MOWER OF THE MONTH
Number Eighty
GODIVA MOTOR MOWER
The Godiva is another example of a motor mower made during
the 1920s by a relatively obscure company. During this period a number of
companies experimented with lawn mower production, anticipating new
markets or perhaps to utilise skills and production capacity developed
during the First World War.
The Godiva is an unusual machine because it can be traced
through at least three different companies. The original machines were
made by a company called Nene Engineering which was based in Peterborough
(this company was itself a spin off from the Barford & Perkins
company) from 1920. This company was not successful and the design and
manufacturing of the mower passed to The Godiva Engineering Company of
Slough. In time a third company, Allen & Simmonds of Reading, took
over production. None of these companies was very successful and this is
reflected by the number of machines that appear to have survived.
Although it was made by three different companies the
design of the mower remained largely unchanged. The design was
conventional for its time in that the engine was mounted centrally above
the frame or chassis which comprised flat steel sides and tubular cross
pieces. Superficially at least the Godiva is similar in appearance to
mowers made during the same era by companies such as Ransomes, Shanks,
Automower, Dennis, John Shaw and others.
The most distinctive feature of the Godiva is the petrol
tank which has the appearance of a slightly flattened tube or cylinder.
The Godiva was available in 15", 18" and
22" cutting width models priced from £33 to £52-10-0 (from the
Godiva Engineering Company, Slough price list). Power was supplied by a
two stroke (15" model) or four stroke (18" and 22") JAP
engine as used in a number of contemporary mowers.
There is some photographic evidence (but no mowers are
known to exist) which suggests that the very early Godiva motor mowers may
have had a slightly different design.
Godiva motor mowers are very unusual. One of the surviving
examples was on display at The Old Lawnmower Club's Annual Rally at Milton
Keynes in 2006.
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