Archive for the ‘Reel Mower History’ Category
Get a reel mower! I have a Reel Mower! These mowers Reely work! Reel men push mow!
The list is long for these clever and popular puns. Huh? What is a “reel” mower anyway? For many green industry “professionals”, namely landscape contractors, golf course superintendents, turfgrass managers, etc., the term “reel mower” is common. But your average everyday American has absolutely no idea.
Let me explain (in brief):
 Reel Mower Concept Reel mowers have curved blades that produce a cutting action alongside a stationary steel plate (like a can of Pringles chips rolling across a table). The blades form a spiral around the reel axis, and as they spin, the spiral of blades forces grass past the stationary plate. Reel mowers leave behind clean-cut grass, as if the grass had been cut with sharp scissors.
New reel mower technology has advanced since the days of Grandpa’s old clunker. Unlike the cutting action of scissors, it is not necessary for the blades of the spinning reel to contact the stationary plate. A clean cut is possible if the gap between the blades and the plate is less than the thickness of the grass. This modern reel mower technology is referred to as “contact-free”, “non-contact”, “silent-cut”, and many other terms. The benefit is a mower that is easier to push, and a mower that does not require sharpening. What, no sharpening? Nope. Think about it, there is no metal-on-metal contact to cause the reel blades to become dull. The blades only come in contact with grass, wood, and the occasional pebble or two – non of which will cause the blades to lose its edge.
There is a ton to talk about so feel free search around our learning center and read more more about reel mower technology, and how your lawn may benefit by using a reel mower.
VN:F [1.3.4_676] Rating: 9.2/10 (14 votes cast) 
Text from antique catalog page reads as follows :
Harvester – A strictly high grade mower and one of the most beautiful and graceful designes ever produced.
VN:F [1.3.4_676] Rating: 4.7/10 (3 votes cast)
Mt. Vernon, Ball Bearing, Reel Mower
9 INCH DRIVE WHEELS, FOUR KNIVES, WITH GRASS GUARD
This mower is the same as the Mt. Vernon, but has ball bearings. The reel knives are made of oil tempered tool steel and shelf-sharpening. Knives are carefully ground to insure best of kind work positive ratchet and patent cone adjustment. For a medium priced machine it did excellent work and gave universal satisfaction. This machine was thoroughly tested with above results.
 Mt. Vernon, Ball Bearing, Antique Reel Mower VN:F [1.3.4_676] Rating: 8.0/10 (3 votes cast)
Mt. Vernon Reel Mower
9 INCH DRIVE WHEELS, FOUR KNIVES, WITH GRASS GUARD
This mower was built on the same lines as the Badger, but stronger, having larger and heavier driving wheels. The reel knives are made of oil tool steel and self-shaarpening. Knives are carefully ground to insure best of kind work and give universal satisfaction. This machine has been thoroughly tested with above results.
 Mt. Vernon Antique Reel Mower VN:F [1.3.4_676] Rating: 7.0/10 (4 votes cast)
Commonwealth Antique Reel Mower
9 INCH DRIVE WHEELS, THREE KNIVES, WITH GRASS GUARD.
Same Machine as the Mt. Vernon, but this mower has three oil tempered tool steel reel knives, in place of four, shelf-sharpening, and positive ratchet and adjustable plain bearing box. This machine gave excellent satisfaction. Very easy to adjust.
 Commonwealth Antique Classic Reel Mower VN:F [1.3.4_676] Rating: 10.0/10 (2 votes cast)
Badger Classic Reel Mower
8 INCH DRIVE WHEELS, FOUR KNIVES, WITH GRASS GUARD
This machine was highly recommended for quick action, having four tempered cast steel reel knives, self-sharpening and positive ratchet and adjustable plain bearing box. For a low wheel mower this machine gave excellent satisfaction. Very easy to adjust.
 Badger Old Fashion Reel Mower VN:F [1.3.4_676] Rating: 10.0/10 (1 vote cast)
Reel lawn mowers used to be very very popular – remember? For many of you and especially those of you ages 12 to 40, you may know manual push reel mowers as, “that old mower my grandfather used have”. We recently discovered a fantastic and informative old magazine advertisement for The Genuine “PHILADELPHIA” Lawn Mowers. You can tell by reading the ad that reel lawn mowers once had a passionate following.
The advertisement reads:
Lawns or Links – Sun or Shade
That Grass thrives best which receives the best care and no factor plays a greater part in the development of fine lawns than does the Lawn Mower. Now, to the casual observer, all Lawn Mowers look pretty much alike. Paint and varnish, gilt lettering and fancy designs cover a multitude of Lawn Mower sins. That is why it pays to buy Mowers of known reputation. That is the reason why experienced buyers ask for The Genuine “PHILADELPHIA” Lawn Mowers.
They stand for fifty-five years of undivided efforts in one field. We originated, developed and improved, until to-day every “PHILADELPHIA” Mower is sold under the unqualified guarantee that they are of the highest standards in workmanship and materials.
Progressive Dealers the world over will show you any models. There are twenty-five styles all told, in Hand-Horse- and Motor-Mowers.
The Philadelphia Lawn Mower Company
31st and Chestnut Streets, Philadelphia, Pa., U.S.A.
 1924 Philadelphia Lawn Mower Advertisement VN:F [1.3.4_676] Rating: 10.0/10 (2 votes cast)
The practice of mechanical mowing is less than 200 years old; before our modern era, grassy areas were maintained by grazing animals (in fact, sheep, in particular, are still used across the globe for this purpose). Turf was also maintained in earlier times with hand-held scythes for cutting and brooms for sweeping.
An English engineer named Edwin Budding invented the first mechanical mower in 1827. His prototype lawn mower was inspired by a carpet-trimming machine in a textile factory. The basic principle used in his mower is still found today in reel mowers: curved blades produce a cutting action alongside a stationary steel plate. The first machines, designed by Budding, were so heavy that they required three people to operate. Draft animals were also used to pull the first lawn mowers.
Manufacture of lawn mowers for general use began in the 1860s. By 1862, John Ferrabee (who bought the rights to manufacture lawn mowers from Edwin Budding) was making eight models in various roller sizes up to 36 inches. His company manufactured over five thousand machines until production ceased in 1863. Gasoline-powered mowers finally became available to a wide market in the 1920s when Colonel Edwin George popularized Moto-Mowers, built in a Detroit factory.
This information is summarized from Fundamentals of Turfgrass Management, by Nick Christians: Ann Arbor Press, Chelsea, Michigan: 1998, (chapter 8) and Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lawnmower.
VN:F [1.3.4_676] Rating: 10.0/10 (1 vote cast)
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