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Collection, Preservation and Display of Old Lawn Mowers

J. P help please

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Hi guys first time post so go easy, I've recently purchased two j. P mowers first 3 photos should be the minor which is in pretty good shape grass box is a different colour but I believe this to be original. The last 3 photos are the mini mower not original colour but also in fair condition. My plan is to strip down the mowers re paint new wooden rollers new bolts and so on but I can't seem to find any manuals on the mowers, info for the mini mower non existing. Any help would be amazing. I can't seem to find production number on the mini mower.

RansomesRob Fri, 05/07/2019

Hi Steve. Welcome to the Club!  I myself have a JP Mini Mower and through the club learnt that the serial number for the Mini Mower is stamped on the inside of the steel side plates between the cutting cylinder and the wooden rollers. The serial number on mine was 2 KETH 62. The JP experts in the club (sadly i am not an expert!!) will be able to tell you the production date from this serial number. I also struggled to get much info on the Mini Mower but i would be happy to photo copy and send to you what i have,which includes the 'User Instruction Manual'. I expect someone in the club reading your Forum Post may even have an original which they may let you have. Let me know if you would like the photo copies. Cheers. Rob ps ..... We recently enjoyed a couple of meals in 'The Ship' when we had a week at Winfrith Newburgh touring around. 

Steve@wool Fri, 05/07/2019

Thanks for the reply Rob, funny enough opposite the ship a photo copy would be cool I'll check the mini mower tonight for the code. 

RansomesRob Fri, 05/07/2019

Hi Steve.Apologies!! Just realised the serial number is on your other JP not the Mini Mower, sorry!!

 

Antbr123 Sat, 06/07/2019

All,

The serial number 2E/G/XM 79 is for the JP Minor.  It dates the machine to 1957 (2E), July (G), XM is the mower family which is Minor and it was the 79th machine produced in the month of July.  If the box is a different colour to the mower - a kind of lime green colour  - this is original in colour and is something JP appeared to do between 1955/56 and 1959.  So the dating of the mower fits in with this.  Reasons for he colour change to the grass box only are unknown. The mowers themselves were never sprayed in this colour. The handlebar grips should be oval in shape and were produced by John Bull and are difficult to replace.  The blade adjustment knob on the eccentric should be black.  After 1960 it changed to red/brown bakelite colour.

I have 3 mowers with grass boxes of the same colour and despite research have not been able to link it to any particular RAL number or Pantone colour or indeed any particular BS Standard.  I have managed to colour match it and attach a photo of a box I have just sprayed which has proved rather successful.Unforunately, the camera has rather "greened" the colour but take it from me it is the same as the photo with the colour swatch.

The JP Minor MK2 ceased production in 1962 and so far 9 differences have been identified between mowers produced in 1957 and 1962 and it was replaced with the JP Minimower.  The JP Minor has a cast iron grass deflector, the JP Minimower had a formed plate grass deflector and was much lighter in weight. The Minimower is less common to find...but a few pop up every now and then.

Check under the handlebar grips or inside the transmission cover for the original paint colour.  JP appear to have used 3 main colours, somewhat randomly, by that I mean that Henry Ellis and I observe machines produced in the same years but using different shades of green.  Commonly these can be called as follows:-

JP Apple Green which I have closely matched to RAL 6025.

JP Olive Green (slightly darker) which I have colour matched and can source...but cannot trace to a particular colour standard

JP Lime Green (limited to between 1955/56 and 1959) which I have colour matched...but cannot trace to a particular colour standard.

The rollers were typically made from Beech (occasionally oak) and I can supply dimensions/drawings and source them if you would like.

I am delighted that a new JP enthusiast has been found and should any queries/concerns or restoration techniques arise, feel free to contact me.

JP Minor Grass Box 1956-1959 - Colour matched

Tony

Antbr123 Sat, 06/07/2019

Rob,

I would be grateful for a scanned digital copy of your owners manual for the JP MiniMower.  2K ETH 62 suggests it was made in  May 1963 and is number 62 in the month.

RansomesRob Sat, 06/07/2019

Hi Tony. Thanks for the dates for my Mini Mower, I will e mail you a scanned copy of the manual over the weekend. Cheers. Rob

RansomesRob Sat, 06/07/2019

Hi Steve. Managed to find an old photo taken in 2017 of the Serial Number on my Mini Mower. The location was on the outside of the steel side plate at the top between the Chain Cover and the Wheel that adjusts the wooden roller height. Please see the photo which I have marked with an X showing the approximate location. Cheers. Rob 

 

Steve@wool Sat, 06/07/2019

Thanks Rob I will check shortly haven't told my wife I've got the mini mower so trying to look when she and the kids aren't around, not easy, also I have received the paperwork amazing thank you and the decal. Thanks Tony for the info If possible I would like the dimensions for the roller that would be amazing 

Steve@wool Sat, 06/07/2019

2k DTA 17

RansomesRob Sat, 06/07/2019

Glad you received the Mini Mower stuff ok. I am sure Tony or another JP expert  in the club will be able to provide you with the manufacture date for your mower from it's serial number. Cheers. Rob

Antbr123 Thu, 18/07/2019

2K DTA 17 does not exist as a JP Family, or more specifically the TA part of the serial number.  2K is 1963, D = April, but TA does not exist and should be TH.  The TH denotes it was a 10" Minimower.  It was no 17 in the month to be produced.  So the full correct serial number should be 2K DTH 17.

Regards,

 

RansomesRob Fri, 19/07/2019

Hi Tony, Steve. I was very surprised to see that my Mini Mower 2 KETH 62 was produced just one month after Steve's, 2 KDTH 17. No chance of finding out how many Mini Mowers were produced in April 1963 is there?. Just be interested to see how many mowers there were between Steve's being produced and mine coming off the production line. Thanks for any more information that can be provided. Regards. Rob

Antbr123 Fri, 19/07/2019

Unfortunately not.  Although I live in Leicester, research and local conversations suggest that all company records were burnt in a big fire on waste ground at the back of the factory.  The factory closed production in 1972. A database of all serial numbers for JP lawnmowers is maintained by Mr. Henry Ellis and he may be able to shed some light, but due to the numbering system used by JP, he could only advise the last record he holds of a mower for the month, which is not the same as how many were actually produced in the month.  Due to the uncommon nature of the mower, the chances of having two records of the same mower type, in the same month, is slim.  I will ask and update if I find out anything.

Regards