Hello ODK History Lovers

The Qualcast 16 Inch Motor Mower was Qualcast's first power lawnmower.
Introduced by the parent company in the UK in the mid-1930s, it would be
imported by Qualcast Australia from early 1936. Local manufacture -
Australian-made Qualcast 16s - occurred in about 1938.

That was unfortunate timing; given that World War II hostilities would
commence the following year, and production of lawnmowers would all but
cease both here and abroad. When that terrible war ended lawnmower
production re-commenced. The earliest records I have - post war - date
from 1948. Production ceased mid-1950s.

At this early stage, I would like to point out that both locally made
16s (Footscray Qualcasts) and fully imported 16s (Derby Qualcasts)
were sold in Australia. The pre-war machines were first imported, but
then Australian-made; but all post-war 16s were fully imported.

This early UK advertisement is quite informative; in that it is
suggestive of a 1936 model start date (at least), and it shows -
perhaps - the original look. Note the slanted, forward-facing engine
and engine-mounted fuel tank.

[Linked Image]
Source: Grace's Guide - 1937 http://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Qualcast

[Linked Image]
Source: Grace's Guide - 1939 http://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Qualcast

TO BE CONTINUED ...