BUDDING'S PATENT MACHINE - No. 1623 Circa.1840.

Good photo Paul and great to be able to see it in the flesh I am sure. Cheers. Rob

Thanks Paul

Just a note for any members planning on visiting our museum to view the mower, it will be away in London from the 17th April to be exhibited at the British libraries exhibition ‘Unearthed: The Power of Gardening’ which runs from 2nd May to 10th August 2025. Will then return to us for the remainder of 2025, check our website for the exact date of return.

For further information on the fascinating story we have unearthed about this mower please follow the link below......

https://www.museumofgardening.co.uk/post/the-budding-patent-lawn-mower

We are certainly for the first time giving the 'Oldest Lawnmower in the World' the publicity it deserves.

The Patent of 1830 - My eyesight's not what it was,  looks like quite a few transcripts about.

Sorry I put it all in the wrong order

Excellent Paul

Great for the information to be shared as this club wouldn't exist without Buddings invention!

Interesting to note that many in the past have suggested that the patent ran for 25 years, they are incorrect as the 1790 Patent Act stipulated only 14 years & not amended until the 1836 Patent Act, I have a copy of the original patent issued to Budding which indeed states 14yrs, so the patent expired before he died.

I attach a couple of images, the first of the drive engagement which Budding describes as 'a click or pawl taken into the teeth of the ratchet wheel'  (see image) 

This must have been a weak spot as we know the only other Budding that exists, being held in the Science Museum has a much stronger dog clutch arrangement, (see image).

Budding doesn't appear to have mentioned the two person operation & the drawer bar? (unless I have missed it).

Again an improvement was made to lengthen & hinge the drawer bar as with the Science Museum machine, the early machine 1623 simply had a small extension for two person operation, although missing, we have fabricated one that can now be seen attached & can simply be removed to restore the machine to as found condition if required. It does help visitors understand the two person operation.

Its good to share the correct facts regarding the lawn mowers invention.

Hello Clive,   The Patent of 1830 doesn't as you say mention the fitment of the pull handle,   but the Famous J C Loudon write up in the Gardeners Magazine of  1831    does mention it.

I attach the original transcript.....this is the first ever Lawnmower Review, by Mr. Curtis

at The London Zoological Gardens  in Regents Park.

.......And on the subject of the ratchet > Dog clutch drive........

No. 1623  Surely around 1840/1842 if production figures average out exponentially  from 1830 to 1848 when Figures by the sole manufacturer, during the life of the Patent:- John Ferrabee of Thrupp, states "nearly 3000 confirmed sales."      

No. 3157  (London Science Museum)  circa.1849-50.  (based on Advert's in the Gardeners Chronicle.)

Ferrabee's Advert for  June 1843  state improvements made.

" 

And the June 1843  Article in The Gardeners Chronicle, as highlighted previously.

Mentioning Improvements.

So Going back to the drive on No.1623 being ratchet  & dog clutch on No. 3157

As per adverts just attached,  Shank's Pony Mower of 1842  certainly had the dog clutch drive.

Could this be the hint of  "recently gone improvements" as mention in 1843?   

Some contemproary notes in the Mechanic's Magazine of 1842,  on Shank's Pony Mower.

Readers may find of interest, not only in the evolution of The Budding's Patent Mower, but also that being Shank's  The World's second Lawnmower manufacturer.

As per previous,  the question is when was No. 1623 the one you are exhibiting Made?

Or even No. 3157 the Science Museum one!

Previously I posted   J. C. Loudon's famous and often mentioned 1831 article in "The Gardener's Magazine"  on The first lawnmower trial's at the Zoological Garden's, Regents Park, London.   Made by Budding's Patent Partner;  John Ferrabee, and sold by Ferrabee's London agent; Lewis & Davies.

Incidentally The oldest and probably first ever  Lawnmower "brochure" and advertisements on the Budding's Patent Mower can be found at The North Yorkshire Records office

Victorian Gardens – North Yorkshire Archives Blog

I attach a link to these fascinating articles, as unsure of copyright, nevertheless, such historic documents worthy of inspection by anybody interested in the genesis of the Lawnmower.

After going off on a tangent on the design details,  I now go back to J. C. Loudon's second follow up article on the Budding's Patent Mower,  in The Gardener's Magazine in 1832.

Here we find lots of well known phrases and diagrams used in mower folklore ever since.