In this episode of 'It Started Somewhere,' we explore the fascinating history of lawnmowers, tracing back to the 1700s when lawns were maintained using grazing animals, shears, and scythes. The invention of the first lawnmower by Edwin Beard Budding in the 1830s revolutionized lawn care, followed by significant advancements such as the lightweight and quieter Silent Cutter, the first real lawnmower in the U.S., and engine-powered models. The 20th century introduced innovations like self-propelled riding mowers, lightweight rotary mowers, and zero-turn mowers. Today, we see a surge in electric, solar-powered, and AI-driven robotic mowers, highlighting how far lawnmower technology has come and hinting at future evolutions.

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We hear and see them in towns

worldwide, being used to cut

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grass in the warmer months.

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Lawnmowers.

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Have you ever wondered what

was used before lawnmowers?

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in the evolution of them over the years.

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Let's discuss that in this episode

of It Started Somewhere, a podcast

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about popular products, places,

and things we know about, but may

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not know the story behind them.

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Before we dive into the history

of lawnmowers, let's take a

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moment to understand why we even

have lawns in the first place.

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Around the 1700s, formal lawns with neatly

manicured grass begin appearing in France.

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These were created by nobles

and aristocrats as a status

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symbol in pleasure grounds.

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These early lawns were tended by

grazing animals and painstakingly

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cut with shears and scythes.

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Can you imagine the time and effort

it must have taken to maintain them?

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Lawns were maintained like this for

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Budding, an engineer from Gloucester,

England, invented the lawnmower.

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Budding was working in a textile mill when

he observed a machine used to trim the

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irregular nap from woolen cloth, giving it

a smooth finish, and he saw the potential

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to apply this technology to cutting grass.

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Budding's invention was revolutionary.

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Picture a push mower made of heavy

cast iron, complete with wheels,

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a rear roller, and a rolling

cylinder of blades at the front.

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It was 19 inches wide and

designed to cut grass on sport

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grounds and extensive gardens.

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Buddings invention

quickly gained popularity.

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The London Zoo and Oxford

University were among the early

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adopters of this new technology.

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But the innovation didn't stop there.

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In the 1850s, Thomas Green, and Son

of Leeds introduced a mower called

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the Silenes Messier or Silent Cutter.

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This machine used a chain drive to

transmit power from the rear roller to the

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cutting cylinder, making it lighter and

quieter than its gear driven predecessors.

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Another significant milestone came in

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first real lawnmower in the United States.

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This invention was a commercial

success, raking in nearly 100,000

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in sales in its first year.

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That's equivalent to over 2 million today.

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In the latter part of the 19th

century, lawnmower technology

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continued to evolve rapidly.

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In the 1890s, we saw the introduction

of the first engine powered

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lawnmowers featuring lightweight

steam and petrol engines.

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The turn of the century

brought even more advancement

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In 1902, Ransoms of Ipswich, an

English company produced the first

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commercially available lawnmower powered

by an internal combustion gas engine.

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This was a game changer, as the

gas powered models were preferred

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over the electric predecessors.

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As lawns grew larger and technology

advanced, the need for more efficient

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mowing solutions became apparent.

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And in 1922, the Ideal Power Company

of Lansing, Michigan invented the

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first self propelled riding lawn mower.

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This marked the beginning

of a new era in lawn care.

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The latter half of the 20th

century saw a flurry of inventions

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in lawnmower technology.

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In 1952, Briggs and Stratton developed

the first lightweight aluminum

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engine for lawnmowers, making rotary

lawnmowers much easier to use.

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In 1955, the first zero term

mower was invented, but it

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didn't hit the market until 1969.

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A zero term lawn mower is a riding

mower that can turn on a dime,

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making it easier to maneuver

around trees and other obstacles.

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Fast forward a few decades to the

90s, and we saw the emergence of

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solar powered and robotic lawnmowers.

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And in 2000, we saw the introduction of

the first naturally gas powered mower.

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Today we're seeing the rise of smart,

connected modes that can be controlled

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via smartphone apps and home assistance.

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Electric mowers are gaining popularity,

and as battery technology continues

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to improve, we can expect to see

more powerful and longer lasting

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electric mowers hitting the market.

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Robotic mowers are also becoming more

sophisticated, with advanced sensors

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and AI technology allowing them to

navigate complex landscapes with ease.

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From Edwin Budding's manual push

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tech robotic mowers, lawnmower

technology has come a long way and

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I'm sure it will continue to evolve.

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Thanks for joining me

on It Started Somewhere.

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I'll catch you on the next episode.