THE OLD LAWNMOWER CLUB

RESTORATION: OR NOT?

TO RESTORE OR NOT?

Deciding to restore or not is one of the big questions to ask yourself before you contemplate a restoration project. The decision is completely up to you but here are a few pointers. 

Most collectors will draw a distinction between preservation and restoration. 

Preservation means to maintain the item in its present condition and prevent further deterioration. 

Restoration means to return the item to its original condition, as it was when it was first manufactured.

The Ransomes Patent Chain Automaton covered in this section was very rusty and had very little original paint, hence the decision to restore.

WHEN NOT TO RESTORE

Mowers in genuinely original condition can be just as interesting (and often more valuable) to other collectors than those that have been restored. 

If the majority of the following statements are true then leaving the mower in unrestored condition may be the best choice:

• the mower is complete
• the mower is in working order
• the paintwork is largely intact (over 50%, say) and original
• the mower is worth more in original condition
• the mower has some historic significance that means it is more interesting and/or valuable in original condition

WHEN TO RESTORE

If any of the following are true then restoration may be a better option:

• the mower is damaged
• parts are missing
• it has previously been repainted with the wrong colours
• most of the original paint is missing and the metal is rusty

Bear in mind that any restoration work may lead to replacement of original parts and paint with modern equivalents.

For some people this is reason enough to leave the machine in its original condition and concentrate instead on conservation.

Many museums, as a matter of policy, choose to preserve rather than restore.

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