Simplicity Push Mower similar to Lawn-Boy mowers????

[d_sharier]

While I am slightly obsessed with Lawn-Boy mowers, a few of my friends have the same admiration for old Simplicity garden tractors. One of them ended up with his grandfather's old push mower. Just so happens it is a Simplicity model 1221. I looked at it and the first thing that came to my mind was, "That's a Lawn-Boy". I have searched high and low for information regarding these push mowers and their similarity to Lawn-Boy mowers and have come up with almost nothing. In fact, there is almost no information on them at all. It seems even from the Simplicity end that all I could find was that they were made along with a Homelite and Allis variant. I have found some IPL'S and owner's manuals but not much else.

I did find a youtube video of a fella running a late 60's version and in the comments someone made a statement indicating the Lawn-Boy sued Simplicity for the production of these mowers. I have not been able to verify that. If anyone can offer any insight it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

Simplicity Walk-Behind Mower. The date code on the Briggs is 1980

Model: 1221
MFG.: 1690511
Serial: 003450

 

[gearnoggin]

Very neat!

 

[Phototone]

Have you seen the new "Saber Edge"? Much more of a Lawnboy clone of the aluminum deck era.

© 2014 SABER EDGE / www.SABERTURF.COM

 

[Vervepipes]

Wow, wonder if they bought the old casting molds?

 

[mechanic mark]

operators manual & illustrated parts list. Results

 

[Phototone]

Wow, wonder if they bought the old casting molds?

Thats what I'm thinking. These are EXPENSIVE mowers, think in the $700 range.

 

[Phototone]

operators manual & illustrated parts list. Results

Lots of differences. The bag adaptor, or side discharge plate have totally different mouting bolt patterns. The rear-wheel drive mechanism is totally different, the wheel adjusters are somewhat different. the main similarity is it is a stagger-wheel deck, with bag port.

 

[d_sharier]

operators manual & illustrated parts list. Results

I appreciate the link, but as I stated in the original post, I already have those pieces of literature. My biggest question is if there was any collaboration between Lawn-Boy and Simplicity? or Where the two companies at odds because of the similarities between the two.

 

[Rwells1]

In accordance to proper forum etiquette... Here is another picture.. I do not know how much he payed for the mower.. I could ask him,tho I don't know his 90 year old brain will remember what he payed for it 34 years ago.. If you include inflation it my be in $700 range.. Who knows.. Maybe someone will post some literature on this subject.. Keep it between the ditches..

 

[Phototone]

The $700 price range I was referring to, was for the brand new modern "Saber Edge" mowers which appear to use a very slightly modified Lawnboy stagger-wheel aluminum deck, albeit with a Briggs engine. Of course, Toro has abandoned the Lawnboy stagger-wheel design concept now all together, so maybe they sold the tooling?