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PART TWO - The Importers

The earliest record I have dates from 1882, when Long and Company of 101
Elizabeth Street, Melbourne, advertised the Easy. The record of Victorian
sales then disappears.



The major success for the Easy must go to Hebblewhite and Company, a large
Ironmongery store, located at 416 George Street, Sydney. Hebblewhite was an
importer, wholesaler and retailer of many American hardware goods: stoves,
corn shellers, knife and fork cleaners, mangles and wringers, ice-cream
freezers � even American oak for coach builders! Hebblewhite�s hardware
store must have been the �Bunnings� of the day. I have found regular and
frequent placement of ads in the Sydney Morning Herald from 1884 through 1887.



Hebblewhite also traded in Brisbane as F. O. Hebblewhite, ironmonger, located
at 25 Queen Street, Brisbane. This prime position, again, indicates that
Hebblewhite ran a large store here too, offering similar items as the Sydney
store. These ads, also numerous, ran regularly from 1885 through 1887.




It would appear that Hebblewhite was the main importer and promoter of the Easy
lawnmower in Australia and that the Easy sold here up to about 1897. I have found
evidence that the much larger Queensland firm of Alfred Shaw & Company also sold
the Easy, and advertised the mower from January of 1886. Note the reference to
cutting Buffalo grass and the sizes offered.One man could work a large 24"
machine! We also get a glimpse of the handle configuration:-





TO BE CONTINUED �