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Collection, Preservation and Display of Old Lawn Mowers

Correct decals for Mk4 Ransomes Marquis

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Can anyone please help. I have recently acquired a mk4 marquis (the version without the height adjuster adjacent to top deck) fitted with the sloper engine. There is evidence of a decal on the chain cover, but I cannot tell what it was. The grass box is a newer replacement and has the most modern of the ransomes decals. (R11 listed on this site)  I do not believe this is correct for the period. The grass box is dent free, but unfortunately the single layer of paint is bubbling badly in places so needs repainting. I guess dating the mower is key. I believe it to be 70's? 

On a slightly different subject. I cannot find much reference to the mk 4. All searches seem to bring up mk 4A. Is this referring to the height adjuster? I know the matador came in mk3 and 3m flavours. The m referring to metric bearings.

Forums

hortimech Wed, 14/06/2017

I think your Marquis will be from the 60s, I started work as an apprentice in 1973 and new Marquis mowers had the height adjuster knob.

If you can find a copy of 'Fifty years of garden machinery' by Brian Bell, there is picture of a MK4 Marquis on page 161, unfortunately it shows it from the right hand side. The decal on the side is likely to be the royal warrant decal as used on the grassbox. The one on your grassbox is the wrong one, it should just be the warrant, probably a transfer, not a decal.

wristpin Wed, 14/06/2017

Any Ransomes machine that was originally produced with Imperial bearings but subsequently switched to metric ones will have the M after its Mk number and there would be a short section in the parts book covering the metric components.

There was a similar question re the positioning of transfers / decals a while back and I scanned and posted this

https://www.dropbox.com/s/xn1gr0qhm97svsw/Ransomes%20%20logo0001.pdf?dl…

which may be of interest.

As for the paint bubbling off the newer grass box - the joys of modern manufacturing and powder coat paint systems applied directly to bare de-greased? steel. Called progress - or penny pinching.

dieselvet Wed, 14/06/2017

Thank you very much. Most helpful.Will post pictures when I finish fettling. Want to keep it in original condition for now, with exception of box and chain cover.

I can now just about see that the chain cover had a 'late king george V1' crest. Unfortunately the OLMC only sell the larger versions. Any plans to produce some small ones?

stevecross Fri, 23/06/2017

Your Marquis Mk4 looks very similar to mine which dates from about 1965 - see my post on Technical titled "Ransomes Marquis Mk4", posted on 30/5/2016.

My Sloper engine also has a decal - BSA (photo attached).

Hope this helps