OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums The History Forum Model Histories AMERICAN Reel Hand-Mowers EASY Lawnmower - c1880

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.


Image: Old Lawnmower Club Grassbox Magazine, Number 31.

TO BE CONTINUED ...

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 �

PART THREE � Specification & Patent

The relevant patent is US220226 of 1879.

The Easy seems to have been made as a 12 inch machine, but larger sizes
may also have been produced. The main feature of this machine is the rear roller.
It had no outer casing! In other words, this was a machine that didn�t roll the
grass to produce stripes, but was a concerted effort to design a more lightweight
lawnmower that could be easily managed.

Henry Fiske stated that one object of his invention was to make the roller
non-slipping and lighter. To this end he essentially devised two thin rear wheels
connected by tie-rods. The patent also covered a redesigned journal (bearing box)
and a handle that enabled the lifting of the cutter for transport.