Trying to identify old 60's Snapper

[samtg555]

Hi there, new member here. I've had an old Snapper laying around that my dad converted into an off-road machine by welding big front rims on and attaching larger wheels on the back.. it's been sitting for years and we've decided to get it running again. Although I am very curious as to which model it is, as I cannot find anything on google that looks just like it. It's a 1960's we think, horizontal shaft Briggs and Stratton, we think 5 hp, but the stickers have been worn off. Here's some pictures. Keep in mind that it's undergoing restoration, so the engine is removed and the gearbox has been taken apart. Included are the original back wheels and the original mower deck. Any help is greatly appreciated.

 

[Mow Joe]

I think you are barking up the wrong tree. That's not a Snapper. I believe you have a Roof.

Check this out

Roof High Wheel Mower Sales Brochure from Late 1960's or Early 1970'S | eBay

The one farthest to the right in the back row looks a lot like yours, or what we can see of it.

 

[samtg555]

Thanks for your reply. However, I am 99% sure it's a Snapper as that's what my dad told me, and he had it for awhile. Here'es a picture of the closest one I can find, but you can see it is different, and it appears to be a vertical shaft engine. Also, keep in mind that all the wheels are custom on ours. Thanks again.

 

[Mow Joe]

We were Snapper dealers dating back to 1976. We had older Snappers come in all the time for service, but never anything remotely close to this, and never with a horizontal engine. If you will look at those ebay illustrations closely, one of them shows the gearbox, which is shaped exactly like yours. I've never seen anything like that on any Snapper.

 

[samtg555]

That's definitely some food for thought. And I agree the gearbox in the illustration does look similar to mine. Thanks for your reply.

 

[samtg555]

I couldn't find any model numbers on it.. however I did find 3 patent numbers.. would that help identify it?

 

[Mow Joe]

I couldn't find any model numbers on it.. however I did find 3 patent numbers.. would that help identify it?

I don't know. They definitely wouldn't mean anything to me. I wonder what a google search for those numbers would bring up?

 

[samtg555]

I looked them up and they gave very general information, such as the type of mower deck and how it's mounted on the tractor, nothing model or even brand-specific. Here's the results of my google patent search of each string of numbers (there were 3):

https://www.google.com/?tbm=pts&gfe_rd=ssl&ei=ZFH5U4PeLtGx9AaF9oCwDg#q=2801510&tbm=pts

https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=2869304

https://www.google.com/search?q=2924928&oq=2924928&aqs=chrome..69i57.557j0j7&sourceid=chrome&es_sm=93&ie=UTF-8

 

[cashman]

We were Snapper dealers from the mid 1960's onward. They had an R series before the Comet but it wasn't anything like that. It looks like it was made by Gilson or Simplicity to me?