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Collection, Preservation and Display of Old Lawn Mowers

Webb 2 Speed 12" Push Mower

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Hi folks. Looking at getting myself another Push Mower (only have 2 small lawns so they are ideal). I already have a JP Mini Mower, JP Maxees 3, Webb Whippet Mark 2, Webb Witch and a couple of ATCO 1264s (one bought as a box of parts waiting to be re-assembled). I have also in the past had a Ransomes Ajax 5, and a Greens Zephyr. Thinking of looking out for a Webb 2 Speed. Any views on this model positive or negative gratefully received. Thanks as always for any replies. Regards. Rob 

Clive1997 Sat, 02/11/2019

Hi Rob

The Webb 2 speed, you don't come across that many, looks like 2 models 1947 - 1954 (with fitting for lawn edge trimmer) & 1955 - 1960 (without), I do have quite a nice one around somewhere that was restored by previous owner, could perhaps let it go?

Good to have a mower with a gear lever, 1st gear 44 cuts per yard, 2nd gear 66 cuts per yard.

RansomesRob Sat, 02/11/2019

Hi Clive. Thanks for your reply. Appreciate the information on the mower  and the production dates, thanks. If you have one and would be willing to sell it to me, please let me know how much you would like for it. Cheers. Rob

RansomesRob Mon, 11/11/2019

Hi folks. Intrigued by the fact that the mower was available with a fitting for a lawn edge trimmer between 1947 and 1954. Any chance anybody has an image of the trimmer/mower with the trimmer attached. Cheers. Rob

Triumph66 Mon, 11/11/2019

I would be very interested to see a photo of this particular model too. I have never seen one myself.

Clive1997 Mon, 11/11/2019

Here we are chaps an image (pre digital), yes we used to print them out on paper!

Kindly supplied by a member colleague who took the photo at 2008 OLMC rally

 

RansomesRob Mon, 11/11/2019

Cheers for the photo Clive. That looks a great bit of kit, (more interesting than my edging shears!!) . I need one of those mowers!!!

Clive1997 Mon, 11/11/2019

I can only find an image from the 1953 brochure that shows the edger for the 14in electric model, no mention with the details of the 2 speed, perhaps thats when it was discontinued for the push mowers? Also 1950 ad's don't mention the edger as an option?

I do have a Witch with the transporter wheels shown, bit of a luxury for a mower that could easily be carried!

 

RansomesRob Mon, 11/11/2019

I do have a Witch and yes it is easy enough to carry around. Just off to put a 'Wanted' ad on - 2 Speed Webb with Grass Box!    

Triumph66 Sat, 16/11/2019

Thanks Ransomes Bob and Clive. Looks a very interesting machine to own. Are these fairly hard to come by? I like the idea of the two speed mechanism to control the number of cuts.

 

RansomesRob Sat, 16/11/2019

Hi Triumph66. I have not seen one come up on the usual on line auction sites whereas you often see the Webb Whippet, Witch mowers so maybe it is a rarer one? (sadly I am no expert though!!). 

RansomesRob Fri, 22/11/2019

Hi folks. Managed to get myself a 2 Speed Webb that I was after. Looking forward to using it next year. If anyone has any advertising literature/ brochure for the mower could you perhaps let me have a copy? Happy to pay. Cheers. Rob

Lee Smallwood Fri, 22/11/2019

Hi Rob, can you add images when you have time, I'm interested in the side plates, any images I find doesn't show the detail on the sides. Didn't take you long to find one, been looking for one myself for a while, 

RansomesRob Fri, 22/11/2019

Hi Lee. I don't actually get my hands on the mower till January as I got it through The British Lawnmower Museum up in Southport and it is going to have a service/sharpen etc before I have it. When I do get it home I will certainly take a few photos of it for you. Cheers. Rob

Warpa Sat, 23/11/2019

Rob you found one of those rather quick! Was it from the big auction site ot elsevier? I'd like to see more info on it to see if it would fill the gap between an Ajax and Certes.

RansomesRob Sat, 23/11/2019

Hi Warpa. Got the mower through having a word with The British Lawnmower Museum up in Southport. Clive kindly provided some details on the mower earlier in this thread. I have put a request in one of my earlier posts in this thread for any advertising literature/brochure as I would like to get hold of a copy of it to learn a bit more about it plus, I like to get hold of original brochure/literature for the old mowers I have. When i get the mower I will post some photos of it but expect as I do not get the mower until January  as I am having it serviced/sharpened etc maybe another member with one of the mowers will post some? Cheers. Rob

RansomesRob Sat, 23/11/2019

Hi Warpa. No not a fully restored one. Any re-paint, decals, dents etc that may need sorting would be done by myself. The guys at the Museum are going to make sure it is all mechanically sound, replace any worn out parts, service and a sharpen and then I will be cutting my lawn with it. 

