Commercial Mowers » Vintage Mowers

Short History of Shanks

admin — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 04:20:53 +0000

Shanks Lawnmowers began with a man named Alexander Shanks (born in Arbroath in 1801), who is credited with patenting the first (effective) lawnmower.

Shanks had started his own machine making and spinning firm at Ogilvy Place, Arbroath in 1825. His invention was horse drawn and unlike it competitors rolled grass as it cut, creating the all-important smooth lawn. His grass cutting machine as it is described in the original patent document had long low lines, rear guiding handles and a horse towing bar projecting from the front, in appearance similar to an iron plough. with roller, cogs and cutting blades in place of the sock and coulter.

Alexander Shanks needed help in promoting his new machine and turned for advice to William F. Lindsay Carnegie of Boysack, a local landowner interested in new ideas. Carnegie immediately saw the possibilities of Shank’s (horse-drawn grass cutting machine), and ordered one for his estate at Kinblethmont. The first trial of the new cutting machine took place in 1842.

As gardens and gardening gained in popularity with the middle classes, Shanks along with other lawnmower manufacturers began to produce more and better models to cater for this growing market. The firm moved into bigger premises in Arbroath at Dens Iron Works. They opened a showroom and office in London supplying lawnmowers as far south as the Isle of Wight, and diversified into other aspects of ironwork. It seemed that the ‘Grassie’ as the Dens iron Works was affectionately known would continue forever, but in the 1950s the manufacture of lawnmowers in Arbroath was taken over by a Birmingham firm, and in 1969 an era came to an end.

Villiers Mowers and Gas Engines

admin — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 16:23:30 +0000

Decided to write this post because of the influence Villiers had on the eairly mowers, especially the 1950′s.

Villiers Engineering Ltd was a manufacturer of motorcycles and cycle parts, and an engineering company based in Villiers Street, Wolverhampton.

In the 1890s John Marston’s Sunbeam had become extremely successful, by relying on high quality of production and finish. But Marston was dissatisfied with the pedals on his machines, which he bought in. In 1890 he dispatched his son Charles to the USA on a selling trip but included in his instructions that Charles must discuss pedal engineering with Pratt and Whitney in Hartford, Connecticut and come back with a high class pedal and the machinery for making it. Charles said that the Villiers Engineering Co. was “the ultimate fruit” of his trip to the USA, being impressed by the production system and the labour saving devices. He pointed out that “it was not possible to develop these at Sunbeamland, which had long been working on another plan, but it was possible to start them in a new factory”.

As a result of the tour, in 1898, John Marston bought a small Japanning works based in Villiers Street, Wolverhampton. Under the direction of Charles, the company made cycle parts for the Sunbeam company. As the factory was producing more parts than Sunbeam required, it sold components to other manufacturers.

1902 was a momentous year for Villiers. Firstly, John Marston sold the company to his son Charles for £6,000 on a loan against future profits. Secondly, it developed and patented the cycle free-wheel, which every cycle manufacturer required. The production of free wheels reached its peak just after World War II, as the company produced 80,000 per week or 4 million per year.

In 1911 engine production commenced, but sales were slow until 1913 when the first two stoke was produced. In 1956 Villiers produced its two millionth engine and presented it to the Science Museum in London.

In 1936, L. E. Baynes and Sir John Carden, as Carden Baynes Aircraft Ltd of Heston, Middlesex, launched the Carden Baynes Auxiliary, a light aircraft which was essentially a motorized Scud 3 glider. This carried a retractable 249 cc Villiers engine driving a push-propeller and producing 9 bhp, and the fuel tank held enough to run the engine for thirty minutes. The 249 cc Carden Baynes Auxiliary is believed to be the lowest powered aircraft in the history of powered flight.

In 1957 Villiers absorbed JA Prestwich Industries Ltd, makers of the J.A.P. engines. In 1962 the company were claiming that: “jointly the two companies produce a vast range of two-stroke and four-stroke petrol engines and four-stroke diesel engines from 1/3rd to 16 b.h.p. These are the engines which power many of Britain’s two-stroke motor cycles, scooters and three wheelers and the great majority of the motor mowers, cultivators, concrete mixers, generating sets, elevators, pumping sets. etc.”

Villiers manufactured a range of single and twin two-stroke engines (from 98 cc to 350 cc) for light motorcycle and vehicle manufacturers until the 1960s.

In the early 1960s the company was taken over by Manganese Bronze, and in 1966 together with AMC became part of Norton Villiers

In 1999 Villiers Plc acquired the healthcare company Ultramind and renamed the company Ultrasis.

Here is a few Pics of some 1950′s Villiers powered mowers.

A few links for Parts and Info that might help for Villiers
Pivot Power Products
Atco England

You can also email Lee-Archer & Co. at:

1949 Eclipse Reel Mower

admin — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 17:08:37 +0000

I don’t know much about the Eclipse company at this time. But from what I have found out is that the founder was Fred Adams.
Freed Adams was an Illinois farm boy who later trained as a jeweller. His idea of a self-sharpening lawn mower came way back in 1900.
The next year he started the Eclipse Company in Prophetstown, Illinois. One of the first mowers the company produced was the sidewheel “Lady” mower.
Eclipse also made many other sidewheel models during its early years. In the 1950′s a wide range of powered machines were made.
In 1960 the company was taken over by Hahn.
This is all I know about the Eclipse company now, but will try to find more later on.
If any one has anything else on these mowers or the company, please fill free to comment.

British Anzani Engine Company Ltd

admin — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 16:12:46 +0000

British Anzani Lawn Mower History

Here is a picture of a award winning Steam Powered Anzani Lawn Mower. This picture was taken at the Peterborough Vintage Tractor show 2008.

Anzani went into lawnmower production in the late 50’s with a range of equipment of mostly larger scale 14”, 16” and 24” mowers for professional purposes. Production went on until the late 1960’s from their new factory in Aylesford in Kent. The range included the Lawnrider (a 150cc 4 stroke sit-on mower in 18” and 24” widths), the Ridamow (another sit-on mower with a detachable seat for self propelled operation, 150cc 4 stroke 24” width), the Powermow (a self propelled 24” width mower) and for smaller areas the Easimow, (a 14” self propelled 4-stroke 48cc machine). All the petrol driven mowers included the Heli-Strand flexible drive power take-off system which provided a range of additional tools that could be driven directly from the mower. These included a chain saw, hedge cutter, log saw, pruning saw and rotary grass cutter. The range also saw the Company’s first electric mower the Whispamow, a 14” two-speed battery driven machine with built-in charger. They produced add-ons too for a descendant of the Iron Horse: the Honda F30 tractor. The Heli-Swift 30 was a 20” grasscutting attachment belt driven from the tractor costing £35 15s 0d. The Foldakart was a heavy duty wheelbarrow designed to compliment the mower range.