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Please either enable it in your browser options, or visit your preferences to switch to the old MediaWiki editor <h2>History</h2> <p data-rte-fromparser="true"><img data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22image%22%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BImage%3ARansomes_Sims_and_Jefferies_Anglia_10_-Astwood-DSC01277.JPG%7Cthumb%7C250px%7CPair%20of%20early%20%28manual%29%20lawn%20mowers%20in%20the%20%5B%5BHorticultural%20machinery%5D%5D%20and%20%5B%5Bcollectables%5D%5D%20section%20of%20a%20%5B%5BSteam%20fairs%7CSteam%20and%20Vintage%20rally%5D%5D%5D%5D%22%2C%22title%22%3A%22Ransomes_Sims_and_Jefferies_Anglia_10_-Astwood-DSC01277.JPG%22%2C%22params%22%3A%7B%22alt%22%3A%22Ransomes%20Sims%20and%20Jefferies%20Anglia%2010%20-Astwood-DSC01277%22%2C%22thumbnail%22%3Atrue%2C%22caption%22%3A%22Pair%20of%20early%20%28manual%29%20lawn%20mowers%20in%20the%20%5B%5BHorticultural%20machinery%5D%5D%20and%20%5B%5Bcollectables%5D%5D%20section%20of%20a%20%5B%5BSteam%20fairs%7CSteam%20and%20Vintage%20rally%22%2C%22width%22%3A250%2C%22captionParsed%22%3A%22Pair%20of%20early%20%28manual%29%20lawn%20mowers%20in%20the%20%3Ca%20_rte_dataidx%3D%5C%220001%5C%22%20class%3D%5C%22new%5C%22%20title%3D%5C%22Horticultural%20machinery%20%28page%20does%20not%20exist%29%5C%22%20rel%3D%5C%22nofollow%5C%22%20data-uncrawlable-url%3D%5C%22L3dpa2kvSG9ydGljdWx0dXJhbF9tYWNoaW5lcnk%5C%2FYWN0aW9uPWVkaXQmcmVkbGluaz0x%5C%22%3EHorticultural%20machinery%3C%5C%2Fa%3E%20and%20%3Ca%20_rte_dataidx%3D%5C%220002%5C%22%20href%3D%5C%22%5C%2Fwiki%5C%2FCollectables%5C%22%20title%3D%5C%22Collectables%5C%22%3Ecollectables%3C%5C%2Fa%3E%20section%20of%20a%20%3Ca%20_rte_dataidx%3D%5C%220003%5C%22%20href%3D%5C%22%5C%2Fwiki%5C%2FSteam_fairs%5C%22%20title%3D%5C%22Steam%20fairs%5C%22%3ESteam%20and%20Vintage%20rally%3C%5C%2Fa%3E%22%7D%7D" data-rte-instance="6492-11310980515df2a99d95ac5" alt="" src="https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/tractors/images/c/ca/Ransomes_Sims_and_Jefferies_Anglia_10_-Astwood-DSC01277.JPG/revision/latest/scale-to-width-down/250?cb=20081125022019" width="250" height="188" class="image thumb withCaption" data-image-name="Ransomes Sims and Jefferies Anglia 10 -Astwood-DSC01277.JPG" data-image-key="Ransomes_Sims_and_Jefferies_Anglia_10_-Astwood-DSC01277.JPG" type="image" /> <!-- RTE::{"spaces":0,"type":"LINE_BREAK"} --><img data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22image%22%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BImage%3ARansomes_Sims_and_Jefferies_Certes_14_DSC01280.JPG%7Cthumb%7C250px%7CAn%20Early%20hand%20powered%20mower%5D%5D%22%2C%22title%22%3A%22Ransomes_Sims_and_Jefferies_Certes_14_DSC01280.JPG%22%2C%22params%22%3A%7B%22alt%22%3A%22Ransomes%20Sims%20and%20Jefferies%20Certes%2014%20DSC01280%22%2C%22thumbnail%22%3Atrue%2C%22caption%22%3A%22An%20Early%20hand%20powered%20mower%22%2C%22width%22%3A250%2C%22captionParsed%22%3A%22An%20Early%20hand%20powered%20mower%22%7D%7D" data-rte-instance="6492-11310980515df2a99d95ac5" alt="" src="https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/tractors/images/8/8e/Ransomes_Sims_and_Jefferies_Certes_14_DSC01280.JPG/revision/latest/scale-to-width-down/250?cb=20081125022023" width="250" height="333" class="image thumb withCaption" data-image-name="Ransomes Sims and Jefferies Certes 14 DSC01280.JPG" data-image-key="Ransomes_Sims_and_Jefferies_Certes_14_DSC01280.JPG" type="image" /> <!-- RTE::{"spaces":0,"type":"LINE_BREAK"} -->The first lawn mower was invented by English engineer Edwin Beard Budding in 1827. Budding's mower was designed primarily to cut the lawn on sports grounds and expensive gardens as a superior alternative to the <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22scythe%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22scythe%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5Bscythe%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="6492-11310980515df2a99d95ac5" href="/wiki/Scythe" title="Scythe">scythe</a>. His patent of 25 October, 1830 described "a new combination and application of machinery for the purpose of cropping or shearing the vegetable