Kitchen Garden Forum

[img][img]http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn124/Lawnraker/Machinery/ROTO3.jpg[/img]

I wondered if any one can help me identify the make of this old Rotovator. It has a Briggs & Stratton 3HP engine (Model 81302) which probably dates the machine prior to the '70's. Any help would be much appreciated.[/img][/b]

Hello,
Sorry, I don't know the make...however just by chance I noticed another lot of puzzling has been going on here; http://www.chat.allotment.org.uk/viewtopic.php?t=14090
The tiller being discussed...shown via this weblink http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd10 ... vator1.jpg
has some detail differences with what may be an adjustable handle? and of course the engine...but there are some definite similarities.???

No help in providing an answer. ....just knowledge that you are not alone in your ponderings

Clive.

After some puzzling and reading....some descriptions of The Farmers Boy Minorette may fit.??? and whilst I cannot come up with a photo to answer this...I have seen a photo of a Farmers Boy Majorette...a larger machine..but with a similarity in design of handlebar curved style and split of handlebar at the top end...

The Minorette description includes an early Villiers option and later a B&S engine ,cleated solid tyres, two speed via belt drive change, 12" wide cultivator which it suggests could fit front or rear.?? with additional blades to 16" or 27" width?...option of tined toolbar, rotary mower, saw bench etc.
Seems to have gone from Raven Engineering to Bitex Ltd and then to Advon enginering... dates listed seem to stretch from 1959 to at least the 1970s?..even a ref in 1981 for an "improved" version
Above info' gleaned from Brian Bells "Seventy Years of Garden Machinery" book..but sadly no pictures to corroborate or otherwise the description..

Clive.

Sincere thanks for all your efforts which go beyond the call of duty. The Farmer's Boy Minorette does fit many features of the machine. I will pursue my ponderings.

Hello,
A bit more rummaging in some back issues of Farm & Horticultural Equipment Collector magazine (Kelsey ) finds an identity assistance section question..which shows a poorly rusty tiller which was subsequently identified in the next issue as a Farmers Boy Minor by a reader...it would appear to be all but the same as the allotment.org forum machine.

So with this in mind I suspect yours is a Farmers Boy..and most likely Minorette.


All the best,
Clive.

Clive,
Once again many thanks.You are a genius!