised that great company�s main claim to fame � the making of precision,
commercial machines for bowling greens, tennis courts and other fine lawns. The
choice of the gender-specific �Queen� was very much intended � given that Adelaide
� the home of Scott Bonnar � was named after a Queen.

There were two Model series of Queens: The Model 16 and the more famous Model 30
(30� Electric only). This History Record discusses just the Model 16 Queen series.

Made with electric or petrol power units, the Model 16 Queen�s reign commenced
in 1950, but it is unclear when production ended. My best guess is that The
Model 16 stayed in production until the introduction of the more modern Model
65, introduced in the late 1960s (I think).



TO BE CONTINUED �

MODEL 16 � PETROL � MANUAL

Acknowledgement: A sincere thank you to member sb30inch (a professional greenskeeper)
for supplying this Operator and Parts Manual.

MODEL 16 � ELECTRIC � MANUAL

Acknowledgement: A sincere thank you to member sb30inch (a professional greenskeeper)
for supplying this Operator and Parts Manual.

PART TWO - Chronology of Models
The Model 16 was a post-war design that replaced the aging Queen City machines,
which dated from the 1920s. Scott Bonnar became a public company in 1950 and it
did so to fund a whole range of new models � and markets � for the post war era.

Introduced in 1950, the Model 16 was originally offered in two petrol-powered
sizes - 20� and 24� - and the early petrol engines appear to have been either
JAP or Villiers units.



The Model 16 Queen electric was offered in one size only � 24 inch.
This is the machine that would capture the vast majority of the bowling
clubs in Australia (and would be sold overseas).



It would appear that, by the late 1950s, the Model 16 would be offered in
just one size � 24�. The reason for the consolidation was model size crossover:
The residential/commercial Supercuts (also introduced in 1950) were available
in both petrol and electric variants in 20� (and at a cheaper price).



TO BE CONTINUED ...

PART THREE � The 30 Inch Model 16
It was only recently that we realised that the Model 16 was enlarged in
cutting size to 30 inch, probably in the mid-1960s. I feel I have a credible
explanation for how this came about �

In the 1950s there was a clear demand for wider cut machines from the
bowling club fraternity, with many clubs having multiple rinks, as the
popularity of lawn bowls increased post war. And after all, Scott Bonnar
had offered Queen City electric models up to 30 inch from the early days.
Scott Bonnar�s answer (in this vital market) was not to enlarge the existing
Model 16 electric, but to introduce a whole new model Queen � their most
famous Model 30 � designed just for electric power, and just for bowling
green application.

However, there was also a gap in the large cut petrol-powered range for
other applications. After all, Scott Bonnar had offered a 30� petrol
machine in its Ajax model, introduced in the mid-1930s. With Ajax
production ending in the early 1950s, it seemed logical (to me anyway)
to enlarge the Model 16 petrol to a 30 inch cut.

Thus, the Model 16 was again offered in two sizes: this time 24� and 30�.
Powered again by a Mark 25 Villiers 4-stroke (with reduction gear) this
machine had an 8-blade reel, and a three-piece roller (24�) or 4-piece (30�).
It was over-engineered to last a lifetime.

A big thank you to Scott Bonnar Historian Grant Simpson for supplying
these scanned images.

PART FOUR - Brochures 01
I have a brochure for the 24-inch Petrol Queens Lawnmower.
The multi-page booklet is in reasonable condition, and it gives
a detailed specification.

I date this brochure to the early 1950s - before the smaller 20-inch
machine was introduced, and the later, larger, 30-inch was offered.
Note the older style catcher decal (with AUS flag).

PART 4 - BROCHURE 02
The second brochure from my collection is from the late 1950s and it
is in mint condition. Note that the Model 16 Queen was only offered as
a 24� machine at this time. In the 1960s, a 30" machine would be added.