OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums The History Forum Model Histories UK & EUROPEAN Reel Hand-Mowers FOLBATE - Roller Mower - with Brochure

Hello ODK members,

Follows & Bate should be remembered primarily for inventing the first side-wheel lawnmower,
the Climax, in 1869. F&B made lawnmowers and other garden equipment and Grace�s Guide
says that the company was absorbed by Qualcast in 1938.

F&B continued within the Qualcast Group as a separate company, with many machines carrying the full
original name, whilst others carried the abbreviated name of Folbate.

The Falcon was a reel/roller lawnmower, sold here post WWII, from about 1948 until about
1965 and it was the last F&B roller mower, before they became part of the Suffolk range of mowers.

Here is a typical Australian advertisement (from 1948):-

BROCHURE - 1965

Here is a UK brochure I have from 1965.

Note how the machine frame is cat iron, the transmission is by enclosed chain,
and that the handles are tubular steel.