Signal Tower Museum, Arbroath

The building that is now home to the Signal Tower Museum in Arbroath was constructed near to the shore in 1813 to act as a semaphore signalling tower to communicate with the crew of the Bell Rock Lighthouse, located around 11 miles out in the North Sea. The site is now an interesting museum dedicated to local history and heritage.

Among the museum's various collections is the only known example of the original Shanks Patent lawnmower, introduced in 1855. Shanks was the second company, after John Ferrabee of Stroud, to manufacture a lawnmower. The design of the Shanks mower was somewhat different to the original Budding design, with a single front wheel and tricycle layout that provided the stability for the machine. As such, it is also the only lawnmower made prior to 1863 known to exist that does not follow the standard Budding style.

It is fitting that this rare and indeed unique pull behind "mowing and rolling machine" of 1855 design is housed in the Signal Tower Museum, just a few hundred meters from where it was made.