Budding Patent Retailer - Lewis & Davis of London
Lewis and Davis of Brimscombe had premises at 10 Basinghall Street, London, opposite the Guildhall. The two men were well known to Ferrabee and Budding because they were all heavily involved in the wool trade and machinery used in it.
Lewis & Davis acted as agents for Ferrabee in London and were selling mowers in London as early as 1831, as confirmed by an article that year in the Gardener's Magazine written by J C Loudon.
One of the two earliest known printed lawnmower leaflets or advertisements has the name and address of Lewis & Davis written by hand in the space deliberately left for such details. This leaflet is known to have been printed before 1834, when the printer was declared bankrupt.
BUDDING'S PATENT MACHINE,
FOR SHEARING OR CUTTING LAWNS, GRASS-PLOTS, &c.
MANUFACTURED BY
J. FERRABEE,
PHENIX FOUNDRY,
NEAR
STROUD,
GLOUCESTERSHIRE.
There are two sizes,
one cutting a width of 16,
the other, 22 inches.
Price of the first, £7 10 of the second £8 0 0
Orders received by J. Ferabee, and by Messres Lewis and Davies, 10 Basinghall Street, London
SOME OF THE ADVANTAGES OFFERED BY THIS MACHINE.
First. It may be so adjusted as to leave the grass passed over by it of any regular length, at the pleasure of the operator.
Second. Where the lawn is not very extensive, all the grass cut off may be collected in the box D, rendering the sweeping afterward unnecessary.
Third. It leaves a more even and uniform surface than a scythe, and will cut grass which is too weak to stand against that instrument.
Fourth. It can be used best in dry weather, enabling the gardener to cut his lawns at the most convenient time, instead of being obliged, as with the scythe, to wait for rain or heavy dews.
Fifth. It is very durable, easily sharpened and kept in order; and the use of it furnishes a pleasant exercise in dry weather, at the same time that it produces a better effect than a skilful mower.
Printed directions for its management, which is extremely simple, are sent out with every machine.
W. FOWLER, PRINTER, CIRENCESTER.
PublicationImage or PrintDateSourceNorth Yorkshire ArchivesLink