OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums The History Forum Model Histories AUSTRALIAN Rotary Models OWEN COX - Mowmobile - c1963

Hello ODK History Lovers
The Cox Mowmobile was one of Australia's first ride-on lawnmowers.
Manufactured by the pioneering Own Cox & Company, of 61 Ipswich Road,
Woolloongabba, Queensland.

Owen Cox quickly realised that the rotary lawnmower revolution - happening
in residential lawnmowers - could be applied to larger Australian lawns -
the larger acreages that signified the suburban crawl to larger urban
properties on the outskirts of major cities.

The styling was clearly 'inspired' by the leaders in the field - the
North Americans - who invented the concept of the 'garden tractor'.

But this, like some USA ride-ons, was more ... automobile ... but on a lawn.
It was a Mow Mobile!



TO BE CONTINUED ...

PART TWO - Specification & Brochures
Here, I would like to explore the specification of the Mowmobile, which clearly
developed over the years - in terms of engine HP and accessories offered. The
Mowmobile's most unique feature - the Live Drive - will be covered in the next
part.

The Mowmobile design was rugged and explains the success of this early ride-on.
It had direct drive to the cutter head as an important feature. Offered originally
as a 26" machine, it would be developed to 28", and decreased to 25" for the
smaller 5hp (4hp?) machine. All had Briggs and Stratton power units.

A low centre of gravity was clearly an advantage over other ride-ons.
The engine was placed almost central and very low in the tubular chassis, and it
had a simple, clever side shield for windrowing. I'm not so sure about the 'Smooth,
comfortable ride' though. Note some of the accessories offered. I now know what
'mobile' I should use for my next caravan holiday!



BROCHURES
This is a part-colour brochure from my collection that appears to date from the mid-1960S.
It depicts the 26" and 28" machines. Power seems to have been increased from 6hp to 7hp.



In the late 1960s a smaller 25" machine seems to have been added.
Note the accessories, now included is a grass catcher. In this second brochure
(from my collection) there was included a rare Price List for the 1967-68 season.
Amazing!

PART THREE - 1963 Patent
The main feature of the Mowmobile was not the styling - borrowed from
North American trends - but the unique friction drive system, patented by
Own Cox. That drive (now called a 'Live Drive') is still used today on some
Cox Industries' ride-ons. Amazing.



Global Mod Gadge has researched and found the original patent
lodged in mid-1963. It shows the direct drive feature of the cutter head.
Note that the original friction drive had a hand operated lever, rather
than a foot operated rocker-pedal, that would be used on later Cox models.

PART FOUR - Patent 49203 of 1964
I include this patent for its curiosity value. It suggests that Owen Cox
was looking toward the future of lawnmowers. It was a hydraulic drive
Mowmobile! It never went into production - probably because hydraulics would
not have been cost effective on residential ride-ons.

The system was non-controversial: hydraulic pump, control valve, reservoir
and drive motors. We would see this system employed on large commercial
mowing machines by the end of the 1960s - on gang and golf course equipment.

I guess the advent of small purpose-built gearboxes, transaxles, and hydrostats
were better solutions for the ride-ons of the future.

PART FIVE – Parts List
In 2021 I acquired an illustrated Parts List for the Cox Mowmobile.
As always, I make these docs available to members for viewing or
as a quality download.



The Parts List was accompanied by a separate Parts Price List [below]
produced by John Deck & Sons, the NSW distributor for Owen Cox at that time.

Note that this price list was produced on a Spirit (fluid) duplicator
and many senior ODK members might remember the distinctive
smell of fresh-off-the-press copies from school days.

MOWMATIC & MOWMANUAL
OWEN COX PREMISES


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