History
The Staff (1911)
1910
| December 1 1910: | Reuben Porter, Harold Mason and Edwin Jones open for business as City Engineering Ltd in Cleave Ave Auckland |
| March 1912: | City Engineering Ltd moves to new premises in Vogel Lane |
| October 1915: | City Engineering Ltd is renamed as Mason and Porter Ltd |
| April 1917: | Fred Porter is born |
| June 1917: | Moved into Cleveland Rd Parnell from Vogel Lane |
Miss Masport New Zealand Powerboat
1920
| 1922: | 'Miss Masport' built to race in N.Z. Power Boating Championship. It wins in its first attempt. |
| 1925: | The Porters meet Fred Cave and Enid Porter joins the firm because Harold Mason has to take time off for illness. |
| 1929: | Prototype Masport 'Rapid' lawn mower is manufactured secretly in the house next door |
Illustration from an advertisement, advertising
the new series Masport 'Rapid' which was
introduced to the market in 1932
1930
| 1930-31: | Production and marketing of Masport “Rapid” begins
|
| 1933: | Mason and Porter manufacture Refrigerators |
| 1937: | Harold Mason resigns as Chairman and is replaced by Fred Cave. Enid Porter becomes a Director. |
| 1938: | “G” Force i.e. women are employed in the factory to carry out light assembly work and painting. |
| 1939: | Fred Porter becomes a Director aged 22. |
The sparkling new lunch room.
1940
| 1940-42: | Mt Wellington Plant including new Foundry is completed and the Company goes onto a full war footing. |
| 1943: | Russell Jenkins appointed a Manager of the Company. |
| 1945: | Harold Mason resigns from the Company and Russell Jenkins becomes a Director. By the end of the year full time production has resumed. |
| 1946: | Enid Porter dies suddenly. |
| 1947: | Harold Mason dies aged 64. |
The Masport 'Rotahoe' first introduced to the market in 1958.
1950
| 1952-53: | “LawnSprite”, Lawn Prince and Lawn Chief range of motor mowers produced. |
| 1953: | Gordon Boswell is employed by Mason and Porter. |
| 1955-56: | First “Rotacut” horizontal blade lawn mowers manufactured. |
| 1958: | Masport “Rotahoe” introduced to the market. |
| 1959: | Doug Benefield joins Mason and Porter and sales exceed $1,000,000 for the first time. |
Aerial view of Parnell Plant which closed in 1962.
1960
| 1960: | Mason and Porter celebrate 50 years |
| 1961: | David Porter joins the Company as an apprentice fitter and turner. |
| 1962: | Parnell Plant closes.
|
| 1963: | Terry Porter also joins Mason and Porter as an apprentice fitter and turner. |
| 1964: | Reuben Porter dies aged 78. Fred Porter and Russell Jenkins become Joint Managing Directors. |
| 1966: | Sales exceed $2,000,000 for the first time and Marketing Department opened. |
Board of Directors - Masport Holdings Ltd (1977-78).
1970
| 1971: | Doug Benefield and David Porter become Directors. |
| 1972: | "Movac" and "President" lawnmowers produced. |
| 1973: | Russell Jenkins retires as Managing Director (Admin). Doug Benefield replaces him. |
| 1975: | Masport Australia increase sales by 73% and breaks the $A1million mark. |
| 1978: | Total external sales exceed $30 million. Pittsburgh Pot Belly Stoves are released to the market and 4,000 sold in the first year. |
Morrison Industries is purchased by Masport in 1986, with the Cycle division being sold in 1987.
1980
| 1984 : | Masport Ltd formed and listed on the Stock Exchange. Fred Porter appointed President and Doug Benefield becomes Managing Director. |
| 1985: | Porter family leave Masport during the year and Doug Benefield becomes Chief Executive Officer. |
| 1986: | Masport purchases Morrison Industries. |
| 1987: | Sir Earl Richardson steps down as Chairman. Divisionalisation introduced. Morrison Industries Cycle division sold. |
| 1988: | Doug Benefield retires as CEO but remains a Director. Nick Bessey becomes CEO and unifies divisions. Masport is placed under Cable Price Downer banner. |
| 1989: | Nick Bessey resigns as CEO and is replaced by Laurie Margain. |
'Product of the Year' award winning Mulching Lawnmower.
1990
| 1991: | Bicycle business sold to Hope Gibbons Vaccuum pumps transferred to Skellerup Engineering |
| 1994: | Mulching lawnmower wins 'Product of the Year' award. Masport starts munfacturing Gas Flame Effect Fires |
| 1998: | Masport introduces the Multi-Feature and Genius range of mowers. Utopia Cast Iron fires introduced.
|
Masport MSV Genius 4n1 Lawnmower.
2000
| 2003: | CEO John Lawson resigns and is replaced by Mark von Batenburg. |
| 2004: | MSV series mower introduced. Launched as THE BEAST. |
| 2005: | Mark von Batenburg resigns and is replaced by Peter Batcheler as General Manager. |
| 2006: | Peter Batcheler resigns as General Manager. |
| 2007: | Steve Hughes appointed General Manager of Masport Ltd. Clive Baker retires after 29 years. |
2010
| 2010: | Mike Carvill retires in July after 32 years. Masport celebrates it's 100th Birthday on 1st December. |