surfaces of lawns, grass-plats and pleasure grounds." The patent went on to state, "country gentlemen may find in using my machine themselves an amusing, useful and healthy exercise." It took ten more years and further innovations to create a machine that could be worked by donkey or horse power, and sixty years before a steam-powered lawn mower was built. In an agreement between John Ferrabee and Edwin Budding dated May 18 1830, Ferrabee paid the costs of development, obtained letters of patent and acquired rights to manufacture, sell and license other manufacturers in the production of lawn mowers. (The agreement is housed in the Museum at Stroud, in Gloucestershire). One of the first Budding and Ferrabee machines was used in <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Regent%27s%20Park%20Zoological%20Gardens%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22London%20Zoo%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Afalse%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BLondon%20Zoo%7CRegent%27s%20Park%20Zoological%20Gardens%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="6492-11310980515df2a99d95ac5" class="new" title="London Zoo (page does not exist)" rel="nofollow" data-uncrawlable-url="L3dpa2kvTG9uZG9uX1pvbz9hY3Rpb249ZWRpdCZyZWRsaW5rPTE=">Regent's Park Zoological Gardens</a> in <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22London%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22London%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BLondon%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="6492-11310980515df2a99d95ac5" href="/wiki/London" title="London">London</a>, in 1831. </p><p data-rte-fromparser="true" data-rte-empty-lines-before="1">Manufacture of lawn mowers began in the 1860s. By 1862, Farrabee's company was making eight models in various roller sizes up to 36 inches (900 mm). He manufactured over five thousand machines until production ceased in 1863. Thomas Green produced the first chain driven mower in 1859, named the Silens Messor. In 1870, Elwood McGuire of <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Richmond%2C%20Indiana%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Richmond%2C%20Indiana%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BRichmond%2C%20Indiana%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="6492-11310980515df2a99d95ac5" class="new" title="Richmond, Indiana (page does not exist)" rel="nofollow" data-uncrawlable-url="L3dpa2kvUmljaG1vbmQsX0luZGlhbmE/YWN0aW9uPWVkaXQmcmVkbGluaz0x">Richmond, Indiana</a> designed a human-pushed lawn mower, which was very lightweight and a commercial success. On May 9, 1899, an improved cylinder mower was patented in <span class="placeholder placeholder-double-brackets" data-rte-instance="6492-11310980515df2a99d95ac5" data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22double-brackets%22%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%7B%7BUS%20patent%7C624749%7D%7D%22%2C%22lineStart%22%3A%22%22%2C%22title%22%3A%22US%20patent%22%2C%22placeholder%22%3A1%7D" contenteditable="false">​<span data-rte-washtml="1"><a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22external%22%2C%22wikitextIdx%22%3Anull%2C%22text%22%3A%22U.S.%20Patent%20624%2C749%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22http%3A%5C%2F%5C%2Fwww.google.com%5C%2Fpatents%3Fq%3D624749%22%2C%22linktype%22%3A%22text%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Afalse%7D" data-rte-instance="6492-11310980515df2a99d95ac5" rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.google.com/patents?q=624749">U.S. Patent 624,749</a></span>​</span>, with the wheel placement altered for better performance. Amariah M. Hills went on to found the Archimedean Lawn Mower Co. in 1871. Around 1900, one of the best known English machines was the <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Ransomes%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Ransomes%2C%20Sims%20%26%20Jefferies%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Afalse%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BRansomes%2C%20Sims%20%26%20Jefferies%7CRansomes%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="6492-11310980515df2a99d95ac5" href="/wiki/Ransomes,_Sims_%26_Jefferies" title="Ransomes, Sims & Jefferies">Ransomes</a>' Automaton, available in chain- or gear-driven models. JP Engineering of Leicester, founded after <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22World%20War%20I%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22World%20War%20I%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BWorld%20War%20I%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="6492-11310980515df2a99d95ac5" href="/wiki/World_War_I" title="World War I">World War I</a>, 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. </p><p data-rte-fromparser="true" data-rte-empty-lines-before="1">The rise in popularity of sports such as lawn tennis, croquet, cricket, football and rugby helped prompt the spread of the invention. Lawn mowers became a more efficient alternative to simply relying on gardeners wielding the <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22scythe%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22scythe%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5Bscythe%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="6492-11310980515df2a99d95ac5" href="/wiki/Scythe" title="Scythe">scythe</a> (which, when placed in incompetent hands, left unsightly scars on and in the ground) or bare spaces caused by domesticated grazing animals. James Sumner of Lancashire patented the first <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22steam-powered%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22steam-powered%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5Bsteam-powered%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="6492-11310980515df2a99d95ac5" class="new" title="Steam-powered (page does not exist)" rel="nofollow" data-uncrawlable-url="L3dpa2kvU3RlYW0tcG93ZXJlZD9hY3Rpb249ZWRpdCZyZWRsaW5rPTE=">steam-powered</a> lawn mower in 1893. His machine burned petrol and/or paraffin oil (<a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22kerosene%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22kerosene%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5Bkerosene%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="6492-11310980515df2a99d95ac5" href="/wiki/Kerosene" title="Kerosene">kerosene</a>) as a fuel. After numerous advances, the machines were sold by the Stott Fertilizer and Insecticide Company of Manchester and later, the Sumner's took over sales. The company they controlled was called the <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Leyland%20Steam%20Motor%20Company%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Leyland%20Steam%20Motor%20Company%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BLeyland%20Steam%20Motor%20Company%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="6492-11310980515df2a99d95ac5" class="new" title="Leyland Steam Motor Company (page does not exist)" rel="nofollow" data-uncrawlable-url="L3dpa2kvTGV5bGFuZF9TdGVhbV9Nb3Rvcl9Db21wYW55P2FjdGlvbj1lZGl0JnJlZGxpbms9MQ==">Leyland Steam Motor Company</a>. Numerous manufacturers entered the field with gasoline-driven mowers after the turn of the century. The first grass boxes were flat trays but took their present shape in the 1860s. The roller-drive lawn mower has changed very little since around 1930. Gang mowers, those with multiple sets of blades, were built in the United States in 1919 by a Mister Worthington. His company was taken over by the <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Jacobsen%20Corporation%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Jacobsen%20Corporation%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BJacobsen%20Corporation%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="6492-11310980515df2a99d95ac5" href="/wiki/Jacobsen_Corporation" title="Jacobsen Corporation">Jacobsen Corporation</a> but his name is still cast on the frames of their gang units. </p><p /> <!-- Saved in parser cache with key tractors:rte-parser-cache:4233 --> Loading editor Below are some commonly used wiki markup codes. Simply click on what you want to use and it will appear in the edit box above. 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