OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Finding and Swapping Rare Finds & Donations TAD Lawnmower

hello lawnmower aficionadoes. new mower in de house. a few pics for your records. blue i was thinking










i hope you are all well
Sean

It's a Tad old ??

Cheers,
BB.

Might be a tad old but Masport could have a close look at this for their current blade design, might help them stopping broken crankshafts. BTW Sean, good score

Might be a tad special too, Sean.

Some public spirited chap has created a Trove list of TAD advertisements. I wonder who that might be....... . List is short and has a very tight date block in the '50s. Of course Trove records of most publications dry up at about that time.......sigh.........

Might be worthy of very proper resto Sean.

What say you Jack?

Awesome score Sean! In an awesome original condition.

what a nice old machine, would not be many those around great find sean

norm masport have known for years how to design a blade bar that will last forever and never bend a crankshaft but they only want to make max profit, make as cheap as possible.
masport don't care quality just profit

G'day Sean, BB, Norm, Learned PRD, Kye and Freebird.

I have to agree with Kye about original condition.
However, I do not believe the blade carrier is original.
I say that because I have a patent from mid-1953 which
shows that Mr Taplin favoured a bar blade with safety clutch.

My History Record can be found here:-
https://www.outdoorking-forum.com.au/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=51983

However, what has been done he is a correct repair (in service)
when the clutch failed and parts became unavailable. The solution
was to fit a swing-back-blade design.

Sean, it would be great if the flywheel numbers reveal a date ...

I certainly agree with prd about a 'very proper resto'.
In fact, a sensitive one in this case.

In terms of history, the TAD and Grasshopper are the two closest
rivals to the earliest Victa rotaries - within months!

Note how the TAD was inspired by the first electric rotaries,
with rear roller and smaller cutting width. TADs were made about
10km from Merv's Victa.

An important machine, Sean.
This one needs 'special care'.

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

Yup, for sure Jack. A nice minimal, sympathetic tidy-up that leaves all the history and patina on the machine.

To quote Gordon Brown (TV antiques bloke) once again, 'As little as possible and as much as is necessary.'

Cheers all,

G'day prd, Fashionista Shaun, and all patinaristos (I made that word up)

I think that is the best approach here prd.
This is, as you know, a controversial issue. It's not a simple one ...

For example, some sources will say rust is a patina on metal surfaces.
I sometimes think that too much rust (or corrosion) destroys patina,
and this points to a more extensive restoration.

In this case the tank and large parts of the base are good.
The handle bar is rusty though. Some would say this patina should
be preserved. Because TADs are so rare - and historically significant -
this would be the approach I favour (in this case).

But ... some would argue this is a marginal case - too much patina has
been lost [by their definition]. I understand that case too.

I know Gordon Brown discussed this piece - the most valuable piece
of furniture from Tasmania's colonial past. Had it been fully restored,
it would have been valued at half its current value:-



The lesson, for me, is whatever the decision is, it must
be taken in a considered, serious way.

John Lennon seems to have gotten away with this one - worth
much more than any 'original' Phantom ...



The reason, though, goes to provenance.
... And it now has a new patina that should be preserved.

A very challenging issue.
-------------------------------
Jack

Jack friend of mine had a very funny incident a few years ago on a 1948 Flying Flea He found under a house in Cheltenham (sandy soil) where it had been sitting for about 40 years. I "re-commissioned" it for him with all its "patina" got it onto club reg and the first time he rode it down the main street of Mornington (bit of a snobby area with all their fancy cars and Scott on this bike which looked like it had just been dragged out from under the house) and smoking worse than a 2 stroke Victa, (had a bit of extra oil in it for effect) rode past a Cop car. Cop immediately pulled him over with words like "what do you think you are doing" Scotts reply was "going to get a coffee" Cop, "you can't be serious" Scott, "why is that, it is perfectly legal, just been registered?" Scott handed him his log book a licence, cop went back to his car, came back and said, Everthing is in order but I just couldn't let you ride past me without pulling you over and as he was leaving he said to Scott, it will look great once it is restored, to which Scott replied, "you should have seen it before we restored it"

G'day Norm

That is one of the best stories I have read here!

I say that because, not only is it funny, but it reveals [or conceals] a certain truth.
There is something fantastic in the continuity of a machine - that it remains unmolested.

Norm, I don't think you would favour facelifts.
I bet my bottom dollar that your face is as fresh as a newborn;
but with some age patina ... as would be expected.

Brilliant!
-------------------
Jack

Maybe Masport should change their nameplate to BAD.

It's much in keeping with the spirit of this mob; http://feralsportscarclub.net/

Basically; 'fettle them enough to make them run reliably, put 'em on club rego, and drive 'em!'

G'day Gadge

I love their slogan: "Driving Taste To New Depths".
That seems to be the story of my life

Cheers
--------------
Jack