Skip to main content
Collection, Preservation and Display of Old Lawn Mowers

Webb Witch Identification and questions.

Enter a word or two to search the forum section and click the Search Forum button.

Hi all, I'm new here and have just acquired a Webb Witch, that I have some questions about.

I have read through a lot of the forum topics on everyone's Webb witch restorations, however, mine is a little different to what I've seen so far. I believe this one was sold in South Australia, and I have found an advertisement from 1949, with GEO. Bolton & CO., LTD as the dealers. Your responses will help me decide how original the mower is, and if I should refurbish or preserve. Now for my questions....

Make: Would be good to identify which witch this actually is. It's hard to make out any numerals after the "Mark" on the chain cover.

Colour: Did a blue mower exist? I don't belive this is the true colour of the mower because, 1. There are blue paint drips on the cylinder and paint run marks in the hard to paint areas, 2. Green paint exists under the decal on the chain cover.

 

Handle: The only picture I've seen with the curved handle is in the advertisement I found. Were these an Aussie only thing? Also, there are 4 holes all the way through the lower arms, would these have been for cross bars?

Grass catcher: Im unsure if this was the grass catcher that would have come wall with a push mower. The dealer plate on the catcher says to use Castrol motor oil for best results, could this have been a standard plate they attached to their products, or would this catcher be from a powered machine, or did they just use motor oil for lubricating the moving parts?

Front rollers: The front rollers consist of one wooden roller and two (what appears to be) aluminium rollers (one broken). Would this have be standard, or just an after market addition?

Additional information: The cylinder has 8 blades, the rear roller is split ribbed, and the left side does not have a screw on cover with decal.

Anything else you can see from the photos, I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Cheers

 

Forums

RansomesRob Fri, 18/09/2020

 

Hi. Welcome to the Club.

I have attached in my reply, appearing in a November 1952 Webb Brochure details of the Webb Witch that  has the same style handles as on your mower. The other information attached shows the production dates of the Witch mowers. The 1952  Witch as pictured in the brochure is a Mark 2 as it was produced between 1948 -1957. Sadly I do not know if the same style of handles were used on models after the Mark 2 but hopefully someone else in the Club might and will post a reply for you. Regards. Rob

Clive1962 Fri, 18/09/2020

Interesting to see this Witch.   Somewhere in my shed is one with the same handle style, I seem to think I may have acquired it as a "pet" that followed me home during my time in the machinery world, although did once make a few push mower purchases at Carrington boot sale adjacent to the Rally....

   I always thought the handle looked quite ahead of their time in style. 

C.

Clive1997 Sat, 19/09/2020

Hello

Just to add a bit more, we are on the right track, although the Australian  Ad with the original post is in fact the 2 Speed de-Luxe, not a Witch!

Likely the new handle was applicable to both models at the stage.

I have seen this handle 'Pram Type' in advertisements for 1953 & the de-luxe with the same handle in 1950ad's, afraid its not an Aussie thing as many seen over here on Witches & 2 Speeds,also the 'pram handle' was used by Suffolk on their Eden.

Therefore assume the pram handle was on the Mk 2 1948-1957 & by 1959 the cross handle is shown in brochures & we assume that would be the Series 1V 1959 -1962 & the Series 5 1963 onwards.

No sure about the holes? Will check as I think I do have a pram handle model.

David Webb Sat, 19/09/2020

Thanks for the replies Rob and Clive.

I've also answered my question about colour, as under the chain cover and where the handles connect to the body, the paint is green. Interesting that someone would think to paint it blue!

villiers98 Fri, 25/09/2020

Probably what they had to hand at the time !

With the split rear roller and 8 blade cylinder ( 60 cuts/yard ) these were quality and are probably quite rare. Reckon there is a 70's Webb brochure on the site somewhere and think  they were still made til the end of the 70's

 

Front rollers would have been all wood