Mowing the old fasion way.

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Fri Jul 26, 2019 2:48 pm

Norma bought me a new mower, pretty soon i won`t need gas or electricity.

It was all stuck but we got her cuttin good.

jeepnik · Post by **jeepnik** » Fri Jul 26, 2019 2:50 pm

You just gave me nightmarish flashbacks or hot summer days.

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Fri Jul 26, 2019 2:56 pm

Yea i`m not going to be able to use it much with this bad hip but i wanted one with steel wheels.
The steel wheel ones push a lot easier than the rubber tire ones.
We`ll sharpen it up and put some paint on the old girl and Norma can push it.

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Fri Jul 26, 2019 3:02 pm

Found one on the net, it`s a Trojan 1931.
https://laurelleaffarm.com/item-pages/a ... k81084.htm

gamekeeper · Post by **gamekeeper** » Fri Jul 26, 2019 3:10 pm

That brings back memories I'd rather forget.........

GunnyMack · Post by **GunnyMack** » Fri Jul 26, 2019 3:40 pm

My grandmother had one of those mowers, my uncle always tried to get us kids to push it for him but we knew better!

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Fri Jul 26, 2019 3:50 pm

Ya gotta find a good one like this one, ball bearings and all, ahead of its time.
This one pushes real easy in the grass compared to a rubber tire one i have which is a killer.
Tomorrow we`ll make a wood roller for it and paint it, she`ll be a beauty.
Pretty good day for a change other than 87 degrees and humid.

JimT · Post by **JimT** » Fri Jul 26, 2019 4:38 pm

Pushed one of those a lot as a kid.

In Mozambique they cut the grass with a type of machete ...

index.jpg

01-20130720-5167-whaun.jpg

You see them mowing the sides of the roads at times. The joke from there is: "You may be a missionary kid if you know how to cut grass with a machete but you don't know how to start a lawmower."

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Fri Jul 26, 2019 4:45 pm

Thanks Jim, i`ve used one of those swingers a bit, have one with the serrated blade on it.

Grizz · Post by **Grizz** » Fri Jul 26, 2019 6:59 pm

I'm going the older fashioned way when this gets here:

https://scythesupply.com/

Bill in Oregon · Post by **Bill in Oregon** » Fri Jul 26, 2019 8:13 pm

Lenn, when one of those is properly lubed, sharpened and tuned, it is like a surgical instrument.

Booger Bill · Post by **Booger Bill** » Fri Jul 26, 2019 8:49 pm

When I was a kid we had them. I told dad he needed a power mower. He thumped my chest and said "I have one!"

bikerbeans · Post by **bikerbeans** » Fri Jul 26, 2019 9:06 pm

I cut my grandma's grass with one of those when i was a kid. Luckily she had a small yard.

BB

Rusty · Post by **Rusty** » Fri Jul 26, 2019 9:25 pm

Man I haven't even thought about one of those in years. My grandmother had one that was sheer torture to push.

jeepnik · Post by **jeepnik** » Fri Jul 26, 2019 9:56 pm

So most of us started pushing mowers when we were 9 or 10. I’d like to give one of those to a 12 year old today just to watch the meltdown that would ensue.

Old No7 · Post by **Old No7** » Sat Jul 27, 2019 5:37 am

Pitchy wrote: ↑Fri Jul 26, 2019 2:56 pm We`ll sharpen it up and put some paint on the old girl and Norma can push it.

And then the fight started...

Good luck with "putting some power" to that mower Pitchy!

Old No7

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Sat Jul 27, 2019 5:41 am

Thanks fellers, should have it cutting good today.

EdinCT · Post by **EdinCT** » Sat Jul 27, 2019 5:59 am

Wow I hadn't thought of those in years we had one like it when I was young and Gramp next door had a motorized one. For years after it was gone he said it was the best cutting lawn mower ever!

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Sat Jul 27, 2019 6:08 am

They had ones with motors and a seat in back, they still use reel mowers on golf coarse and ya can buy them new.
Seen one on utube that had a double flywheel engine on it guy could hardly keep up with it.

OldWin · Post by **OldWin** » Sat Jul 27, 2019 7:08 am

Had one just like that when I was a kid. I decided I didn't much care for it. Especially when it was real hot out.

