Hello ODK history lovers
The grass ‘mower’ is an old idea.

CONTEXT: -
Originally a scythe or a shorter hand sickle held dual functions –
as an agricultural implement, and later as a horticultural implement.
They could be used for food production or for producing aesthetic
looks as the first lawnmowers.

When the first mechanical lawnmower was invented in 1830, a similar
idea would transfer to agriculture. The issue was: how do you cut
agricultural grasses on a large scale? A reel mower design beyond
about 40 inches made no engineering sense.

The answer was in the sickle bar mower. A system of fixed bars
acting against reciprocating blades arranged in a linear fashion
could be made to very wide cutting widths.

This article is about a brochure depicting one particular sickle-blade
mower that was popular in Australia in the early 20th Century –
the Swedish built Herkules.

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TO BE CONTINUED ...