Hello
ODK History Lovers
The
Ransomes Certes was, arguably, the best lawnmower in the world when introduced in the late 1920s.
It carried on with that reputation post WWII, but had to give way to the emerging trend for power lawnmowers �
like the
Autocertes�
This article is a tribute to the
Certes and to nostalgia � when manually pushed lawnmowers still reigned supreme �
on tennis courts, bowling greens, putting greens, and golf greens.
The
Certes was a
professional and
precision lawnmower that would not be out of place today for fineness of cut
and quality of engineering. We just have become lazier in a commercial world � everything must be powered and
self-propelled.
That the
Certes was in production for over half a century is a credit to Ransomes� capacity for precision engineering,
but also to a much simpler and energetic world.
The Certes was originally made in 14� and 16� sizes with 8 blade and 10 blade reel knife configurations.
In its last years � the early 1970s � the Certes would just be the 16� machine.
These are prized collector pieces today.
TO BE CONTINUED ...