J Miller · Post by **J Miller** » Sat Jul 27, 2019 8:32 am

We used to have one of those. It was a Montgomery Wards brand with rubber tires. But it was so old it had the oil cups with spring loaded covers on each roller bearing. We cleaned it up, adjusted the blade, replaced the old worn out rubber tires and used it for years and years. I don't know what happened to it, but I think mom traded it for an electric mower.
I kinda miss it though.

Joe

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Sat Jul 27, 2019 8:34 am

That`s the spirit Joe, my mom had one for her small yard in town and loved it.

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Sat Jul 27, 2019 10:15 am

Got her painted, will make a vid later today after the paint dries good.

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Sat Jul 27, 2019 1:02 pm

vidio.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZxjEy5N8wQs

OldWin · Post by **OldWin** » Sat Jul 27, 2019 5:55 pm

That thing works pretty good buddy.
Looks good too.
When the grass gets too long it's a little tougher going, though.

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Sat Jul 27, 2019 6:00 pm

Thanks Jay, we sharpened it some more and it cut taller grass pretty good.
It`s neat but won`t be replacing the rider any day soon.

J Miller · Post by **J Miller** » Sat Jul 27, 2019 6:12 pm

Pitchy,

That's a sound from the past. Looks like it cuts really nice. You painted yours the same green ours was.

Joe

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Sat Jul 27, 2019 6:16 pm

Thanks Joe, that`s the colors that web found on it so went with that.

OldWin · Post by **OldWin** » Sat Jul 27, 2019 6:18 pm

Pitchy wrote: ↑Sat Jul 27, 2019 6:00 pm Thanks Jay, we sharpened it some more and it cut taller grass pretty good.
It`s neat but won`t be replacing the rider any day soon.

Hahaha I hear that!
Wish we still had ours. It was a little rough, though. Yours looks really nice, buddy.

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Sun Jul 28, 2019 8:28 am

Made a new handle for it this morn.

OldWin · Post by **OldWin** » Sun Jul 28, 2019 8:42 am

Purty.
Makes me want to mow my lawn with that......almost.

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Sun Jul 28, 2019 8:43 am

Thanks Jay, i couldn`t look at that old rotten handle any longer.

Blaine · Post by **Blaine** » Sun Jul 28, 2019 1:18 pm

Grandpa used to cut a couple acres with one.
Mom, when I was a kid, had one for our small yard.So, I've had the chance to torture the handles on one of those Hell Beasts.
She got an electric from Western Auto that was pretty darn good. About the time I turned 11, or 12 I bought my own cheap gas model with a loan from Mom so I could make some money. That was the best 40 bucks I ever spent.
I don't think kids will cut grass or do yard work for $$ anymore. No wonder there's so many fat, useless kids around.

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Sun Jul 28, 2019 1:22 pm

Glad ya liked it Blaine, i`m going to look around for a gas powered reel mower next.

Sixgun · Post by **Sixgun** » Sun Jul 28, 2019 2:48 pm

Dang Pitchy..that baby runs smooooooth..... let's see what it does in say ...grass that 4-6" tall....Are those wheels real gold?

Yep...the new handle made it look right....before it was like a Ferrari with a dented fender.

Well, she's almost ready as a prize for the Garand post. Maybe a coat of clear lacquer on it for a prize for page 95.---6

Bill in Oregon · Post by **Bill in Oregon** » Sun Jul 28, 2019 2:59 pm

Looks great Lenn. The sound and the smell of fresh-cut grass and clover was a part of my childhood.

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Sun Jul 28, 2019 3:01 pm

Heck yes they`er gold, that`s why i took the suitcase through the door to nowhere to bring some gold back and yes i do keep it locked.

Was mowing some three inch grass with it yesterday and it did ok but ya would have to take a run at anything higher, probably down hill.
Thanks glad ya like it.

