1920s/30s

Gamages was a London department store that also sold its wares through a catalogue. Shoppers would browse the catalogue and place an order by post or telegram. The items they bought would then be sent by rail to their nearest train station ready for collection.

This mower was made for the store by one of the major manufacturers, probably Qualcast or Follows and Bate. Many other shops, including department stores and local ironmongers, sold machines with their own names but which were made this way. Because of this it is possible to find two otherwise identical machines with different names on their wheels or on a badge on the wooden T handle. Mower collectors refer to these machines as "catalogue mowers". 

Sidewheel mowers were extremely popular because they were cheap, easy to use and reliable. For these reasons many millions were sold to people who had small lawns and who did not need larger machines.