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

Godiva sprocket

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

I have had this Barford and Perkins Godiva for some time. I need to sort this mower out - not least of which is the paint colour as it looks like it was restored by Barbara Cartland. Before I do this I obviously need to ensure it’s mechanically correct and cuts well. Can anyone tell me whether the large chain sprocket should be the closed type as in this mower or the open sprocket type like the ‘Clipper’? It may be just the very bright silver colour it has been painted that makes it look wrong. Are these sprockets Ransomes or Garfitts? Any help would be very useful. Thanks.

stonethemows Sat, 13/08/2022

 

Nice to see another old lawnmower.

This might answer a few questions for you Sean. I got this about eight years ago from a very old family farm in Norfolk. Cleaned up quite a lot from what it was but appears to be in more or less original condition, hence not messed about with it. It was still in occasional use until about ten years ago.

I would suggest that your land-roll sprocket is a later replacement but otherwise looks much the same spec. , apart from the colour ! I've just noticed that your handgrips are a slightly different pattern to mine but nothing wrong with that considering the age; a legitimate ' consumable ' item. I will however get a close up shot and add in, just for the record.

I can't answer the question about the source of said sprocket, close comparison might, or Christopher Proudfoot might well know.

EDIT thinking again about the handgrips it is possibly the bolt heads on the ends of yours that create an illusion of difference ?

Ignore the long dormant woodworm, that doesn't count.

 

wristpin Sat, 13/08/2022

Is there any reason to think that they may have bought in the sprocket from another manufacturer. Why would they have bought in the sprocket when they apparently had foundry and casting facilities for the rest of the machin? Just a thought!

 

Clive1997 Sat, 13/08/2022

I would appear the sprocket is Ransomes as used on later Patent Chains & Automaton Minors, part number CA 18 confirmed.

As with many of the early open sprocket Ransomes machines, damaged sprockets often replaced with the stronger later solid version.

Messorestore Sat, 13/08/2022

Many thanks Colin. It would then possibly be a later replacement genuine part ? I won’t necessarily change it unless concensus  of opinion think I ought to for the open variety. By the way I absolutely love your totally original machine. Unfortunately I cannot restore the patina back into mine. 
I totally agree with Angus’s comments, however I am aware that Garfitts did make sprockets for other mower manufacturers Barford and Perkins included. I just wondered if there was a possibility this might be one. Thanks 

Mowing Wurzel Sat, 13/08/2022

I'm no expert myself, but on observation; "Messorstore's"   machine has a late Ransome's Patent Chain Automaton roller sprocket, as previously mentioned.     

   Perhaps this is why the previous owner has painted it a different colour to the rest.

One can surmise the original sprocket got broken / cracked or wore out and the more abundant RS&J's   sprocket was fitted. 

Also; Looking at Where the blade sharpening hole handle in the original type sprocket is, it looks a bit prone to cracking.

Or the chain was damaged and the Ransome's chain set was fitted.

stonethemows Sun, 14/08/2022

Here's a comparison of the land-roll sprocket on my Godiva and a random abused garden ornament Patent Chain Automaton.

 M part numbers appear to be the original Barford and Perkins designation including parts specifically relating to the Wansbrough Patent of 1902. I'm not sure that the later ( solid ) CA18 would have been a genuine B and P replacement or just a spare part that the repair shop had to hand that did the job.

Assuming the same diameter as my earlier example would this not have altered the number of cuts per foot. ?

Messorestore Mon, 15/08/2022

Thanks Colin, based on what has been said the sprocket is an RS&J replacement given the part number. With that info I won’t replace it as it is a legitimate repair and part of the mowers history. Job to do now is repaint the whole mower in the correct colours. 
 

Mowing Wurzel Mon, 15/08/2022

Is the Block chain on the Godiva the same pitch as the RS&J?

I know discourse on block chain pitch sizes have been mentioned the the forum previously.

MikeD Tue, 23/08/2022

Regards the sprocket is from a ransomesmachine.my first Godiva had a broken one and been a novice at the time fitted a spare green's sprocket which is still on the machine and looks the part. Bearing in mind it is the early sprocket and. Not the curved version anyway join the lady Godiva club?