OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums The History Forum Model Histories AUSTRALIAN Rotary Models VILLAGER Special - c1956

Hello ODK History Lovers
The Villager Company�s first model was the Standard, a simple but authoritative
name for any lawnmower. The company was established by three founders in 1955,
and the Villager was in clear competition with Victa. This was a �toe-cutter�
copy of sorts � favouring the skirt-less base that Victa pioneered � but with
significant design differences that probably made it a better lawnmower.

The Villager Special was a part of the expanded range that Villager was offering
by 1957. I do not believe there was any coincidence in the naming of the Special
at this time.

The Special had the Standard chassis but with a Villiers Mk3 Midget engine.
This was Villager�s first shrouded, fan-forced engine and it was released in
late 1956. It sold alongside the Standard and Model 70 (with their patented
Twin Cooling).



TO BE CONTINUED ...

PART TWO � Analysis & Comment
Advertisements for the Special are not common at all.
I guess the reason for that is simple: I am sure Villager wanted to
promote and sell their own Twin Cooling system � as used on the Standard
and 70 models.

I guess the Special used an Australian-made Midget Mk3 and this would be
one of the first AUS rotaries to use fan forced cooling.

I note that the Mk3 engine was available on imported machines from about
1949 � so it remains a bit of a mystery why they were not used earlier by
AUS manufacturers. Any marketing advantage for the Special was probably
undermined by the new 18� Typhoon model (that also had fan forced cooling.
I do not know when the Special was discontinued.

Specification Changes for the Special
The Special would have had design changes over its life.
The main changes would be:-
- Height adjuster turn-wheel and screw
- Addition of a front cross-axle
- Folding handle
- Thin tyres on metal hubs; then semi-pneumatic tyres.

In this 2012 auction photo from a c1958 Villager parts manual we see the
range for those years: the newly introduced Typhoon, the popular Standard,
and then the Special and 70.



REPCO Catalogue - c1960


TO BE CONTINUED ...