William Dray at Horticultural Society of London Exhibition
The engraving used is identical to one used by Ransomes & Sims in some of their 1850s catalogues, so possibly these are mowers manufactured by Ransomes & Sims to the design of Ferrabee's Registered Design No. 3074, otherwise know as "Budding's improved."
The engraving shows an original Budding's patent 1830-1851 type, but the description mentions "the wheels in combination with the large iron roller"..."substitution of the small wood roller used by Budding" must mean that this is a Ferrabee designed "Buddings Improved."
The Buddings Improved was the first lawnmower Ransomes & Sims actually wholly manufactured at Ipswich. From one known surviving photo this was virtually identical to Ferrabee's and Samuelson's contemporary machines.
DRAY & CO.
MESSRS. W. DRAY & CO.,
Lawn Mowing Machine.
LONDON.
These Machines are of most easy management. They remove all the cut Grass and leave no seam on the Lawn-are provided with Wheels attached directly over the Cutter, by the adjustment of which the length of cut of the grass is regulated. As the Wheels in combination with the large Iron Roller, give a broad base to the Machine, it need only be pushed along before the operator, requiring no care whatever in handling. This substitution for the small Wood Roller used by Budding, also greatly reduces the friction. A Modification is also introduced into the Spiral Apparatus which effectually does away with the tendency the Cutters had to choke. The Wood Roller is now used only in mowing narrow borders; and at that time the Wheels are raised clear off the ground.
Shank's Hand Mowing and Rolling Machine.
The New Hand Machine with Improvements recently Patented, is specially adapted for Mowing Small Lawns, Bowling Greens, Verges, &c.
Improved Liquid Manure or General Portable Pump, with 10 feet of Flexible Rubber and Canvas suction Pipe attached.
The Barrel is of Galvanised Iron, not likely to corrode, and can be raised or lowered at pleasure in the stand, the legs of
PublicationExhibitionDateSourceGoogle Books/Horticultural Society of London/1857/P35Link