Thanks Bill, now i gotta find a old gas model maybe a Atco.

hfcable · Post by **hfcable** » Mon Jul 29, 2019 5:21 pm

vaguely remember some of those that were motorized..,musta been a transitional phase of mower

M. M. Wright · Post by **M. M. Wright** » Mon Jul 29, 2019 5:35 pm

Looks good Lenn. I well remember the reel mowers with motors my Daddy worked on everything them included. He saw a Yazoo somewhere and built a knock-off of it. 3/4" plywood base, bicycle wheels and a sharpened leafspring for a blade. Don't remember what the spindle for the blade was but instead of little wheels on the front it had a couple of old brake shoes welded to the frame. Belt drive from a 1 1/2 horse motor. We used it like a brush hog.

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Mon Jul 29, 2019 5:39 pm

Yep from push to motorized.
Ron that`s sounds like something we`d put together, what ever works.
Thanks.

TANGO 4C · Post by **TANGO 4C** » Mon Jul 29, 2019 5:57 pm

M. M. Wright wrote: ↑Mon Jul 29, 2019 5:35 pm I well remember the reel mowers with motors . . .

I'm still using one. It's a 1973 (ish) Australian made Scott-Bonnar 14" Model 45.

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Mon Jul 29, 2019 6:05 pm

That`s what i want right there, very nice.

Sixgun · Post by **Sixgun** » Mon Jul 29, 2019 11:16 pm

Well...look at that! Never knew they made a reel mower with a gas engine.....it's a big monstrosity....you have to figure that it must have been a not-to-smart inventor to build such a complicated Rube Goldberg machine.

Is that mower self propelled? I sure hope so.

--6

TANGO 4C · Post by **TANGO 4C** » Tue Jul 30, 2019 12:13 am

Sixgun wrote: ↑Mon Jul 29, 2019 11:16 pm Well...look at that! Never knew they made a reel mower with a gas engine.....it's a big monstrosity....you have to figure that it must have been a not-to-smart inventor to build such a complicated Rube Goldberg machine.

Is that mower self propelled? I sure hope so. --6

Yes, self propelled. It's a bit of a struggle but I can get mine in and out of the station wagon without help.

The Scott - Bonnars are no longer made but were popular in Australia and came in 14, 17 and 20 inch cutting widths.

Many are still in use and they're also popular as restoration projects, like these:

Sixgun · Post by **Sixgun** » Tue Jul 30, 2019 12:31 am

Thanks Tango....I was told that nothing cuts as perfect as a reel mower and that's why golf course maintenance people like them.----5

wolfdog · Post by **wolfdog** » Tue Jul 30, 2019 4:47 am

Sixgun wrote: ↑Tue Jul 30, 2019 12:31 am Thanks Tango....I was told that nothing cuts as perfect as a reel mower and that's why golf course maintenance people like them.----5

If you look at the ends of grass blades cut with a rotary mower they are jagged and torn looking. Cut with a reel mower they look sheared . Much less stress on the grass and a much more even cut.

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Tue Jul 30, 2019 6:38 am

Your killing me with those pics, here Jacobson and Atco made mowers like that.
Six they even made ones that had a seat on the back so ya can ride, or a two wheel trailer with a seat on it.

Bill in Oregon · Post by **Bill in Oregon** » Tue Jul 30, 2019 8:44 am

Tango -- beautiful restorations!

Sixgun · Post by **Sixgun** » Tue Jul 30, 2019 9:04 am

Learn somethin' new that used to be old everyday......makes sense how the reel mower vs. blade work.....

what I do know is yesterday, after putting three freshly sharpened blades on the Kubota, I hit a rock the size of a football out in the pasture and broke it in three pieces......shooting one out the size of a grapefruit......a rock I've been cutting around for over 40 years. Stopped the tractor and did a look see....and not a mark on the blades...must have hit the unsharpened section. .....

Thanks...now I'll keeping my eye out for one of those engine reel mowers.....at least I'll be able to see and know what I'm looking at.

Dang Pitchy......he must have a museum up there.---6

gamekeeper · Post by **gamekeeper** » Tue Jul 30, 2019 10:01 am

Way back in 65 I used one similar to this but much bigger on the Warwickshire County Cricket ground. It was a bugger to turn when the grass box was full. It was powered by a 500cc BSA side valve engine. The wicket however was always mown with a push mower like Pitchy's.

a-vintage-petrol-engine-24-inch-cutter-dennis-lawn-mower-with-ride-on-seatroller-attachment-fitted-MK2M2F.jpg