Budding's Patent Mower No 3157

Budding's Patent Mower, No 3157, was made c1849 and is believed to be the second oldest surviving lawnmower in the world.

The lawnmower is normally on display at the The Science Museum, London (Object: 1926-808). It is believed to be owned by Ransomes-Jacobsen and is on long-term permanent loan to the museum.

The date of manufacture is an estimate based on the production numbers claimed in advertisements placed by John Ferrabee in the Gardeners' Chronicle and elsewhere. These state that, towards the end of 1848, the company had made and sold nearly 3000 machines but by early 1849 the claim was that more than 3000 had been sold.

At this time, all Budding Patent Lawnmowers were still being manufactured by John Ferrabee in Stroud: Ransomes was the wholesaler and retail agent for Ferrabee in the East of England - various contemporary articles attest that the mowers they sold were made by Ferrabee. It seems that it was incorrectly stated in The Engineer Magazine where these photographs appeared that the mowers were made by Ransomes when this is not in fact the case.