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Collection, Preservation and Display of Old Lawn Mowers

Early Lloyds of Letchworth Pegasus Restoration

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Hello OLC, I am Jake - a new member to the OLC.

I recently aquired a Lloyds of Letchworth "Pegasus" mower which I found online and was instantly drawn to and started a fascination with the topic of old lawnmowers, and small engines in general.

I have a suspicion this is an early model, as it seems the later versions had a straight wooden handle, this one has a metal double bow handle, with a Lloyds of Letchworth emblem. I cannot seem to find any reference or pictures of this online which makes me think it is an early model.

My understanding is that Lloyds sold imported mowers from the USA (from 1878), before making their own, the Pegasus from 1930's to 1950's. This is information I have gathered from Mower Profile MP028.

My initial assumption was the mower was from this era, which was interesting to me, that this mower may have been used around the time of WW2.

However, on the worn engine label, you can just about make out the words IMPORT, and the PQ emblem ("Pennsylvania Quality") is stamped on the side. I wonder if this could be an early USA import from much earlier, of perhaps the early phase of production. Perhaps when it gained popularity, and a drive to reduce costs, the metal handle was changed for a wooden one?

I have attached some photos - key features being:

  • The LL emblem on the handle
  • JAP engine - I believe a JAP Model 0 Type 28
  • Worn engine label, word IMPORT visible (not sure in what context)
  • PQ stamp on engine block
  • M210(3?) on side casting
  • Aluminum rear roller, wooden front rollers
  • Grass box
  • Engine turns over easily

I am new to this, so please forgive any wrong terminology! Also, I am yet to strip down to see if any other identification markings, this is in "as purchased" condition.

If anyone has any knowledge of this mower it would be great to learn more about it, an approximate date / era and maybe some literature or pictures of this model but appreciate that might be a long shot! Any questions please let me know.

Lastly, I plan to document the restoration, so am happy to post photo updates on this thread it would be of interest to people. No doubt I will have some questions along the way.

Many thanks in advance,

Jake

Close up of lloyds of letchworth pegasus mowerClose up of engine labelPQ stamp on engine blockPegasus Mower shown on side of mower

 

Forums

jakecutsgrass Wed, 13/08/2025

Thank you for this info, I will look out for this when I strip it down and will post as an update. Thanks, Jake

stonethemows Thu, 14/08/2025

Interesting. I have had this ' Pegasus Mower ' for some years.

 Believed to be an earlier restoration it has a similar, if not same, 4 stroke Jap engine. I have not yet been able to clearly identify an engine number but the chain cover bears the numberME108 with a P above. I assume this is the machine number. It also has the PQ marking. It's not clear in these photo's but the handle has a ' Pennsylvania ' transfer. Not sure if it's dated to the late 1930's or the mid to late 1940's but I suggest that the wooden T handle would be earlier than your metal one. Hopefully someone with a better knowledge of the Jap numbers may be able to pin down the approx. date.

Looking at the photo's of yours without any prior knowledge I would have guessed at mid 1950's. You are lucky to have got a grassbox. The advert states an 18" cut but in reality  it's 17 1/2". 

Mine starts, runs and cuts grass quite readily. There is a little more about it and other photo's in other parts of the website.