OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Collectors Corner Rotary 1956 Whirlwind 18" Rotary Mower - First Model

This mower was originally purchased from the Evans Anderson Machinery store located in Boonah, SE Queensland. The owner purchased it new and used it up until he could no longer push it around his small block, by the height of the deck and the amount of dirt built up on the deck and motor I would say he wasn't keen on leaving any grass behind.

The Whirlwind uses the Villiers Midget engine, this unit has a flywheel date of August 1955. A one piece cutting bar is fitted which also provides some cooling to the cylinder by means of pushing cooling air up through a hole beneath the cylinder head. Cutting height is adjusted by manually repositioning the wheels.

One interesting feature is the engines exhaust is directed down and into quite a large chamber beneath the cutting deck, a nice bit of over engineering when a simple bun type muffler would do the job easily and allow for quick and easy replacement. Did Victa copy this idea for their future Specials?











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The second model of this mower sees the deletion of the under deck exhaust and the addition of a cooling shroud and recoil starter fitted on the Villiers 3G engine, this upgrade in engine would also do away with the brackets to fit the fuel tank as the fuel tank is mounted to the shroud of the 3G unit.

A much more efficient air filter is also fitted to the Villiers Junior carburettor, pics are from a past EBay auction

Hi Paul

This is an important one for your collection.
Of course, rare; but the first small Phillip's Whirlwind.

Many thanks for pointing out that there were two versions
of the original Whirlwind 18" Lawnmower.

Things were moving quickly back then. The first model was
most probably introduced in late 1955 for the 1956 season.
The second version was sold alongside the cheaper 'Sabre',
and introduced in late 1956 for the 1957 season.

This would explain why your machine is super rare. It was sold
for just one season, by an emerging lawnmower company.

Your images are the first I have seen that reveal an under-deck
exhaust system! Is the safety clutch still intact?

Many thanks to member Max Western for finding the original
late 1955 patent for the clutch:-



These clutches were used on a number of Australian-made, direct-
drive rotaries that used bar blades. Other makers found a more
elegant solution - the swing-back blade.

Whirlwind's larger (commercial) machines were not direct drive,
employing a belt(s) for shock protection. I might add that Whirlwind
did employ the swing-back blade on its Sabre by late 1957,
meaning they probably did so, too, for the second version of your
lawnmower.

These are the first good images (and video) of this important
Australian lawnmower.

----------------------
Jack

Hi Jack,
Thank you for adding the patent for the clutch, the clutch looks to be untouched and complete.

Hi Paul c and Jack,Vintage mowers home page (click on photos then click on Patrick's Mowers) has a clean image of the under base exhaust resonator (expansion Chamber).
Nice looking mower with a clean coat of paint.
I take it Whirlwind was the first Australian built rotary mower that came out with the recoil starter.

Lawn Boy and Masport had the under base resonator in the early days with the iron horse motor.

The first model has the Midget Mark 2 and the second Model has the Mark 3 Engine but I am not sure if the base castings are different because I have not seen the foot rest on the second model.
The casting must be slightly different because the second model does not have the exhaust hole in the base.

The first Whirlwind's base looks like it is shaped like a Simpsons-Sears mower base.
1953 Canadian Simpsons Sears made by RPM with iron horse engine.








Cheers Max.