I am a woman of multiple jobs, and one of them is cutting the grass at the building I live in.
While doing this job I have noticed that I am ALWAYS being stared at by all kinds of people walking down my street and I don’t know why?
As a follower of my blog, you may think it’s because I’m all dressed up in a cute vintage outfit with my hair done like our 1940s woman in the photo below, but that is just not what I look like. It’s far too big of a job to ruin a good vintage hair set or outfit, so grubby clothes it is. Anyways I have taken to waving at people when they stop and stare and it’s now become a fun game HA HA!
For today’s post I am going to run with this theme and share vintage lawn mower advertising from 1920s to 1960s and some vintage photos I have found of people cutting the grass.
Hope you enjoy this post!
Disclosure: Some of the links on my blog from Etsy , eBay are Affiliate Links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.
Vintage Lawn Mower Advertising 1920’s – 1960’s
Brief History of the Lawn Mower:
Formal lawns with neatly manicured grass began appearing in France in the 1700s, tended to by grazing animals or hand-cut with shears and scythes. In 1830, Englishman Edwin Bear Budding was granted the patent for the first mechanical lawn mower, based on a tool used to uniformly cut carpet and comprised of a series of blades around a cylinder.
Nearly 40 years later, the reel lawn mower came to the United States. Initially made to be horse-drawn, Elwood McGuire of Richmond, IN designed the first widely popular human-powered push lawn mower.
In 1902, Ransomes of Ipswich, another English company, produced the first commercially purchasable lawn mower powered by an internal combustion gas engine. 1919 brought the first gas powered lawn mowers, manufactured by Colonel Edwin George, and gang mowers, those with multiple sets of blades, to the United States (Source).
The Vintage Advertisements & Photos:
I’m thinking that maybe I SHOULD revise how I look when I cut the grass. Loving the look on our 1950s woman in this Eclipse Lawn Mower 50s Original Magazine Print Ad.
Source: Etsy
Summer activitiy in the 1950s. A young woman sitting in typical 1950s garden chair holds her feet up so her partner can cut the grass just where she is sitting. Sweden May 1959.
Source: Almay.com
Atco Motor Mower ad, 1922 featuring a Woman in dress pushing a motorized lawn mower.
Source: Flickr
“It’s the mower of tomorrow…today”. 1958 vintage lawn mower ad for Victa Automatic featuring a boy dressed up as a spaceman.
Source: Pinterest
1940s vintage postcard for Minneapolis, the city of beautiful homes, lakes, parks and Toro Mowers. The postcard features 3 pretty 1940s pinup’s with those Toro lawn mowers.
Source: Flickr
1956 Worcester vintage advertisement, “Take a long look at Worcester. It’s 8 Ways Better!”
Source: eBay
A color ad advertises Norrahammar’s modern lawnmowers. A young woman mows the grass wearing a 1940s summer house dress. Norrahammar’s mill was owned by Husqvarna and they manufactured not only lawn mowers but also mangels, stoves, ovens etc. The advertisement was published in 1944.
Source: Classic Picture
A stylish woman mows the grass with an Norrahammar brand lawnmower. The picture is from the 1940s.
Source: Classic Picture
1930 black and white print ad for the Coldwell Lawn Mower Company of Newburgh, New York. “New motor lawn mowers that will win and hold your enthusiasm!”
What a boring ad. Yawn!
Source: Period Paper
1920s photo of an older woman pushing her lawn mower around in the yard.
Source: Pinterest
1958 Lawn Boy Auto-Mower “Supplies It’s Own Push!” Vintage Print Ad. LOVE the Lawn Chair!
Source: Etsy
1956 Parker Lawn Sweeper Ad. “Sweep it clean…sweep it green”.
Source: Etsy
1953 Lawn Boy Lawnmower Ad. I am really enjoying the colours in this advertisment, they really catch your eye.
Source: Etsy
“Yard care is a picnic”. 1960 Porter-Cable Mark 24 Suburban Riding Lawn Mower photo vintage print Ad.
Nice Legs Bob Cummings!
Source: eBay
1952 Vintage Ad for Wizard Power Mowers. Fertilizes as it cuts! How super!
Side Note: Take a look at the our lovely ladies feet. They look very small compared to the rest of her body. Don’t you agree?
Source: eBay
1954 Homko Push Button Lawn Mower with a remote control! WOW! I could sure use that!
Source: eBay
What a cute ad! 1956 Choremaster Division Lawn Mower.
Source: eBay
Question time: Do you cut the grass at your home (or work) or does someone else do it? If you do, do you like it? I will be honest, it’s good exercise and I don’t mind it that much. Share any of your thoughts in the comments section below, I love to hear from my readers!
FURTHER READING:
Liz
Nothing sexier than a woman working and her man in the recliner