LAWN MOWERS

The collection comprises more than 50 machines dating from the 1850s to the 1960s. These portray the history and development of the lawn mower from the 1830s to the present day.

The oldest machine on display is very similar in design to those made in the 1830s by Edwin Budding, the inventor of the lawn mower. It is believed to have been made between 1840 and 1850, although the exact date and manufacturer is not known. This mower is made from cast iron and features large gear wheels which drive the cutting cylinder (reel) from the rear roller. The mower was so heavy that it needed one person pushing and one pulling to work properly.

The largest non-motorised mower in the collection is a pony mower made by Shanks of Arbroath, Scotland. The Museum's example dates from around 1900, although similar machines were in production from the 1880s to the 1930s. The mower was pulled by a pony which wore special leather shoes to avoid damaging the lawn. The collection features a number of hand operated mowers (push mowers) made in the 1800s, including three different examples of the Greens Silens Messor (shown, left) and an unusual Suttons pony mower. This was made for Suttons (which is now a major seed supplier) by Ransomes for sale through mail order catalogues. Hand mowers from the period 1890 to 1920 include examples from Ransomes, Greens and Shanks.

The Museum does not currently have any of the very early steam or petrol operated lawn mowers, which were produced between 1900 and 1914. The earliest petrol-engined machines on display are an Atco Standard 18 (shown, right) and a John Shaw Governor, both of which date from the mid 1920s. There are also early examples of motor mowers made by Dennis and Ransomes.

The collection features a number of mass produced motorised and hand mowers from the period 1920 to 1960. These include popular machines such as the Qualcast E sidewheel mower (shown, left), JP Super push mower and examples of Atco motor mowers throughout the ages. Less common machines on show include the Drummond Willing Worker push mower, Ransomes Certes bowling green mower and an MP Mower Pusher.