The Johnson Lawn Mower c.1878
(Hand Operated)
In 1877 Frank G Johnson of New York observed that the rapidity of the action of lawn mower cutters was determined solely by the speed that the mower was pushed, making it difficult to cut grass in tight corners etc, particularly when pushing at speed was not an option, he also found most mowers were extremely heavy.
To overcome these factors, he designed and patented in 1878 his hand operated simple light weight mower which had the benefit of the user being able to rotate the cutting blades at a fast speed even when standing still or moving very slowly.
Johnson was a medical doctor and a prolific inventor, with over 80 non-lawn mower patents granted from 1854-1899.
The mower was available in 8,10,12 & 14in cutting widths, there is minimal evidence of advertising in the U.K. with only one small, classified advertisement by a London sales agent.
The mower was exhibited at the International Agricultural Exhibition, Kilburn, London in June 1879, also at the Suffolk Agricultural Assoc show at Lowestoft the same month.
We have not seen any others on display in the U.K. or evidence of their existence, therefore a particularly rare example.
More close-up images follow together with a copy of the original patent.
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