Ohlsson and Rice Little Wonder Hedge Trimmer

Ohlsson and rice was formed in 1941 Irv Ohlsson had teamed up with Harry Rice and made model engines for module planes and Tether cars also power tools from the similar type of engine and were manufactured all over the world things like petrol drill, generator, circular saw and chainsaw the list seems endless. They are a light wait aluminium engine also all the external covers were aluminium.

My first step was to strip and clean everything. I take photos at stages which can help on reassembly; all parts go in labelled trays ensuring they end up back in the right part. Next was to strip all old paint off the all external parts also at this time I removed the pull start mechanism to reattach the pull cord and strengthened on reattaching with new rivet as there was play in the old one. I then stripped and cleaned the carburettor and discarded all the old fuel pipes.

I match the colour as close as I could to the original paint layers consisted of primer layer, colour red, and a clear gloss. All chrome parts were cleaned and polished and then I used tin foil to fill in any pits and discoloration, the rubing action transfers the foil parts onto the chrome (a useful tip I found on the internet); I also gave these a clear gloss coat to preserve this work and help prevent any further deterioration.

This is the most satisfying part for me seeing all your hard work come together :) the decal was sourced from America. Original decals were made like the paper ones you use on airfix models and very few have stood the test of time, unlike the new ones.

Just a final clean and the new fuel pipes I added some two stroke fuel pulled it over a couple of times and it fired up not bad for a fifty + year old two stroke machine. It now sitting proudly on my glass shelf, petrol removed ;) thel breather which the fuel pipes lead to above the fuel tank someone made to replace the old plastic one it is made from 2 old English half penny's and a peace of copper pipe I decided to keep this even after obtaining an original plastic one as it tells a bit of history about this machine