 

Triumph66 Sun, 22/12/2019

Pleased you found one and that it's being serviced prior to you collecting it. Looking forward to the photos of it.

RansomesRob Mon, 23/12/2019

Hi folks. Picked up the Webb 2 Speed today. Some questions please, I realise the plastic wheels were probably never a standard fit and I shall need to replace them also, I cannot seem to find an image of a 2 Speed with the same handles as appear on mine? Any ideas please, an early one, perhaps? Thanks as always for any replies.

  

 

Antbr123 Mon, 23/12/2019

Hi RansomesRob,

Could you take a couple of photos of the red/brown knob.  Is it bakelite?  A side-angle would be great and some dimensions.  It looks remarkably similar to that used on JP lawnmowers.

regards,

Tony

RansomesRob Mon, 23/12/2019

Hi Tony. Yes, you are right,  I have a Mini Mower and a Maxees 3 and it does look similar. Will take some photos for you but it will be after Christmas now  as we have stuff going on.

Triumph66 Thu, 26/12/2019

Looks like a very interesting mower and I really like the look of the 'low' and 'high' transfer box on the side. Be fascinated to see how you rate that when you cut the grass with it sometime. 

RansomesRob Thu, 26/12/2019

Hi Andrew. Yes, looking forward to using it in the Spring. I have an 8 blade Webb Witch that gives a good finish with it's 62 cuts per yard so I shall see what difference the 2 Speed makes with it's ability to give 66 cuts per yard. I have been told that the early model 2 Speeds,(which I believe mine is) made between 1947 and 1954 could be fitted with a Webb Lawn Edge Trimmer so that is now the next thing to be tracked down!! Cheers. Rob

Clive1997 Thu, 26/12/2019

Hi Rob we are getting a bit nearer, this ad is from Mar 1950 with the pram handle, so think this puts yours as 1947-49 with the straight handles.

Triumph66 Fri, 27/12/2019

After reading this post and seeing the photos, I am completely captivated by the 2 speed 'transfer box' !  Looking forward to the updates as and when they come in. 

I hope I am not treading on anyone's toes here but I am now asking if anyone knows of one kicking around and is available for sale? Thanks.

RansomesRob Fri, 27/12/2019

Hi Andrew. As you know I sourced one from The British Lawnmower Museum up in Southport. Perhaps they have another one? Cheers. Rob

Warpa Fri, 27/12/2019

Out of curiosity why would there be a 2 speed option, would speed 1 be for longer grass to stop it clogging? And are you planning to refurb it? Would love to see one looking like new.

RansomesRob Fri, 27/12/2019

Hi Warpa. Apparently the low gear  ratio makes the mower easier to use when the grass is a little longer.  Apart from replacing the plastic front roller with wooden rollers and doing some minor rust removal I will be leaving the mower just as it is.

wristpin Fri, 27/12/2019

Out of curiosity why would there be a 2 speed option, would speed 1 be for longer grass to stop it clogging? And are you planning to refurb it? Would love to see one looking like new.

Simples ! More cuts per yard equals more effort ! Think of a single speed (gear) push bike compared with the good old Sturmey Archer hub 3-speed.

Warpa Fri, 27/12/2019

So let's assume a selection of cogs were available for an Ajax I could increase the roller gear diameter and reduce the cylinder gear and increase the amount of cuts per yard but at the same time make it harder to push?

If that was the case I may also assume that the manufacturers chose what they believed to be the best of both worlds, decent cut and wifey could push it?

wristpin Fri, 27/12/2019

More or less. Think of cuts per yard as the power requirement or work done. More work done equals more effort required to do it. Starting to sound like an O level physics question and that was a LONG time ago!

RansomesRob Sat, 28/12/2019

Hi Antbr123. Took the photos you asked for of the Gear Lever knob. Looks very much like Bakelite. It has a circumference of 2.5 inches, a height of 6/8" and a width of 6/8".

 

Cheers. 

Rob

RansomesRob Fri, 03/01/2020

Hi folks. Happy New Year!  I have been trying, without success to find an image of the 2 Speed Oil Filler hole located next to the Gear Selector to see if it originally had a 'Dust Cap' fitted. If so, mine has been broken off so will need to try and sort. Any help gratefully received. Thanks. Rob

RansomesRob Sat, 11/04/2020

Hi folks. Me again!! My last post on this Thread asked if anyone knew whether the 2 Speed had a cover on it's oiling point hole as pictured in my photo(s). I have since found that it did (from a photo on a thread back in Oct 14!) My question is this, I realise that i am probably going to have to make a cover, how best to tackle it please? Do i put some thread on the oil hole assembly itself which itself does screw out of the mower body and then try to make a screw-on cover or,............ suggestions please!!  Again, thanks in advance for any help/suggestions you can offer me. Cheers. Rob