Budding returns to Ipswich

After a great 2025 bringing the 'Oldest Lawn Mower in the World' to the attention of thousands of people, sadly for me it has been returned to its owners Ransome Jacobsen Ltd in Ipswich.

It was good to meet with senior employees of Ransomes on Weds who were pleased to see the mower in great condition having been thoroughly cleaned & oiled whilst with us & having the draw bar handle restored, the original top end having been missing since the mower was discovered in 1932.

Ransomes staff were interested to learn that their Budding mower & the only other Budding known in the Science Museum London were only assembled and sold by them & not actually manufactured as previously thought. 

I am sure Budding & Ferrabee would have been somewhat surprised to see their mower transported in an electric vehicle & stood beside one of the latest electric mowers.

The story of the earliest Budding can be found here https://www.museumofgardening.co.uk/post/the-budding-patent-lawn-mower