THE TRIAL OF MOTOR MOWERS.
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Details of All the Machines Demonstrated Last Week in Regent's Park, London.
AN INTERESTING trial of motor lawn mowers took place on the cricket pitches of Regent's Park, London, N.W., last Wednesday, under the auspices Of the Royal Horticultural Society.
It is not possible at this juncture to publish results, as these must form a subject of much consideration on the part of the officials of the Society. No particular tests were made of petrol consumption, most value being given to the actual efficiency of cutting and the ability to mow without tearing up the soil, flattening the surface and, at the ,same time, Collecting the cut grass neatly. Simplicity, accessibility, ease of control and other points are receiving attention.
The largest of the mowers was the 42-in. Green, manufactured by Thomas Green and Son, Ltd., of Leeds. This has a 10-12 h.p. Dorman engine and enclosed reverse and reduction gearing of 1 to 6 to the chain sprockets for the cutting cylinder and rollers, the lastnamed having a bevel-type differential. The price is £340.
There was also a 24-in. Green, this having an air-cooled engine mounted across the frame and driving through two flexible steel disc joints to an epicyclic reduction gear and screw-tensioned band clutch, final drive being by chain to rollers fitted with a ratchet differential device, a separate dog clutch controlling the drive to the cutter.
Much interest was displayed in the 24-in. and 30-in. machines manufactured by Dennis Bros., Ltd., Guildford, with their trailer seats. In these the engine is mounted across the frame, and has a silent chain in an oilhath driving to two Perodo-faced cone clutches, with easily adjustable springs, controlling separate roller-chain drives to the cutters and rollers; the last-named have a ear-type differential.
NO fewer than six Atco machines were shown by C. H. Pugh, Ltd.; Whitworth Works, Tilton Road, Birmingham. This machine is built in three sizes, from 16 ins. cut to 30 ins. cut. It is driven by a Villiers two-stroke engine mounted across the frame add driving through a countershaft to the rollers and by chain from the other side of the rollers to the cutters.
The Auto-Mower Engineering Co., Ltd., of Norton St. Philip, near Bath, had two very simple machines of 18 ins. cut and 24 ins, cut, although they also make a 30-in. -cut. The smallest has a Villiers two-stroke engine set across the frame, cooled by fan and driving through a plate clutch, whilst the bigger types have four-stroke engines, also air-cooled, but with two clutches.
The Jehu 24-in, and the Wizard I6-in. machines were entered by Alex. Shanks and Son, Ltd., Bush Lane House, Cannon Street, London, E.C.4. These have 21 h.p. and 1, h.p. air-cooled Villiers engines respectively, the engine
being mounted towards the rear and driving forward to a countershaft, thence by roller chains at one end to the rear roller and at the other to the cutting cylinder. There is a metal cone clutch on the countershaft for both drives and a separate clutch of the spring-plunger type for the cutters.
John Shaw and Sons (Wolverhampton), Ltd., Wolverhampton, entered their well-known Governor machine. This has a 2 h.p. water-cooled engine mounted at, the near side and driving direct to the cutting cylinder, a chain being used to drive the rollers through epicyclie gearing. The standard 22-in. machine is priced at £75.
• Two machines—the New Godiva, 22 ins., and the Marvel, 18 ins.—were entered by the Godiva Engineering Co.,
Ltd., of Slough, Bucks. The larger model is priced at 160, and has a 2i 114)Villiers engine driving by -chain to a countershaft provided with two lever-operated clutches, one for the roller and one for the cutters, the rollers having differential ratchets.
In the Automow, made by F. Mitchell (Nottingham), Ltd., Nottingham, the air-cooled cylinder of the h.p. engine projects forward, and the drive is through gears to a countershaft behind the engine, which is provided with a metal cone clutch. An enclosed chain conveys the power to the epicyclic gear in the centre roller, the other two rollers being driven through ratchets. A second enclosed chain at the same side drives the cutting cylinder.
With regard to motor attachments, a neat little device was shown by G.N. Motors, Ltd., East 1-lill, Wandsworth, for mowers from 12 ins. to 16 ins. It has a 1 h.p. Villiers engine, the whole device being pivoted to the mower. handles by adjustable brackets. The weight of the unit serves to increase the pressure between its two friction wheels and the roller drum. The clutch control merely lifts the unit clear of the roller. The price is £24 10s.
The Beadle's attachment is built by
W. Edgcumbe Renate, Ltd, 5, Victoria Street, London, S.W. Model A, priced at £39, will drive 2S-in. mowers or 15-cwt. rollers ; Model B, priced at £40, 36-in. mowers or 11-ton rollers, the one having a 2i ha). Villiers engine and the ether a 3-i h.p. unit. The drive is through a countershaft with a plate clutch, this and the engine being carried in a strong cast bracket attached to a central crossbar clipped to the handle of the mower or roller.
There were two models, of the Mower Pusher, one to take 24-in, mowers and 10-cwt. rollers, and the other to take_ 20-in, mowers and 15-cwt. rollers, the latter type having no clutch and being so mounted on pivoted front rollers that the driving rollers can be lifted clear of the ground. In the smaller model the Villiers engine is mounted with the cylinder projecting backwards, and drives by chain to a countershaft with a multiple-plate clutch, thence by chain to." a shaft on Which the rollers are keyed. Both models are priced at 138. They are marketed by the M.P. Co., Ltd., 550, Oxford Street, London, W.1. .
The Atco turf cultivator is a pronged bar mounted in front of, and driven from, the cutting cylinder. It serves to scratch out moss, etc.