After Edward Budding, an engineer, saw a reel with blades on it in a cloth mill, he then built a reel lawn mower in early 1830. These gas powered lawn mowers first appeared around 1890 and the riding lawn mowers, as you know it, is about 100 years old. Lawn mowers powered by gas first began to appear around 1890 and the riding lawnmower is approximately 100 years old.

Cast iron was the major material used in the early reel mower and consisted of a large roller in the back and a roller in the front, which was more like a cutting cylinder. Power was transmitted by using gear wheels made of cast iron from the roller in the rear to a cutting reel. Overall, the machines of today are very similar to the original mowers of the 1830s.

push lawn mower
The fact that the inventor decided to allow other companies to build their own versions of the product while still under his license resulted in more revenue and innovations. When the original patents lapsed and with the increase in popularity of certain sports, such as cricket, lawn tennis, rugby and football, other companies were able to begin manufacturing their own products.

The increased popularity of sports, such as football, cricket, croquet, lawn tennis and rugby resulted in more and more companies manufacturing and improving the lawn mower.

The motorized lawnmower engine began to appear around 1890, touted as a lightweight gas engine or as small steam-powered engines. For a number of years the steam-powered mowers were preferred, but by the 1900s the gas mowers were pulling ahead in popularity. The period after World War I saw more advanced technology and people were starting to move into suburban type housing, which increased the need for mowers and other lawn mower blades.

commercial lawn mowers
Rotary cutting and electric power were first tried out during the 1920s through the 1930s, but did not become popular until much later. The 40s brought several innovations to electric lawnmower, including lighter designs and a smaller, but more powerful lawnmower engine.

Beginning in 1950, there was much technological advancement and mowers became more reliable and less expensive. What some consider to be the major improvement made over the years is the hover or rotary motor, made with lightweight plastic and lighter electric and gas motors.