OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums The History Forum Model Histories NZ Power Reel Models Boothmac Gang Mower - Wearn's Patent

Booth, MacDonald & Co. Ltd (Boothmac) were a long-established Farm Implement and Machinery Merchant.
Based in Christchurch they had many branches throughout New Zealand.
As well as being agents for many overseas companies, they manufactured a wide range of machinery including their Boothmac Gang Mower, Wearn’s patent.

James Stuart Wearn, from Christchurch, was a prolific inventor. His first recorded patent was a soap holder in 1912.
Other inventions included a Cream Separator, Metronome, a Power Transmission Mechanism, Manure Distributor plus many more.
His last patent, a Syphonic Device was filed in 1943.
Boothmac advertisements mention patent no. 79413.
I can find no record of this but found a latter patent, 81188 – Improvements in and relating to the coupling of Lawn-mowers as a gang.
This was submitted on the 27th January 1939 and published on the 22nd February 1940.

Some of the Boothmac Mower features included:
3, 5 or 7 Gangs – The 3 Gang width was 3’ 10”, 5 Gang 6’ 4” and the 7 Gang 8’ 10’’
Either Horse, Truck or Tractor Draught.
Masport Ball Bearing Mower Units.
Equipped with a short Draw Bar, the long-arched draw bars on the rear mowers allow for sharp angle turning.

Another advertisement from 1947 stated the following about their mower:
“A high-grade Gang Mower made entirely in New Zealand.
No wooden rollers or wheeled fore carriage.
The Mower Units carry the full share of the weight of shafts and chassis, ensuring extra grip and remarkable ground adhesion.
The flexibility of the Wearn’s Gang Mower is a decided advantage especially for Golf Courses and like ground where hollows and uneven surfaces are met with.
The 16” Heavy Duty Ball Bearing Masport Mowers Units do first class work under these circumstances.
Draught is light – only one Horse is needed for either machine.
The machine can be fitted for tractor draught as specially arranged.
Regulation of Height of Cut is affected by Simple Hand Screw Adjustment, which raises or lowers the Mowers according to the height required.
The back of the mower can be tilted up instantly by a turn of the Screw for easy transportation.
The 7 Gang Mower will cut 18 average fairways in approximately 30 hours or 35 hours with the 5 Gang".

Production probably started in the late 1940’s and was still being advertised in their Farm Implements Catalogue in 1951.

Alan

Hello Mod and Collector Alan

This is a great piece of research that brings to life the small
players on the lawnmower stage.

This story is of particular interest to me because it has a similarity
to a small Australian maker ... Berrigan.

Here, there is a synchronicity between the NZ and AUS experience ...
Different designs but same concept.

These companies - Boothmac and Berrigan - attempted something
a little different - the use of essentially robust, but domestic push mowers
for commercial purposes.

I wouldn't say it was a great idea - but it did cater to the clubs with
a restricted budget 'in the day'.

Here is the Berrigan story I wrote in 2014: -

https://www.outdoorking-forum.com.au/forum/u...errigan-gang-mowers-c1933.html#Post60491

Alan, you have found far better records than I have
managed to find on the Berrigan.

Brilliant!
---------------------------
Jack