 Posts Tagged ‘mower information’Commonwealth Antique Reel Mower May 24th, 2009
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Commonwealth Antique Reel Mower 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 Badger Antique Classic Reel MowerMay 23rd, 2009
Badger Classic Reel Mower 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 1924 Historic Reel Lawn Mower AdvertisementMay 22nd, 2009
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  1924 Philadelphia Lawn Mower Advertisement Lawn Mower Recycling ToolMay 21st, 2009
So, you’re ready to purchase a new ecomower but you still have your old gasoline powered rotary mower sitting in your garage, the shed, your basement, or yard. What in the world should you do with it? Do you sell it? Should you give it away? Maybe you should take it to the dump or the transfer station? Letting your old lawn mower take the long journey to a landfill – or for that matter allowing it to be shipped overseas to some other landfill is a BAD idea. You’re buying a new environmental lawnmower, right? Why would you throw your old one away? If your gasoline powered lawn mower is ready to die and you can’t donate it, sell it, or give it to a friend, why not just recycle it!! Recycling old lawn mowers is not an easy task and it can be difficult to find a local recycling center. For this reason, we have teamed up with Earth911.com to provide you with an extensive database of lawn mower recycling centers across the United States. Simply use the widget below and it will point you towards your nearest lawn mower recycling center. It is that easy!! Lawn Mower Recycling Tool:
More About Earth911.com Earth911 delivers actionable local information on recycling and product stewardship that empowers consumers to act locally, live responsibly and contribute to sustainability. Reduce Waste reduction is the process and the policy of reducing the amount of waste produced and ultimately disposed. Waste reduction or waste minimization, also known as source reduction, is simply reducing waste at its source. In the waste management hierarchy the most effective policies and processes are mentioned first. Waste minimization is also strongly related to efforts to minimize resource and energy use. The fewer materials used for the same production output means that less waste is produced. Waste minimization may require knowledge of the production process, product life cycle analysis (the tracking of products and their environmental impact from material extraction to their return to earth) and detailed knowledge of the composition of the waste stream. In waste management, product life cycle analysis is often referred to as a cradle-to-grave analysis. The main sources of waste vary from country to country. Household waste constitutes a relatively small proportion of all waste in any country. Reuse When you use an item more than once, it is called reuse. Conventional reuse is where an item is used again for the same function, like when you refill a coffee cup instead of throwing it in the trash. It is also reuse when an item is reused for a different purpose, like when you use a 2-liter soda bottle as a seed-starter greenhouse. Reuse helps the planet, but it also saves money. In many countries, this savings was not considered beneficial enough to forego the convenience of disposable products. Today’s consumer is becoming more aware of environmental concerns and this awareness is gradually changing business and government policies, and consumer attitudes about what the convenience of a disposable society is really costing us. Recycle Recycling is the processing of making used items into new raw material. Recycling conserves our natural raw material resources, and typically uses much less energy. Saving energy means that smokestack emissions of greenhouse gas and other pollutants like mercury are reduced at the power plant, and our energy sources are not depleted as quickly. Recycling is critical to today’s waste management programs. Recyclable materials can be generated anywhere, and nearly anything is recyclable. They include paper, aluminum, glass, road surfaces, scrap metals, and all forms of plastics. Even food and lawn waste can be recycled. Fryer oil can be made into bio-diesel fuel, some plant products can be fermented into ethanol fuels, and some can be composted into fertilizer, or reduced in size to be used as mulch. Recyclables need to be sorted and separated into material types before processing into new raw materials. Contamination with other materials affects the value and usefulness of the material to be recycled. This sorting can be performed either by the waste generator or the recycling facility. The same is true of household recycling programs, and these can be broken down into two basic groups. 1) Curbside collection: where consumers leave recycling containers they place outside their property to be collected by a recycling vehicle. The materials can be either “source-separated” by the consumer into separate containers or commingled in one container to be separated at a Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) and 2) A “drop-off” program, where the consumer takes the recyclable materials to facilities where they are separated based on material type for further processing. React The “Three R’s” above outline what you can do to help preserve natural resources and protect the environment. With climate change and going green in the news daily, the list of steps everyone of us can take to help our planet is continually growing. React, obviously, is the next step. Conscientious Earth citizens have the ability to learn about the right things to do. After you learn, get out of your chair and actually do something about it: React! Make today the day YOU start to do something about it. Managing Grass ClippingsMay 13th, 2009
Managing Your Grass Clippings Grass clippings will always be a part of lawn care. Because lawns grow at different rates depending on environmental conditions and management practices, it is important to tailor mowing, fertilizing, and watering to meet plant needs, yet avoid excessive growth. Grass clippings an inch or less in length filter down to the soil surface and decompose relatively quickly. Longer clippings have a tendency to remain above the lawn where they appear unsightly and can shade or smother grass beneath. Long clippings need to be removed to avoid both unsightliness and lawn damage. Bagging clippings did not become commonplace until the 1950s when bagging attachments were designed for rotary motors. In nearly every instance, proper lawn care can greatly reduce or eliminate the need to collect clippings. In fact, clippings are a valuable source of nutrients. University of Minnesota soil test recommendations call for less nitrogen fertilizer if clippings are returned to the lawn. Also, the addition of organic matter in the form of clippings may help to improve the status of your soil if it is sandy or low in organic matter. Contrary to popular belief, returning clippings to the lawn does not normally contribute to increased thatch formation. Thatch is a layer of undecomposed organic matter that builds up between the soil surface and the actively growing green vegetation. A thatch layer will develop if organic matter is produced faster than it is decomposed by microorganisms. The major factors contributing to thatch development are vigorous grass varieties, excessive nitrogen fertilization, infrequent mowing, and low soil oxygen levels. Small clippings are composed primarily of easily degradable compounds which break down rapidly and do not accumulate. Long clippings may contain wiry stem material that is slow to decompose.
