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- 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.
- 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.
- 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."
- 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.
- Spool of Wire, Used with a Mowtron Mower, 1974 - This spool of electrical wire was a component of an early-1970s automated lawn mowing system known as "Mowtron." Hubert Wenzel, a licensed Mowtron dealer, laid the wire under his suburban lawn in a predetermined pattern. When linked to an isolation transformer, it operated as a closed electrical circuit -- part of the transistorized system that guided the self-propelled, gasoline-powered Mowtron mower.
- 1974
- Collections - Artifact
Spool of Wire, Used with a Mowtron Mower, 1974
This spool of electrical wire was a component of an early-1970s automated lawn mowing system known as "Mowtron." Hubert Wenzel, a licensed Mowtron dealer, laid the wire under his suburban lawn in a predetermined pattern. When linked to an isolation transformer, it operated as a closed electrical circuit -- part of the transistorized system that guided the self-propelled, gasoline-powered Mowtron mower.
- Spool of Electrical Cord, Used with a Mowtron Mower, 1973 - This spool of electrical cord and aluminum tube was a component of an early-1970s automated lawn mowing system known as "Mowtron." Hubert Wenzel, a licensed Mowtron dealer and engineer by training, used it with his Mowtron mower on his suburban lawn. The wire made up part of the transistorized electronic system that operated the mower.
- November 01, 1973
- Collections - Artifact
Spool of Electrical Cord, Used with a Mowtron Mower, 1973
This spool of electrical cord and aluminum tube was a component of an early-1970s automated lawn mowing system known as "Mowtron." Hubert Wenzel, a licensed Mowtron dealer and engineer by training, used it with his Mowtron mower on his suburban lawn. The wire made up part of the transistorized electronic system that operated the mower.
- "Mowtron Mower" Sign, 1974 - "Mowtron...Mows while you Doze!" The American Marketing and Sales Company stressed computerized operation to encourage adoption of its autonomous lawn mower. The machine followed signals emitted by a transistorized guidance system, eliminating the need for homeowners to dedicate valuable time to lawn care. Built-in features like sensitized bumpers eased safety concerns, though sales fell far short of the company's dreams.
- 1974
- Collections - Artifact
"Mowtron Mower" Sign, 1974
"Mowtron...Mows while you Doze!" The American Marketing and Sales Company stressed computerized operation to encourage adoption of its autonomous lawn mower. The machine followed signals emitted by a transistorized guidance system, eliminating the need for homeowners to dedicate valuable time to lawn care. Built-in features like sensitized bumpers eased safety concerns, though sales fell far short of the company's dreams.
- "Mowtron Mower" Sign, 1974 - "Mowtron...Mows while you Doze!" The American Marketing and Sales Company stressed computerized operation to encourage adoption of its autonomous lawn mower. The machine followed signals emitted by a transistorized guidance system, eliminating the need for homeowners to dedicate valuable time to lawn care. Built-in features like sensitized bumpers eased safety concerns, though sales fell far short of the company's dreams.
- 1974
- Collections - Artifact
"Mowtron Mower" Sign, 1974
"Mowtron...Mows while you Doze!" The American Marketing and Sales Company stressed computerized operation to encourage adoption of its autonomous lawn mower. The machine followed signals emitted by a transistorized guidance system, eliminating the need for homeowners to dedicate valuable time to lawn care. Built-in features like sensitized bumpers eased safety concerns, though sales fell far short of the company's dreams.
- 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.
- 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.