OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums The History Forum Model Histories UK & EUROPEAN Reel Hand-Mowers VANTAGE Push Mower - c1950s

Hello ODK History Lovers

This is an unusual British push lawnmower � the Vantage � made post war by
Vantage Mowers Ltd., at their Cleveland Street, Dudley factory.

It�s an odd machine in that it can be looked at in two ways: it is a reel/roller mower,
but without the roller (it has wheels); or a side wheel reel mower, but without the
side wheels (they�re inboard). You decide.

The authoritative UK�s Old Lawnmower Club has this record:


One of these Vantages recently appeared on an AUS auction site.
The issue for me was, not just the historical recognition of this lawnmower,
but whether they sold here. Here is one of the auction images:-



TO BE CONTINUED ...

PART TWO - Specification & Comment

The Vantage is a mower that is �skeletal� in that you see the principle feature
exposed. The principal feature is that the wheels, being inboard, enable the machine
to cut over grass/garden beds (the reel is wider than the inboard wheels). A more
elegant version was surely the Ransomes Conquest that used the same design principles,
but 'in reverse' and covered the �skeleton� with a handsome body, not unlike mine
(see �Related Reading� below).

The second feature is the lightweight construction. With a 12 inch cut, an alloy
frame, dainty grass catcher, and circles cut into the wheels and drive sprocket,
this machine�s advantage was that it was easy to push. As said, this is a skeletal
machine, without even a chain cover!

I guess freewheel was achieved by a one-way cycle clutch, but I am not sure if
there was any differential action between the drive wheels. I suspect not. The
Vantage was clearly not designed as an expensive lawnmower; but as an entry level,
economy machine.




Did They Sell Here?
I suspect not. I have found just one entry in an Australian newspaper (1952) �
a �For Sale� secondhand machine offered for ��4 or exchange for a large tin trunk.�
This single entry suggests to me that this mower was a personal import from England,
perhaps belonging to a post-war immigrant. I just don�t know. However, a machine
has turned up in NSW in 2016 (as photos evidence). So maybe ...



The Vantage is an interesting push lawnmower with no real advantage over
conventional sidewheels � unless you had sunken garden beds. It was probably
made to meet the demands of a post war UK, when the working class (perhaps
war widows) needed a cheap, light and reliable mower for the green patch.

The rest is history.
-------------------------------------
Jack

Old Lawnmower Club photo:-
http://www.oldlawnmowerclub.co.uk/club/events/olcannrally200908jpg

Compare with Ransomes Conquest:-
https://www.outdoorking-forum.com.au/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=58735


Would you like to comment on this article?
Simply create a new topic in the Old Soap Box HERE.