Hello ODK History Lovers

The �Easy� was a significant, early American lawnmower sold in Australia from
about 1882. It was sold in significant quantity (possibly thousands) and would
sell for years to come.

This machine was sufficiently novel that I have chosen to describe it as a
�hybrid� � an attempt to compromise the designs of the British reel/roller
designs ( from 1830 onwards) and the new, American side-wheel designs that started making
their influence from 1869. The compromise was made to introduce two advantages
� price and weight.

It was neither a reel/roller mower, nor a side-wheel. It had the conventional
reel at the front, but the rear roller was replaced with a sort of space-frame �
two thin and notched drive wheels connected by cross-rods.

The authoritative new publication Hand, Horse and Motor by James Ricci [2016]
tells us that the Easy was made by the Blair & Fiske Manufacturing Company of
Springfield, Massachusetts, a company that also made sprinklers, clothes wringers
and, later, power mowers. This was a company that would produce a long heritage.

[Linked Image]
Image: Old Lawnmower Club Grassbox Magazine, Number 31.

TO BE CONTINUED ...