"Blue" Riding Mower, 1956-1958
01
Artifact Overview
Norman Swanson built this prototype riding mower after conversations with his neighbor, Russ Carlson, and Cliff Pennington. Pennington manufactured mowers for Sears, Roebuck and Co., and Sears was looking for new design ideas. This demonstration prototype convinced Sears executives to sell mowers with a deflector mounted above the blade to pulverize grass clippings -- a feature patented by Swanson in 1957.
Artifact Details
Artifact
Riding lawn mower
Date Made
1956-1958
Place of Creation
Creator Notes
Engine manufactured by Kohler Company. Norman and Curtis Swanson built the mower.
Location
Not on exhibit to the public.
Object ID
2018.139.2
Credit
From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of Norman F. Swanson.
Material
Metal
Rubber (Material)
Dimensions
Height: 38 in
Width: 47.5 in
Length: 47.5 in
Inscriptions
plaque on back:
MODEL NO. K901 / SERIAL NO. 301541 / SPECIFICATION NO. 2764D / PLUG .025 / POINTS .020 / TAPPET CLEAR. COLD / IN. .006-EX. .012 / OIL CAPACITY 1 1/2 PINTS / SUMMER - SAE 30 / WINTER - SAE 10W / KOHLER CO. / KOHLER, WIS., U.S.A. / KOHLER OF KOHLER / REG. U.S. PAT. OFF.
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