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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.
- Roto-Hoe Company Sales Brochure, "Turf-Star II Islander: The Sophisticated Riding Mower Now with Automatic Drive," 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
Roto-Hoe Company Sales Brochure, "Turf-Star II Islander: The Sophisticated Riding Mower Now with Automatic Drive," 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- The Hills Archimedean "Charter Oak" Lawn Mower, 1872-1900 - Lawns require regular maintenance. First patented in the United States in 1868, cylinder- or reel-type mowers became an enduring, affordable option for anyone with a small lawn. The basic form consisted of blades that rotated around a horizontal axis, cutting the grass as the user pushed the machine. Advertisements touted this "Charter Oak" model as "the most beautiful and perfect Lawn Mower in the world."
- 1872-1900
- Collections - Artifact
The Hills Archimedean "Charter Oak" Lawn Mower, 1872-1900
Lawns require regular maintenance. First patented in the United States in 1868, cylinder- or reel-type mowers became an enduring, affordable option for anyone with a small lawn. The basic form consisted of blades that rotated around a horizontal axis, cutting the grass as the user pushed the machine. Advertisements touted this "Charter Oak" model as "the most beautiful and perfect Lawn Mower in the world."
- Dille & McGuire Manufacturing Company Catalog, "Turfmaster Lawn Mowers," 1960 - 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.
- 1960
- Collections - Artifact
Dille & McGuire Manufacturing Company Catalog, "Turfmaster Lawn Mowers," 1960
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 '64," 1964 - 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.
- 1964
- Collections - Artifact
Huffman Manufacturing Company Catalog, "Huffy Outdoor Power Equipment for '64," 1964
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.
- Moto-Mower Lawn Mower, 1920-1929 - Lawns require regular maintenance. First patented in the United States in 1868, cylinder- or reel-type mowers became an enduring, affordable option for anyone with a small lawn. The basic form consisted of blades that rotated around a horizontal axis, cutting the grass as the user pushed the machine. This "Moto-Mower" represents an early attempt to motorize the technology.
- 1920-1929
- Collections - Artifact
Moto-Mower Lawn Mower, 1920-1929
Lawns require regular maintenance. First patented in the United States in 1868, cylinder- or reel-type mowers became an enduring, affordable option for anyone with a small lawn. The basic form consisted of blades that rotated around a horizontal axis, cutting the grass as the user pushed the machine. This "Moto-Mower" represents an early attempt to motorize the technology.
- Prototype Walking Tractor with Tri-Cut Mower, circa 1956 - Norman Swanson built this prototype mower in his garden tool and tractor shed. The mower employed multiple blades -- an improvement from the single-blade Montgomery & Ward mower from which he took inspiration. This was his first mower in a line of prototypes he built between 1956 and 1964. Swanson received a patent for his "Multiple Cutter Power Mower" in 1959.
- circa 1956
- Collections - Artifact
Prototype Walking Tractor with Tri-Cut Mower, circa 1956
Norman Swanson built this prototype mower in his garden tool and tractor shed. The mower employed multiple blades -- an improvement from the single-blade Montgomery & Ward mower from which he took inspiration. This was his first mower in a line of prototypes he built between 1956 and 1964. Swanson received a patent for his "Multiple Cutter Power Mower" in 1959.