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Collection, Preservation and Display of Old Lawn Mowers

Pull Along Mower at the Signal Museum, Arbroath.

This is believed to be the only surviving lawnmower of the type described by James Shanks's Patent No 1147 and Thomas Green's Registered Design 3739.

James Shanks of Arbroath applied for an English patent entitled "Improvements In Mowing Machines" on 21 May 1855. This was subsequently approved on 16 November 1855 and registered as Patent No 1147.

During the same year, in Leeds, England, Thomas Green of Leeds, England, applied for registered design entitled "A Design For The Shape Or Configuration Of A "Budding's" Mowing Machine". Registered designs did not provide as much protection as a full patent. It was approved as a Registered Design on 24 July 1855, and given number No 3739, just over two months after Shanks had submitted his patent application. 

Both designs were almost identical.

This unique mower can be seen at the Signal Tower Museum, Arbroath, Scotland. It has no writing or manufacturer's name on it.

  • Shanks Lawnmower, Patent 1147, at Signal Tower Museum, Arbroath.

    View of left side.

    Publication
    Original Photograph
    Date
    Source
    RM/2026-05-16