Shanks Jehu: 1926

The Shanks Jehu was produced during the 1920s by the well-known Scottish company of Alexander Shanks & Son of Arbroath. It was the first mass-produced mower made by Shanks and although contemporary with the Atco "Standard" Motor Mower it sold in far fewer numbers, partly due perhaps to its higher price.

The Jehu featured the same Villiers MkVC 269cc two-stroke engine as the Atco but its overall design was not as advanced. The frame had many similarities with pony mowers of the same cutting width while the Atco had a modular frame that allowed its manufacturer to produce many different versions from a smaller number of components. One interesting feature of the Jehu was this it was available with a bucket grass box or with a square box which incorporated a paddle (operated from the driving position) that allowed the grass to be emptied more quickly. This latter option was often found on pony and horse mowers of the same era.

This particular Shanks Jehu dates from the early 1920s and was supplied new to Bedford Rugby Football Club. It later passed into private ownership where it remained with the same family until being acquired by the current owner in the 1990s.