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- Gilson Brothers Company Catalog, "Gilson Riding Mowers," 1972 - With the rise of the suburban neighborhood at the end of the 19th century, and its explosive growth in the years that followed World War II, maintaining a "perfect" lawn became the new standard. Manufacturers promoted a whole set of specialty equipment to support this American obsession.
- 1972
- Collections - Artifact
Gilson Brothers Company Catalog, "Gilson Riding Mowers," 1972
With the rise of the suburban neighborhood at the end of the 19th century, and its explosive growth in the years that followed World War II, maintaining a "perfect" lawn became the new standard. Manufacturers promoted a whole set of specialty equipment to support this American obsession.
- Huffman Manufacturing Company Catalog, "Huffy Outdoor Power Equipment for 1965" - With the rise of the suburban neighborhood at the end of the 19th century, and its explosive growth in the years that followed World War II, maintaining a "perfect" lawn became the new standard. Manufacturers promoted a whole set of specialty equipment to support this American obsession.
- 1965
- Collections - Artifact
Huffman Manufacturing Company Catalog, "Huffy Outdoor Power Equipment for 1965"
With the rise of the suburban neighborhood at the end of the 19th century, and its explosive growth in the years that followed World War II, maintaining a "perfect" lawn became the new standard. Manufacturers promoted a whole set of specialty equipment to support this American obsession.
- Roto-Hoe Company Sales Brochure, "Roto-Hoe Model 700 Four Season Lawn and Garden Equipment," 1971 - With the rise of the suburban neighborhood at the end of the 19th century, and its explosive growth in the years that followed World War II, maintaining a "perfect" lawn became the new standard. Manufacturers promoted a whole set of specialty equipment to support this American obsession.
- 1971
- Collections - Artifact
Roto-Hoe Company Sales Brochure, "Roto-Hoe Model 700 Four Season Lawn and Garden Equipment," 1971
With the rise of the suburban neighborhood at the end of the 19th century, and its explosive growth in the years that followed World War II, maintaining a "perfect" lawn became the new standard. Manufacturers promoted a whole set of specialty equipment to support this American obsession.
- J. Stone Heacock's Portable Lawn Sprinkler: Patented March 20, 1877 - Homeowners who want green lawns need to water them during dry weather. In the late nineteenth century this usually meant spreading water by using hand pumps or water barrel trucks. Those fortunate to live in areas with pressurized, municipal water systems could also use sprinklers. This 1877 advertisement touted the effectiveness of J. Stone Heacock's patented Portable Lawn Sprinkler.
- 1877
- Collections - Artifact
J. Stone Heacock's Portable Lawn Sprinkler: Patented March 20, 1877
Homeowners who want green lawns need to water them during dry weather. In the late nineteenth century this usually meant spreading water by using hand pumps or water barrel trucks. Those fortunate to live in areas with pressurized, municipal water systems could also use sprinklers. This 1877 advertisement touted the effectiveness of J. Stone Heacock's patented Portable Lawn Sprinkler.
- American Steel & Wire Company Trade Catalog, "Wire and Steel Products for the Farm," circa 1939 -
- circa 1939
- Collections - Artifact
American Steel & Wire Company Trade Catalog, "Wire and Steel Products for the Farm," circa 1939
- Mermaid Sprinkler, circa 1935 - Many homeowners use sprinklers to help produce a beautiful, green lawn. A traditional bare-metal sprinkler, however, can detract from the lawn's visual appeal. By the 1930s companies were making sprinklers in a variety of decorative and imaginative shapes. This mermaid sprinkler provided an aesthetically pleasing look when throwing water into all corners of a lawn.
- circa 1935
- Collections - Artifact
Mermaid Sprinkler, circa 1935
Many homeowners use sprinklers to help produce a beautiful, green lawn. A traditional bare-metal sprinkler, however, can detract from the lawn's visual appeal. By the 1930s companies were making sprinklers in a variety of decorative and imaginative shapes. This mermaid sprinkler provided an aesthetically pleasing look when throwing water into all corners of a lawn.
- Prototype Lawn Mower, Designed by Norman Swanson, circa 1956 - Norman Swanson created this prototype lawn mower that he used to mow his family's land in suburban Warrenville, Illinois. He configured a multiple-cutter system and mounted it under his International Harvester Cub Lo-Boy tractor. He also designed a deflector above the blades to better pulverize the grass clippings. Swanson received patents for these two lawn mowing innovations in 1959.
- circa 1956
- Collections - Artifact
Prototype Lawn Mower, Designed by Norman Swanson, circa 1956
Norman Swanson created this prototype lawn mower that he used to mow his family's land in suburban Warrenville, Illinois. He configured a multiple-cutter system and mounted it under his International Harvester Cub Lo-Boy tractor. He also designed a deflector above the blades to better pulverize the grass clippings. Swanson received patents for these two lawn mowing innovations in 1959.
- Seed Price List from Conklin & Mercereau, Seed Merchants, February 12, 1882 -
- February 12, 1882
- Collections - Artifact
Seed Price List from Conklin & Mercereau, Seed Merchants, February 12, 1882
- Huffman Manufacturing Company Catalog, "Huffy Outdoor Power Equipment," 1972 - With the rise of the suburban neighborhood at the end of the 19th century, and its explosive growth in the years that followed World War II, maintaining a "perfect" lawn became the new standard. Manufacturers promoted a whole set of specialty equipment to support this American obsession.
- 1972
- Collections - Artifact
Huffman Manufacturing Company Catalog, "Huffy Outdoor Power Equipment," 1972
With the rise of the suburban neighborhood at the end of the 19th century, and its explosive growth in the years that followed World War II, maintaining a "perfect" lawn became the new standard. Manufacturers promoted a whole set of specialty equipment to support this American obsession.
- Lawn Mower, 1868 - In the years following the American Civil War, improved transit allowed suburbs to grow around cities. Well-kept lawns were a key feature of a suburban home, and the lawn mower was an essential tool. A chain drive powered the sideways cutting action of this early push mower.
- 1868
- Collections - Artifact
Lawn Mower, 1868
In the years following the American Civil War, improved transit allowed suburbs to grow around cities. Well-kept lawns were a key feature of a suburban home, and the lawn mower was an essential tool. A chain drive powered the sideways cutting action of this early push mower.