The ' Beacon Special '
As some of you will be aware I like to re-discover obscure or long forgotten lawnmowers. Having recently come across the La-Crosse here is another unknown, at least to me - The Beacon Special. Sadly I haven't actually found one but seen reference to it's availability in an old catalogue.
Retailed probably in the early to mid 1930's by Gardiner Sons and Co. Ltd in Bristol. The Beacon Special, a traditional side-wheeler, was available in 10" and 12" cutting widths. If it was any good at all it should have 'sold like hot cakes ' . The 10" was 18/9d, the 12" 20/- ; as usual grass-boxes and throw plates were extra. This at a time when the equivalent Ransomes Leo was 53/6d and a Qualcast 35/-. Gardiners also sold machines from Ransomes, Webb and Royal Enfield,
This rather poor image of it is the best available and one might imagine that the mower is in reality a badge engineered Qualcast or Follows and Bates. However it is quite possible that Gardiners manufactured their own machine, they would have been quite capable of doing so. They had extensive premises in Bristol and produced a wide range of metal work and other goods. The model name derives from Beacon House, one of the Companies premises. It could be said that Gardiners were to Bristol what Barnard Bishop and Barnards' were to Norwich.
As ever if anyone has any knowledge or first hand experience of one of these I would be very interested to hear.
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An interesting new find to…
An interesting new find to add to the info archive. It's difficult to tell from the drawings, especially the one on Colin's post, but I wonder if they might be two slightly different designs.
The building formerly occupied by Gardiner's on Queen's Road is still there, it's Grade II Listed. When I was a student in Bristol during the 1980s I used to walk past it most days - it was a Habitat shop back then. Now it's owned by the University and used as a study centre.
Thank you Clive - very…
Thank you Clive - very interesting and good to find a better image. My source is undated annoyingly; I was going on what else was advertised but could easily be a few years out. Gardiners were certainly around for a long time with origins around 1825 and I think still going today albeit in a greatly evolved form.
Any ideas as to whether the machine is their manufacture or one of the ' bigger names ' ?
Found an ad Local newspaper…
Found an ad Local newspaper in Bristol August 1932, looks like end of season reduction in price but still more expensive than your figures. Your reference may be earlier then?