Joined
·
82 Posts
Hello to all. My name is David. I started mowing in 1975 when I was 8 years old and that first mower was a 1968 Toro Whirlwind hand-propelled 19" model 18213. That mower was my mother's gift to my father on Father's Day in 1968. We had it for 17 years. In 1994, I found a 1970 21" self-propelled model 20555 with a very low serial number: 000611. I bought that locally for $50 and it was in like new condition, including the plastic shroud. I still have it in storage out of state at the moment. I had it in the trunk of my car when I went down to Tuscaloosa, Alabama to volunteer after the tornado in April, 2011. The high heat down there melted three of the wheels flat while it was in the trunk. Then I went up to Oregon and the moisture and mold made it suffer some more. So, I have some restoration to do. But I have just found the NOS parts to do it, including 4 wheels that are absolutely 1970-correct.
I have also just found a 1970 19" that is very similar to that first 1968. I am having that shipped to me from the seller in a few days. I also picked up some NOS parts for that one. I must say that ebay is a wonderful resource for parts that are no longer available from the manufacturer. Sometimes you can actually find NOS parts for a lot less than they would have cost if you could have still purchased them from a dealer.
Here is a photo of the 1970 19" :
The great thing about these years is that the air induction comes from the spinning flywheel, so the air filter virtually never gets dirty. The 19" hand-propelled with aluminum deck is also light as a feather.
From 1975 to 1988, my dad and I mowed 6 acres with these push mowers.
I have also just found a 1970 19" that is very similar to that first 1968. I am having that shipped to me from the seller in a few days. I also picked up some NOS parts for that one. I must say that ebay is a wonderful resource for parts that are no longer available from the manufacturer. Sometimes you can actually find NOS parts for a lot less than they would have cost if you could have still purchased them from a dealer.
Here is a photo of the 1970 19" :

The great thing about these years is that the air induction comes from the spinning flywheel, so the air filter virtually never gets dirty. The 19" hand-propelled with aluminum deck is also light as a feather.
From 1975 to 1988, my dad and I mowed 6 acres with these push mowers.