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Collection, Preservation and Display of Old Lawn Mowers

Salesman Samples

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The thread regarding the Webb Toy Miniature mower where the ebay seller is trying to pass it off as a salesman sample for $10,000, has prompted me to look closely at an 8th scale mower I have, which I believe may well be a genuine salesman’s sample.

Salesman samples are scaled-down versions of real products used to demonstrate features to retailers or potential customers, these miniature goods were popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, as they were easily transportable by travelling salespeople and allowed dealers to display a variety of items in their showrooms that could then be ordered directly from a manufacturer. Unlike toy versions of household items aimed at children, many salesman's samples were highly detailed with working parts so they could be used to demonstrate full functionality. They were particularly popular in the USA.

I was aware that my example appeared very accurate, but today have removed a sidewheel to reveal the full working gears, including the cylinder pinion, and even a minute working pawl. I have taken a few images to show the miniature screws holding the bottom blade in place, and the very true wood/metal work on the handle.

Unfortunately there are no markings to indicate the mower manufacturer, but perhaps it was just a generic sidewheel.

Some salesman samples were a 3rd or even ½ scale, so there is often confusion with toy mowers of a similar size, many 1930’s cast sidewheel toy mowers, examples that I have, are often described  incorrectly in US auctions as salesman samples.

Forums

hillsider Sun, 17/11/2019

Thank you for sharing the scaled down mower with us Clive, less space required for storage.

hdtrust Wed, 11/12/2019

Yes the illusive salesman samples,perhaps a myth started by Auctioneers to sell their lots!

The only English salesman sample we have is a 6 inch Drummond hand mower,this was made up by Drummonds and was used in their display window at their works in Guildford.

Clive I would say that the machine you have,should come under toy or scale model,lots were produced in the States, as give aways from the 1920's,Even today manufacturers are still selling models of their tools,I saw a mini husky chainsaw in one of the dealerships only the other day

Clive1962 Sat, 11/01/2020

This thread has reminded me of a miniature low voltage Flymo that used to sit on the sales counter top at my first employment in the garden machinery world in the early 1980s.  I assume it was a Flymo supplied novelty/sales aid demonstration of the hover.   

 Has anyone else come across this tiny Flymo and/or got one.?

Clive.

Clive1997 Sat, 11/01/2020

Hello Clive

Yes I have one in its box, one day hope to have it set up in museum with a bell push so children can play with it, its a DLE similar to this one.

Clive1962 Sat, 11/01/2020

Hello Clive,

  I have looked out for one in the usual places from time to time...seems that I missed the one recently.!

I had in my mind that it was less detailed than this but then 1981 is suddenly a long time ago...for tricks of memory and recall  :)

Many thanks for posting up the photo,

                                                     Clive.