OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums The History Forum The Old Soap Box Throttle Control - ELMACO & Conwire

Hi all,

I thought I would add this bit of trivia to the historical record in case it has fallen through the cracks. Apologies if it has already been written about.

As a restorer I tend to be fussy and try to purchase original parts if they are still available. The nylon cable clamp on the handlebars of a H. G. Palmer mower was a case in point. It was badly perished but I could still read the brand name. It was made by an Australian company called ELMACO (owned by Hardie Trading Limited) and the Product Number stamped on the clamp is CAT 157. Apparently the company made various electrical connectors.

A search of the company soon revealed that it had been registered on May 24, 1967. It was taken over by F and T Industries Limited on 23/09/1970. This company changed its name to Acmil Limited on 03/09/1976. Acmil Limited was taken over by Australian Consolidated Industries Limited on 29/04/1981, and that company was delisted on 20/12/1989.

So there was little hope of me ever finding a replacement ELMACO clamp in new condition. I decided to buy a modern brand that looked similar.

Then I had a closer look at the throttle lever on my H. G. Palmer. It was clearly labelled CONWIRE.



I was pleasantly surprised when a search of the internet revealed that the company is still operating to this day! So many companies from that era are not.

Click here for a short history of Conwire Pty. Ltd.

Today they are experts at fitting cables and appear to specialize in vintage applications.

However it would appear they no longer make the little throttle lever that was used on the H. G. Palmer. Mine may be perished and a little bit rusty, but it still works fine. Clearly they were made to last!

POSTSCRIPT: It is difficult to understand how ELMACO were only registered in 1967, but H. G. Palmer went broke in 1965, and my mower with Kirby-Lauson VK-30 engine was probably made around 1965. This tends to suggest that Conwire had been in operation much earlier than their actual registration date.

G'day vint-mow
Many thanks for the intensive work on identifying an early OEM supplier
to lawnmower makers. It adds to the record for sure.

I think I have an answer to that ...

The original Elmaco were involved with electrical plastic products.
There are a lot of entries on TROVE, suggesting an expanding business into
the general plastic industry - from rubbish bins to throttle controls.
Elmaco were an early player in the AUS plastics industry.



I will add that these controls were universally available on many
makes of lawnmowers - Victa, Pope, Scott Bonnar - you name it.
They were available from the very early 1960s.

They were sold as generic controls in mower shops up to the late 1970s.
This gives hope of NOS appearing from time to time.

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


SOURCE: Victa Green Book Vol 1, c1972.

G'day Vint Mow

I found this article from 1970 in my travels.
No small company ...
Start date ... July 1, 1950.

Thanks Jack, This is very interesting. I could find very little on them.