OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Restoring, Customising and Modifying Reel-Type Mowers 14 inch Supercut help

Hi guys and girl

First time posting, i have just recently purchased a Scott Bonnar 14inch Supercut petrol. It starts first time runs and cuts. Looks in pretty good condition with exception to age. I'm just after some information in terms of manuals (doesn't seem to be any, anywhere, or im looking in the wrong spots) and advice on stripping them down, what to look for, what to expect? Also just some general information on the machine itself.

Thank you in advance.

Hello Paul_x99
A warm welcome from me.

Many thanks for the great images that will now go to provenance.
The mower number appears to be SCP 325 (or 326?).
I guess 'P' was for 'petrol'.

The small Supercuts are the rarest, and this one is the earliest I've seen.
It is in remarkable condition.

General information will be available by typing 'supercut' in the blue search bar.
There is scant info on these small, early machines.

I'll see what I can find.

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

https://www.outdoorking-forum.com.au/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/64309/MODEL_17_-_History_Record_-_Th.html

Thanks Jack.

Yeah looking closely at the number it seems to be 325.

Do you have any indication as to what year it would be from? As a rough guess?

Thank you again for your time and the link to another thread.

Regards

G'day Paul
Yeah, I am prepared to speculate...

Scott Bonnar historian Grant Simpson has listed the Supercut as
being introduced in 1950. My evidence says that would be late 1950
for the 1951 season. I think that's about right.

Yours is a very low model number, but the complication is what I
think was Scott Bonnar's early mis-reading of the post-war market.

I have argued on these forums that Scott Bonnar entered a new,
mass-market for its domestic range. I think SB later realised that a high-end
small reel would be problematic - given the influx of modern, lightweight
designs becoming available. They engaged in it a bit after the first Supercuts: -

https://www.outdoorking-forum.com.au/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/65009/model-19-history-record-c1953.html

So, even a low mower number, sales would have been restricted to
their traditional middle-class market. The 14" Supercut was an
expensive machine!

The best I can do - dating wise - is to say early 1950s.


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

p.s. any Villiers markings (on flywheel or stator plate may provide a closer date.

Thanks Jack.

Great information. I think i will be spending some time on the reading. Plenty to learn.

I will have a look for more information to see what i can locate, and post with findings.

Its a great little machine, very clever for the era. Its in great condition which i will hopefully only make better.

Thanks

Hi Paul
If you are after an early operator and parts manual then SilensMessor
is the go on eBay.

https://www.ebay.com.au/str/vintagemowerdecals

He has a fantastic reproduction of an early Supercut manual
that covers the smaller machines.

You would need to PM him from his store.

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