Well it seems that one of the more well known Adelaide based Scott Bonnar re-furbishers is shutting up shop.
This guy is rather well known around Australia for selling rebuilt Scotty's on the bay over many many years.
From what I've heard he's now shutting up shop and quitting his stash while the prices are up. Personally and remembering that this is only my own opinion, and that is he's probably missed the boat as prices are now falling due to the flooding of the market with hundreds of machines that are still out there, taking into account Scott Bonnar / Rover built thousands and thousands of the famous Model 45's over many years and plenty are still tucked away in old sheds around the country after failing and being non-viable to repair due to the prices being charged by Lawnmower Repair shops, thus their owners instead purchasing new rotaries as cheaper replacements.
Below is a photo of the Adelaide based stash that's now being sold off in either parts or full machines. Now taking into account that this guy probably paid no more than around $50 per machine, that's a pretty good return on investment now isn't it ???
I compare the Model 45 to the HQ Holden, do you see any similarities there ? apart from one obviously not being a Lawnmower ?
Well both were iconic products from their respective manufacturers. Both were produced in very high numbers thus being very common around the country. Both were worth nothing 20 years ago and you couldn't find a hole deep enough to bury them all in as no one wanted them and strangely both are worth a small fortune in nearly any condition now and everyone wants one !
My oh My how times have changed.
Now, if only Superannuation returned a profit like this eh ?.
I can see all you guys drooling right now and your tongues are hanging out !
I live a 24 Hour lifestyle, but every now and again I seem to fall asleep, well at least that's what my wife tells me.
BB I guess it is like most things hobbyists do, the money for the hours is never there. His passion/hobby has kept him going for some time but I guess one day you ask yourself what am I doing this for or old man time catches you and it all gets too hard to handle?
To be brutally honest I think that as most parts are now available via reproduction that many folks are doing these themselves and not paying someone a huge price for something that used to be an exclusive cottage industry.
At around $1600 for the average rebuild that he used to charge many have opted for the much cheaper option. Sites like ours are helping many get around the lack of knowledge which is now freely available via yours truly I guess.
Cheers, BB.
I live a 24 Hour lifestyle, but every now and again I seem to fall asleep, well at least that's what my wife tells me.
Charging $1600 for them BB he deserves to get stuck with that lot. Obviously people in SA are prepared to spend much more on their lawns than Victorians
Norm K, Bonnar Bloke, I'd rather buy the current 20" cut Gardenline mower on sale at Aldi with self propel, electric start, and 196cc ohv power plant running the show and save $1200 and get the 5 year warranty.
Ahh, if only victa had kept producing the thumblatch catcher series, they would be in better shape today!
Sorry, but that's just not in the same league. I'm very much a believer in value for money but $1600 is a tad over the top in my view, but then again I've always been of the opinion that something is only worth what someone is prepared to pay and all the young punks with short arms and very deep pockets just won't reach to the bottom nowadays.
Cheers, BB
I live a 24 Hour lifestyle, but every now and again I seem to fall asleep, well at least that's what my wife tells me.
Sorry, but that's just not in the same league. I'm very much a believer in value for money but $1600 is a tad over the top in my view, but then again I've always been of the opinion that something is only worth what someone is prepared to pay and all the young punks with short arms and very deep pockets just won't reach to the bottom nowadays.
Cheers, BB
Hi Bonnar_Bloke, certainly not, but I think it's one odd the most stylish looking mowers I've seen since the Victa Vortex. A mower you have a passing admiration for.
Ahh, if only victa had kept producing the thumblatch catcher series, they would be in better shape today!
BB I don't think it is the young ones with short arms that is the problem. if they do manage to get themselves a mortgage the last thing they could is afford to buy a $1600 second hand mower to cut the grass. In Melbourne these days all the new houses have the smallest lawns you can imagine and many you have to carry the mower through the house to get to the rear yard. Try doing that with a Scottie.
As far as Aldi Mowers are concerned many are being returned with failing power plants, my next door neighbour bought one and 4 weeks later returned it only to find out it had a conrod failure. The staff member there mentioned that they have had heaps returned which go straight to the .................................pool room, whoops sorry I meant the scrap heap.
Norm,
It's the youngens that are buying them and flipping them as quick as they can get them.
Yes the housing situation here in Adelaide is no different, they knock one joint over and put up to 4 in its place. Only a few short years ago councils made you have a percentage of open space around a dwelling to absorb water and not have it all go into their storm water infrastructure, now that's all gone out the window because its all about the development lodgement fees and multiple rates from what used to only be one lot etc. that the mongrels are taking in hand over fist.
Cheers, BB.
I live a 24 Hour lifestyle, but every now and again I seem to fall asleep, well at least that's what my wife tells me.
Even (relatively) sleepy Adelaide has been infected with the shoebox developments popping up everywhere like in Sydney? That should be declared a crime to humanity. In Sydney's case it's the state govmint's policy leading to this proliferation of grotesque apartment tower slums. According to the evening news, tower developments in Ryde City Council area ("city" council -what a joke) have resulted in 30-40% rise in crime rates compared to before in this previously safe middle class area. Perhaps Scottie ownership is a good barometer to low crime rates!!
Ahh, if only victa had kept producing the thumblatch catcher series, they would be in better shape today!
There are quite a few buyers that have bought new Rovers over the past couple of years as they feel the Model 45 is an old unit and they don't want some patched up oldie.
Cheers, BB.
I live a 24 Hour lifestyle, but every now and again I seem to fall asleep, well at least that's what my wife tells me.
Crap you guys are making me depressed lol, I just finished rebuilding a 20" Supercut Oh well at least it will be around for the next 50 years
oh dear that's a sobering thought I wont be lol
The young ones don't want lawns as they are to busy on smart phones and social media and watching crap on TV
I love spending the day gardening mowing the lawn [ with Scott Bonnar ] edges done then sitting down in the evening and having a few cold ones and admiring my work
Don't worry Ken, I get depressed every day when I spring out of bed only to turn on the telly, listen to the news and then I get depressed again. Then if I try to go for a drive ( unless I drive after 10pm, traffic is good then) my depression turns to pity for all those poor people out there struggling their way to work because this is the way we have to live in this country now. The good thing is I think there is only 45 people per hour moving into Melbourne now, but there is 24 hours in every day.
Hi NormK, I get where you are coming from, it's the same here. I have two son-in-law's that travel from Mandurah into Perth cbd to work one is a commercial banker and yes I said banker lol but we wont go there lol. the 79 klm trip takes them 2.1/2hrs in stop start traffic I think I was lucky to be born in 1950 as it was a great childhood , spent all my time outdoors playing down the river etc only went home for dinner at 5.30pm. the worst time was my time in Vietnam but that said I would not trade my time for what the kids off today have to put up with today.
My mum died at 86 about 8 years ago and I remember she saying she didn't like the way the world had become, and she just wanted to go. I now understand where she was coming from. Now when I want to escape the rigors of day to day pressures I go out in the boat fishing for the day or retreat to the Shed lol
I also think that the good old Aussie way is disappearing ,there are too many people of different ethnic backgrounds here that DON'T want to assimilate, any way that's enough grumbling for now
