OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums The History Forum Model Histories AUSTRALIAN Reel Hand-Mowers POPE WIMBLEDON: 1949-1980

Hello ODK members,

This series of posts discusses the Pope Wimbledon range of manual push mowers, released in mid 1949, and
staying in continuous production (with little change) for over three decades.

Context:
Australia has a long, varied and interesting history of manual sidewheel mower manufacture. The great Aussie brands
of Clyde, and Crowe, and Presto, and Rexmow, and the like all deserve recording and recognition.

In the early 20th Century it was American machines that dominated the Australian market. The British Qualcast changed
all that with their setting up shop here in 1931. It's probably that single event that encouraged a new dynasty
of Australian manufacturers. The American stranglehold ended.

Post WWII saw two new Aussie kids arrive on the block. Both were large companies and both started their respective
mower operations in the same year - 1949. They were Ogden and Pope. For the whole
of the 1950s the TOP THREE players were Ogden, Pope and Qualcast.



Models:
The Wimbledons were offered in one size: 14 inch. They were offered in two variants: the 5 blade
and the 7 blade. Apart from that, they were identical.

The colour scheme and decals changed over the life of the machine. The original colour was
a rich baked enamel custard-yellow. At some point in the 1960s (I think) the colour changed to
a silver-gold. Decals changed at least three times.

The Pope Wimbledon was followed by two other models based on the Wimbledon: the electric Centre Court and the
petrol motor Power Mower.



Conclusion
For completeness, I would like to point out that Wimbledons were not revolutionary, but they were
refined and they defined what a modern sidewheel should be. In the next section I will discuss two patents
that represent refinement of the sidewheel design.

THE PATENTS

The Wimbledons were less innovative than refined. They showed Australia what was expected of
a modern sidewheel design - reel ball bearings fitted as standard; lighter; rubber tyres; tubular handle.

I would like to present two patents that show the Wimbledon, though conservative in design,
did have two features worthy of patents. Both were aimed at simplicity of use:

- Patent 140703: "An improved device for adjustment of the rollers for lawnmowers"
- Patent 140704: "Improvements in the attachment of deflector plates to lawnmowers"

Here is a photo of the side frame. Note the patent numbers on the roller bracket:-


These patents, applied for in 1948, present the Wimbledon as a refined machine, important to
Australian vintage mower history. Patent 140703 - the height adjuster - provided, "a quick and positive means
of adjusting the rollers on the lawnmower," and without, "screw drivers, spanners and the like to make such adjustment."

Patent 140704 - the deflector plate attachment - provided for, "a positively mounted deflector plate
which is easy to remove but in which the tendency to become displaced when the mower is operating is removed."
A second advantage was that the attachment, "does not require spanners or the like to remove it when required
and which is simple in operation. CLICK on the links below to view these patents.

INSTRUCTION BOOK

I have been lucky enough to acquire a Wimbledon booklet in good condition.
The booklet, including its containing envelope, was complete except for the "Test Card"
- that would have been used for the first 'set' on the reel.
[p.s. the matchbox was not in the envelope ]



The booklet dates, best estimation, from the early 1950s.
I say this because the envelope front still has the old "Double P" Pope logo; whereas the booklet cover
has the new, stylised, Pope logo in that very unique font. Very nice. To download the booklet click
on the attachment below.

The First Pope Rotary:-
https://www.outdoorking-forum.com.au/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=60056


Would you like to comment on the Wimbledon?
Simply create a new topic in the Old Soap Box HERE.