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Gas Powered Lawn Mower History
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It appears that the very first hand push mowers go back to the early 1800's and started in England. The very first gas engine powered mower also came from England in 1902. Here is a drawing of that machine plus a little background info:
"Around 1900, one of the best known English machines was the Ransomes' Automaton, available in chain- or gear-driven models. Numerous manufacturers entered the field with petrol (gasoline) engine-powered mowers after the start of the 20th century. In 1902, The first was produced by Ransomes.[6][7] JP Engineering of Leicester, founded after World War I, produced a range of very popular chain-driven mowers. About this time, an operator could ride behind animals that pulled the large machines. These were the first riding mowers."
"Around 1900, one of the best known English machines was the Ransomes' Automaton, available in chain- or gear-driven models. Numerous manufacturers entered the field with petrol (gasoline) engine-powered mowers after the start of the 20th century. In 1902, The first was produced by Ransomes.[6][7] JP Engineering of Leicester, founded after World War I, produced a range of very popular chain-driven mowers. About this time, an operator could ride behind animals that pulled the large machines. These were the first riding mowers."
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Here is old picture of the the 1902 Ransomes' in action plus a present day picture of a fully restored one. This is said to be the first commercially available gas engine powered riding mower and weighed 1.25 Tons and was 8'-0 Long.
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1918 produced one of the first Gas powered push or walk behind mower. They were still big and bulky at this point. I understand that this one is water cooled. I don't have many details about it so far.
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Tiger Small Engine
Tiger Small Engine
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The Roaring 20's brought slimmed down gas powered machines and a little better designs more suited for
residential yards of the common household. Still the most common for normal folks was
the non-powered walk behind push rotary mowers.
Enter the 1921 ATCO 22" cut:
The machine was introduced in 1921, the first mower made by Charles H Pugh Ltd. This company had been in existence for many years, and was best known as a successful manufacturer of small 'repetition' components. These had been used extensively during the First World War on many items, including armaments. Demand for these products inevitably dropped following the Armistice in 1918, and the company looked for new products and markets. The name "Atco" was derived from the Atlas Chain Company, another name owned by Charles H Pugh Ltd. The resulting mower utilized a number of components already manufactured by the company, including Senspray carburetor and chain drive.
The first 1921 design was a 22 inch (22") machine with an oval section cast iron frame and a 269cc Villiers MkIV two stroke engine with brass flywheel magneto. Cast iron was used because the preferred supplier was unable to deliver the right components due to an industrial dispute in the foundry. The cast frames were very fragile and apparently many of these early machines broke during assembly, particularly when the frames were tightened. Atco's own figures show that 921 mowers were sold in the first year of production.
residential yards of the common household. Still the most common for normal folks was
the non-powered walk behind push rotary mowers.
Enter the 1921 ATCO 22" cut:
The machine was introduced in 1921, the first mower made by Charles H Pugh Ltd. This company had been in existence for many years, and was best known as a successful manufacturer of small 'repetition' components. These had been used extensively during the First World War on many items, including armaments. Demand for these products inevitably dropped following the Armistice in 1918, and the company looked for new products and markets. The name "Atco" was derived from the Atlas Chain Company, another name owned by Charles H Pugh Ltd. The resulting mower utilized a number of components already manufactured by the company, including Senspray carburetor and chain drive.
The first 1921 design was a 22 inch (22") machine with an oval section cast iron frame and a 269cc Villiers MkIV two stroke engine with brass flywheel magneto. Cast iron was used because the preferred supplier was unable to deliver the right components due to an industrial dispute in the foundry. The cast frames were very fragile and apparently many of these early machines broke during assembly, particularly when the frames were tightened. Atco's own figures show that 921 mowers were sold in the first year of production.
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PTmowerMech
PTmowerMech
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Here is another 20's reel mower called the JP Super Power Mower with a little info as follows:
Of the motor mowers produced by JP in the 1920s and 1930s by far the rarest and, perhaps, most interesting is the 24" JP Super Power Mower. This was unusual because it featured a water cooled four stroke engine with an open topped water hopper that resembles a small cauldron or cooking pot! In fact, cooling was achieved by a combination of the water jacket and air forced around the outside of the combustion chamber by an impellor built into the main engine unit.
JP prided itself on the quality of its design and manufacture and this included making the mower easy to maintain. The mower was designed so that the entire engine unit could be removed easily for maintenance and repair. JP brochures of the period also claimed that this would allow the mower to be used by hand but it is doubtful if this was really practical because, even without its engine, the mower would have been large and heavy.
Of the motor mowers produced by JP in the 1920s and 1930s by far the rarest and, perhaps, most interesting is the 24" JP Super Power Mower. This was unusual because it featured a water cooled four stroke engine with an open topped water hopper that resembles a small cauldron or cooking pot! In fact, cooling was achieved by a combination of the water jacket and air forced around the outside of the combustion chamber by an impellor built into the main engine unit.
JP prided itself on the quality of its design and manufacture and this included making the mower easy to maintain. The mower was designed so that the entire engine unit could be removed easily for maintenance and repair. JP brochures of the period also claimed that this would allow the mower to be used by hand but it is doubtful if this was really practical because, even without its engine, the mower would have been large and heavy.
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JP Mower continued:
Another of the design features that made the 24" JP Super Power Mower unusual in its time was the starting mechanism. This was an early type of rope or pull start, whereas during the same period most motor mowers featured conventional crank handle starting. JP claimed this made the mower easier to start and, to illustrate the point, showed the mower being started by a young woman in some of its advertisements.