While leaving clippings on the lawn is recommended, certain instances make the practice inadvisable. The following are some exceptions to the rule: If the lawn is heavily infested with certain leaf diseases, removing clippings may help reduce disease severity. If the lawn must be mowed when wet, clippings can mat together and smother the grass. If the grass has become too tall, clippings can mat together and smother the grass. When clippings must be collected, using them as mulch in the garden or composting them are two good alternative disposal methods. Grass clippings can provide an effective mulch around garden plants. Mulching helps reduce weeds, conserve moisture, and modify soil temperatures. However, do not apply more than one or two inches of grass clippings as a mulch at one time. Wet grass clippings can mat down and prevent oxygen and moisture from getting down into the soil. When oxygen is limited, anaerobic decomposition of the clippings may take place, leading to the production of offensive odors. Do not use grassclippings as mulch if the lawn was recently treated with an herbicide for dandelions or other broadleaf types of weeds. If clippings are to be used as a mulch, then wait until its been mowed at least twice. Composting involves mixing grass clippings and other plant materials with a small amount of soil containing microorganisms which decompose organic matter. Grass clippings are excellent additions to a compost pile because of their high nitrogen content. However, they should not be the only compost component. As with mulches, a thick layer of grass clippings in a compost pile will lead to bad odors from anaerobic decomposition. Mix them with dry materials such as leaves or straw. Clippings can be composted in the backyard or hauled to municipal composting sites. Source: Mowers and Mowing SafetyMay 13th, 2009
The two principal types of mowers available for use on home lawns include “reel” and “rotary” mowers. Regardless which type is chosen, it is very important to keep the mower blades as sharp as possible. Dull mowers tear grass blades rather than cutting them. This results in injured plants. Reel mowers have a series of revolving blades that cut against a stationary bedknife, much like a scissors. While reel mowers provide the finest quality of cut available, they are expensive, not easily adjusted, and require specialized equipment for sharpening. Also, they can’t be used where stones, twigs, or other debris are a problem because of potential damage to the cutting units. Rotary mowers have a whirling horizontal blade. Rotating blades have the potential for throwing stones or other small objects in the path of the mower. Therefore, rotary mowers are more dangerous than the reel mowers. They cut the grass by impact, similar to the way a machete works. This causes a rougher, more uneven cut than reel mowers. However, rotary mowers do an acceptable job on virtually any lawn. In addition, they are easier to maintain then reel mowers and can cut taller grass. Modern mowers are equipped with certain safety devices which should not be removed or tampered with. One safety feature is a blade that stops turning when the operator’s hands are removed from the controls. Another is a rear-mounted rope pull for starting the mower. This reduces the chance of getting one’s foot caught in the blades during starting. Many rotary motors have bagging attachments which affect mower safety. The manufacturer may have a special attachment which is required for safe mowing without a bag. Similarly, discharge chute shields on nonbagging mowers should not be removed. All mowing equipment should be kept in good working condition. Mowers should be sharpened and adjusted frequently to assure a clean cut. A dull rotary mower frays the ends of grass blades and results in brown tips, which are unsightly and increase the plants’ susceptibility to certain plant diseases. Slopes greater than about four to one are both difficult and dangerous to mow. These slopes are good candidates for alternative ground covers that will stabilize the bank and eliminate the need for routine maintenance such as mowing. Pick up rocks, wires, and sticks before mowing to prevent them from becoming dangerous projectiles. Keep all spectators away from the mower while it is in operation. Young children should not be allowed to operate mowers until they can handle them easily. Use earplugs when operating noisy power mowers. Wear sturdy shoes that protect the feet. Always push the mower forward. Never pull it backward in a motion where a slip will allow your foot under the mower deck. Mow across a slope, not up and down for the same reason.Another safety tip is to delay mowing grass when it is wet. Dry grass is less apt to plug mowers. Footing is better on dry grass, and good footing is important in steep slopes. Finally, there is a growing movement among people with small, easily managed yards, back to “old-fashioned” push-type reel mowers. Newer versions are smaller, lighter-weight, and easier to push than the old clunkers you may have used as a youngster. They have the advantage of quiet, fuel-free operation, and can provide good exercise at the same time. If your property isn’t too large, consider these mowers when shopping for a new one. Source: |
