OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums The History Forum Machine Histories RANSOMES - Catalogue - c1954

Hello ODK History Lovers
The first lawnmower maker to take up the Budding Patent of 1830 was the great British firm, Ransomes.
Ransomes is the oldest lawnmower maker that survives to this day.

This 1954 Catalogue - from my collection - is an accurate reflection of a changing Ransomes in the 1950s.
The catalogue represents a sort of 'changing of the guard' - from earlier interwar designs to the lighter, new designs.
It's a strange mix. I hope researchers, collectors, and enthusiasts will gain an understanding that Ransomes really
did Mow the World at this time.



It's a big catalogue too - at 65 pages - and this one is complete and in good condition.
I have decided that its best presentation will be thematic - introduction, contents, lighter mowers,
heavier mowers, ride-on and professional mowers, gang mowers and push mowers.



As such, I will break this one down into manageable segments; that permit specialised commentary
on particular types of lawnmower. Enjoy.

TO BE CONTINUED ...

PART TWO - Testimonial Images
This is a catalogue - not a brochure. Catalogues were intended to support dealers and agents,
not end user customers. As such, they were expensive to produce.

The highlight in Ransomes catalogues was always the 'testimonial photographs' - of Ransomes
machines being used by end users around the world. There were four such pages in this catalogue: -
I guess my favourite would be the 36" Heavy Duty machine at work in a Durban, South Africa, park.
What a beast! And this machine would later morph into the Ransomes Mastiff that survives to this day.
Brilliant!



Here are the highlights ...

PART THREE - The Smaller Lawnmower Catalogue
The first part of the 1954 Ransomes Catalogue (pp. 0-13) covers a general Introduction, a Testimonial List
of 'Distinguished Users', a copy of a page from Ransomes & May's 1951 Catalogue, an Index page, a
Selection Guide, and pages for three new, post-war, designs: The Ransomes Antelope, Ransomes Gazelle
and Ransomes Minor Mk6.

PART FOUR - The Larger Lawnmower Catalogue
The second part of the 1954 Ransomes Catalogue (pp. 14-23) covers the middle-weight and
heavy weight pedestrian (walk behind) machines [although the larger ones could be fitted
with optional trailing seats].

These were largely modernised interwar designs that would not survive the modern era.
These were the behemoths powered by large cc engines made by the great Sturmey-Archer Company.

PART FIVE - The Specialised Lawnmower Catalogue
The third part of the 1954 Ransomes Catalogue (pp. 24-27) covers two specialised machines made by
Ransomes at this time - when a more holistic turf management was being understood and developed.

In this part, I cover just two machines - a 40" ride-on machine, and a 30" walk-behind machine
(that could be fitted with a trailing seat).

Let's start with the most fascinating of machines: the 40" MK1 Motor Mower and Roller.
This beautiful machine would shortly become a living and breathing dinosaur of yesteryear.
It's design concept DNA was taken from the very first petrol-powered lawnmower of 1902.
The new 40 Inch was powered by a Ford four-cylinder water cooled engine, and had rear-roller
steering. It was suited to flat terrain - mostly sporting grounds.



That the design survived for more than half a century is a credit to the preceding animal powered technology
and Ransomes ingenuity in making these motor behemoths. However, the concept of heavy mowers,
that also acted as ground rollers, was losing favour in turf management. Within a decade, these once
great machines would be replaced by wider and lighter machines. In Ransomes' case, it would be their
advanced Motor Triple.
 
The second machine covered here was the 30" Motor Verge Cutter. This machine was a municipal
body favourite, prior to the rotary and flail mower revolutions taking hold.

The design reflects an integral, purpose-built machine for use on public pathways and road verges.
Note the pneumatic tyres for climbing kerbs, and the castor wheels for manoeuvrability.

PART SIX -Specialised Turf Machines & Equipment
The fourth part of the 1954 Ransomes Catalogue (pp. 28-40) covers quite an eclectic range of
specialised lawnmowers. We see the Overgreen and Overlawn tractors, The Aero Main Outfit,
the Moto-Celer and Celec Electric greens mowers, and the Electra Electric lawnmowers.

The OVERGREEN
When the Americans invented the Gang Mower in the early 20th Century the idea was quickly used
by the great UK makers to produce their own gang mowers. It didn't take so long to apply the
concept to specialised turf equipment for the cutting of greens.

The Overgreen (below) is a fascinating machine and Ransomes' first motor powered triplex.
The machine used a special version of their manually power Celer (used for bowling and golf greens)
to cut golf club greens in much quicker time - and with considerable saving in labour costs.



The OVERELAWN
The Overlawn was not a gang mower - but the same tractor unit (as the Overgreen) hitched to a single gang unit.



The AERO-MAIN Outfit
The Aero-Main should be considered an early example of a ground maintenance system for sports fields.
Combining a versatile two-wheel tractor with a series of turf implements for cutting, scarifying, brushing,
tilthing, rolling and carting.



The MOTO-CELER and CELLEC
The Moto-Celer was Ransomes' first small, petrol powered bowling and golf greens lawnmower.
The electric version (for bowling greens) was the Cellec. Note that these machines were not self-propelled.



The ELECTRAS
It is true that Ransomes were, as they claimed in this catalogue, a pioneer of electric lawnmowers,
when the first Electras appeared in the 1920s.

These 1950's Electras were updated and offered in 20-in and 24-in models.
Note that they were offered with general or bowling green specifications.
They were, essentially, electric motor versions of their equivalent motor mowers.



This Part Four of the 1954 Catalogue is offered as a quality pdf for personal download by Registered Members.
Note pages 32 and 33 - a montage of various Ransomes machines being used around the world. Brilliant!

PART SEVEN - Gang Mowers
The concept of the gang mower must be accredited to the Americans; but Ransomes quickly
realised the significance of the concept. Gang mowers enabled the opening of grasslands
for public and private use - from airports, to golf fairways, to large parklands.

There were clear limitations to reel mower width-of-cut ... in keeping reel/blade set;
contour following, and serviceability of machines. In other words, there were
limitations of width to reel mower design. The solution was the gang mower.

Ransomes made the Sportcutter and Magna gang reel mower units, and by the 1950s,
Ransomes offered sophisticated gang designs.

PART EIGHT - The Manual Mowers
This 1954 Ransomes Catalogue gives us a graphic display of the decline of the 'pushie'.
By the 1950s, manually-powered lawnmowers were becoming much less popular.

The line-up included the still popular Ransomes Ajax, the Austral, the Celer, the Manimal,
and the side-wheels; the Ace, Ariel and Moon.

Most of the machines in this catalogue did sell in Australia, and I have written about some ...

Ransomes Gazelle: -
https://www.outdoorking-forum.com.au/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/63637/ransomes-gazelle-c1949.html#Post63637

Ransomes Minor MK6: -
https://www.outdoorking-forum.com.au/forum/u...nsomes-minor-mark-6-c1951.html#Post51378

Ransomes Antelope: -
https://www.outdoorking-forum.com.au/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/63667/ransomes-antelope-c1954.html#Post63667


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