OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums The History Forum Video & Image Gallery History Pictures ARCHIMEDEAN - Newstead Backyard - c1890s

Hello ODK History Lovers

It's always a challenge to identify old lawnmowers from old photographs.
This one was rewarding in that the lawnmower was identifiable!

The photograph, held by the State Library of Queensland dates from the 1890s.
Luckily, the photo identifies the street as Newstead Terrace - located at the historical
inner-Brisbane suburb of Newstead.



The photograph dates from the 1890s and depicts Children from the Brown family in the backyard
of their home at Newstead, Brisbane, 1890s: Florence, Evelyn, Leslie, Ivy and Roy Brown in the
backyard of their family home at Newstead Terrace, Newstead, ca. 1890s. A sailing boat is sailing
along the Brisbane River in the background. The children are playing with their dog and various
other items including a jug and timber barrel. An old-fashioned lawn mower? (or roller?) lies on
the ground to the right.



http://rosettadel.slq.qld.gov.au/delivery/DeliveryManagerServlet?change_lng=en&dps_pid=IE276945

TO BE CONTINUED ...

PART TWO - Back Story
When identifying old lawnmowers, the researcher must look at all evidence,
including the whole image for contextual clues.

I guess this image came from a family album that was donated to the QLD State
Library's John Oxley Collection. Another image from that family album tells us a
bit more.




The caption says: From left to right: Mrs. C. A. Brown (wife of Mr. C. A. Brown Snr., a well-known
Brisbane jeweller of the time), George Brown, and his sister Annie Caterer Brown who later
married and became Mrs. Bliss. Photographed in the backyard of their home on Newstead
Terrace, Newstead, Brisbane, in the 1890s.

Contextually, the point I make is that this was not a lawnmower that could have belonged to
the working class. Reel-Roller mowers were bought by the middle classes and the wealthier.
I mean, Mr C. A. Brown was a well-known Brisbane jeweller!

A second point is location. This was Newstead, an inner Brisbane suburb located north of
Brisbane's CBD. In the 1890s this was a respectable suburb for the middle classes, and
Newstead Terrace borders the famous, historic Newstead House!

It was in the 20th Century that Newstead would become a mix of working-class residential
and industry. As industry was forced out of Brisbane's CBD it would locate in close
surrounding suburbs. Hence, South Brisbane to the south; and Fortitude Valley and
Newstead to the North.

I have no doubt that Mr C.A. Brown, Jeweller, travelled via horse and sulky to his CBD
business in the 1890s. But by the early 20th century the more wealthy could move
further out using the horse-less carriages of the time.

It was in the early 21st Century that Newstead would revert back to a wealthy habitat.
Today, Newstead is an up-market inner-city suburb.

PART THREE - The Archimedean
I could identify this lawnmower because of its distinctive features. It is a
North American Archimedean.

This is an important lawnmower historically, said to be the first patent granted
in North America for a lawnmower. In time frame, we are talking 1860s.




The Old Lawnmower Club Record:-
https://www.oldlawnmowerclub.co.uk/mowers/moms/mp057-archimedean

Connecticut History.org
https://connecticuthistory.org/reel-lawn-mower-patent-today-in-history/

TO BE CONTINUED ...