Another of the design features that made the 24" JP Super Power Mower unusual in its time was the starting mechanism. This was an early type of rope or pull start, whereas during the same period most motor mowers featured conventional crank handle starting. JP claimed this made the mower easier to start and, to illustrate the point, showed the mower being started by a young woman in some of its advertisements.
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Here is a 1930's Qualcast 16" Cut, Notice the size and simplicity are getting smaller and more easy to operate.
Engines are still mostly two cycle and reel blades are still king
Engines are still mostly two cycle and reel blades are still king
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This is an original 1930 black and white print ad for the Coldwell Lawn Mower Company of Newburgh, New York. This particular ad features an image of the Coldwell "Twin-Thirty" lawn mower and roller. Follow Link to video
of a restored twin thirty Four Cycle
of a restored twin thirty Four Cycle
Cutting the grass, Coldwell twin 30 reel mower
Here is my finished Coldwell twin 30 reel mower. Replaced a rusted through valve spring, as water sat in the valve valleys:D Valve grind, new piston rings and cleaned it out thoroughly. Repaired gas tank, as the bottom was rotted out. Had to make bottom sheet metal and grass baffle. Put NOS reel...
www.smokstak.com
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Some more 30's mowers before we go into the 40's. Link below is a video to a ATCO Motor Mower running:
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#21
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Yeah, cool looking TORO and the operator looks like he likes it too!
You know it just occurred to me, I haven't found any vintage weed eaters
You know it just occurred to me, I haven't found any vintage weed eaters
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OK, moving into the 40's lawn mowers. From what research I've done this is the decade of
the trimmed down powered reel mowers and the rise of the Briggs and Stratton Engine. When I
say trimmed down I mean in comparison to the 20's and 30's reel mowers. Of course there
were exceptions from the reel blade and Briggs engines but reel/Briggs kind of ruled the roost.
More to come!
the trimmed down powered reel mowers and the rise of the Briggs and Stratton Engine. When I
say trimmed down I mean in comparison to the 20's and 30's reel mowers. Of course there
were exceptions from the reel blade and Briggs engines but reel/Briggs kind of ruled the roost.
More to come!
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#31
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Now here are some early 40's exceptions to the reel mower. Some of the first vertical shaft to rotary blade flat decks:
#33
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Just thinking remembering Grandpa on mothers side had a pretty large yard and he always had a powered reel
mower. On my Dad's side Grandpa had a small yard and always had a non-powered walk behind
push reel mower.
Happy Fathers Day to all you Dads & shade tree lawn mower mechanics
mower. On my Dad's side Grandpa had a small yard and always had a non-powered walk behind
push reel mower.
Happy Fathers Day to all you Dads & shade tree lawn mower mechanics
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Cool, Thanks.Happy Fathers Day to all you Dads & shade tree lawn mower mechanics
#35
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Think this will wrap up the 40's Era mowers. This Toro Homelawn below is pretty good example of what ruled
the roost from the 30's throughout the 40's and dare say extended even into the 50's and 60's. I recall my Grandpa using his reel mower up into the late 60's.
The Homelawn was introduced in the mid 1930’s as Toro’s first power mower designed for the homeowner. It was expensive and heavy and once war production started the tooling was packed away. Like Most manufactures once war production ended Toro picked up where they left off. Toro use primarily Briggs and Stratton engines however Briggs had labor issues and long strikes would halt production. This 1949 model used a Continental engine. Continental an airplane engine manufactory was a minor player in post war lawn equipment engines. These is a very rare mower however when I needed parts to repair the engine we had them in our parts department.
the roost from the 30's throughout the 40's and dare say extended even into the 50's and 60's. I recall my Grandpa using his reel mower up into the late 60's.
The Homelawn was introduced in the mid 1930’s as Toro’s first power mower designed for the homeowner. It was expensive and heavy and once war production started the tooling was packed away. Like Most manufactures once war production ended Toro picked up where they left off. Toro use primarily Briggs and Stratton engines however Briggs had labor issues and long strikes would halt production. This 1949 model used a Continental engine. Continental an airplane engine manufactory was a minor player in post war lawn equipment engines. These is a very rare mower however when I needed parts to repair the engine we had them in our parts department.
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#39
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Here We go "50's Mowers Begins! This first one is not your ordinary mower but may as well start off with
a "Bang"!!! Here is some info on plus a picture:
In this AP photo the "Power Mower of the Future" is demonstrated in Port Washington, Wis., Oct 14, 1957. The lawnmower has a five foot diameter plastic sphere in which the rider sits on an air foam cushioned seat. It has its own electric generating system for operating running lights, a radio telephone, air conditioning and even a cooling system to provide a chilled drink on a hot day. It can be used for many purposes. It can mow the lawn, weed it, feed it, seed it, spray for insects, plow snow and haul equipment. It can even be used as a golf cart.
A similar color photo with the man driving while his wife and child watched was featured on the cover of the March 1958 issue of Mechanix Illustrated.
a "Bang"!!! Here is some info on plus a picture:
In this AP photo the "Power Mower of the Future" is demonstrated in Port Washington, Wis., Oct 14, 1957. The lawnmower has a five foot diameter plastic sphere in which the rider sits on an air foam cushioned seat. It has its own electric generating system for operating running lights, a radio telephone, air conditioning and even a cooling system to provide a chilled drink on a hot day. It can be used for many purposes. It can mow the lawn, weed it, feed it, seed it, spray for insects, plow snow and haul equipment. It can even be used as a golf cart.
A similar color photo with the man driving while his wife and child watched was featured on the cover of the March 1958 issue of Mechanix Illustrated.
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It had to be a riding mower because it's no way your going to push that 1.25 ton beast around by hand.
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