Since everybody seemingly has Scottys on the brain lately, I thought I'd start this topic on an enquiry I have had floating around my mind quite a while now. Decades ago in the 1980s someone in my neighbourhood had Scott Bonnar side throw that we used to make fun of, due to it's relatively basic appearance compared to the typical Victas everyone else used in the street. It had a white B&S motor with the vertical starter and spinning metal grill at the top. It was the first SB product I ever came across, so this is the mower I always associate with the brand. I recall how easy it was to start and how nicely it cut the grass when I had a couple of goes. I loved how it shot a nice shower of clippings away from the mower, something my Victa Utility didn't do years later. Maybe it was because tithe SB had blades from a catcher model fitted in place of slasher type blades. I can't recall any details except for the white B&S motor. I am guessing it dated possibly from the late 1960s as it did have a slightly vintage appearance to it. All I know is it's basic appearance added to the fun of using it and the tractor sound of the motor put a smile on my face.
Ahh, if only victa had kept producing the thumblatch catcher series, they would be in better shape today!
Unfortunately, I have no PDF reader atm, so cannot look at the 1973 brochure in great detail yet. I have spotted one mower there which looks like it. I am learning abit of SB history along the way though. Thanks for providing that link.
Ahh, if only victa had kept producing the thumblatch catcher series, they would be in better shape today!
G'day Glo Mod Gadge and MF I think the side-discharge design and engine gives this one away. It must be a Model 35. That was the only side-throw machine made by SB with a Briggs at this time.
Vertical pull starter means Series 9 or Series 11 Briggs (at that time). I have to confess, I have no images of a SB Model 35 Vert-pull B&s machine.
G'day Glo Mod Gadge and MF I think the side-discharge design and engine gives this one away. It must be a Model 35. That was the only side-throw machine made by SB with a Briggs at this time.
Yes Jack, that sounds like it. I very very vaguely recall the name 35 on the machine, just like the Borg Warner 3 speed auto transmission used in Valiant and Ford cars. When you say at this time, what time is that??
Ahh, if only victa had kept producing the thumblatch catcher series, they would be in better shape today!
Hi MF, From memory I have a few of those small utility mowers here with the vertical pull Briggs on them, not sure what I was going to do with them haven't even look at at them to see if they run, but most likely they will.Recently I have had a couple of people ask me to build them a lightweight Victa utility 2 stroke for cutting grass on steep slopes as I had a couple of frames here. Not that the Briggs could be used in this situation but it proves that just because some of these mowers are old they still have a use
I'm jealous Norm, as I'd love a side throw utility of any brand with that B&S motor. I have been craving one for years. A SB 35 would be top of my list of course!
Ahh, if only victa had kept producing the thumblatch catcher series, they would be in better shape today!
Pity you are not in Melb MF I end up with this sort of stuff when I pick up job lots of mowers, 20/40 at a time and there is always a lot of odd ball mowers in there. A couple of months ago I picked up about 40 and I soon realized I could never work my way through them all so I put all the early 2 stroke Victas on Gumtree for $10 each and a bloke came and took 15 of them so that took some of the pressure off where I could put them. I got my money back and he got a lot of parts he could play with.Problem was he said he had about 100 already at his place. The problem is the amount of hours you can spend fixing up one of these mowers. I figure it takes me close to 2 days just to refurb a Powertorque by the time I chase around and find them pick them up find good bodies and the doozie of them all, 4 good wheels, strip,paint and re assemble them.. In the last week or so I have concentrated on the heap of Briggs powered mowers I have here. First step is see if the motor runs and its condition. Second is the body type, MTD bodies go straight in the scrap bin, they usually have Briggs that are worn out, bodies are good, wheels not too bad,no catchers and the body is just too big and bulky for most people to be interested in them. Motors come off, if no good I strip any bits I want, run the grinder through the crank to remove the blade boss and into the trailer with the rest for a run to the tip. All the odd body types that need a specific catcher suffer the same fate. One thing I have started fiddling with a bit was the pile of Chondas here that always come in job lots. Most usually have done little work but get dumped because they won't start. I find most won't start because of the faulty choke design, modify that and they will usually fire up and run ok.
Oh Norm, your wife must really not want you to take up golf. It must be a "fun" process sifting out the diamonds from the gravel. Those job lots must yield some goodies from time to time. I have found an 80s/90s Rover catcher will fit satisfactorily to my B&S powered Super Swift I found from the 80s. Even a Victa flap held catcher will go on, but with huge gaps left open either side of the flap.
Ahh, if only victa had kept producing the thumblatch catcher series, they would be in better shape today!
MF I don't think she is really happy with me at the moment, apart from wanting to buy the 100 primer cap/float needles then I just told her I was thinking of picking up the 4 Deutschers up at Linton at a friend of my mates place. Not sure where I could put them, I'm running out of space, mowers come in faster than they go out and these take up a lot more space than domestic mowers
You're losing control. Off to the funny farm with you! Don't worry, I know the feeling. I only rent, so I am in constant worry what the landlord will say!!
Ahh, if only victa had kept producing the thumblatch catcher series, they would be in better shape today!
Hi Norm, you need to sit down and think about this ... That racking you have installed in the master bedroom has an obvious purpose... And what about the Power-Torque in the kitchen pantry?
I think you need to back-off until She-who-must-be-obeyed settles down.
Hi MF - sorry I missed that question. The Mod 35 was SB's most enduring side-charged lawnmower. They started using Briggs on 35sin the late 1960s. I suspect a vert-pull would date from the early 1970s.
