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Collection, Preservation and Display of Old Lawn Mowers

HELP! Can anybody identify this Follows & Bate mower?

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Hi all,

 

I recently bought this old Follows & Bate mower at an estate sale on Long Island, New York. The wooden post says Model "S" - is this a Speedwell? I can't find any information out online about this particular model. The patent numbers on the wheel are 389183/31 and 424138/33. The mower is in great shape and still works! It is missing one of the nuts for adjusting the rollers... if anybody has a spare that they are willing to sell, please let me know. 

In short, I'm very curious to know if this is indeed a Speedwell, and approximately what year the mower was made. Also, if anybody has a spare nut, that would be wonderful.

 

Best regards,
Zach

Forums

hortimech Tue, 27/06/2017

Very probably, seeing as 'Speedwell' was really a model name manufactured by Follows & Bate. It is likely to be a progression from the Speedwell range and therefore 'Speedwell' was shortened to just 'S', but this is just a guess, even I wasn't around then. laugh

Seb Tue, 27/06/2017

looks like a follows and bates Magic, dating from the 1930s
The magic was effectively a replacement for the speedwell, which was of earlier construction, relying on cast iron over steel.
I think the speedwell was fazed out during the 20s
The magic was popular as a catalogue mower, being sold by, and indeed sometimes rebranded for independant retailers

Picture attached of a similar follows and bates of mine, which I believe was a catalougue varient of the magic (although side frame design had been changed slightly so probably later than yours) - mine is inscribed BHAT (British Horticultural and Agricltural Tools)
also attached a pic of my speedwell, note a very different construction

Clive1997 Mon, 17/02/2020

Better late than never, whilst doing some research on another F & B mower, came across an Ad for the Model 'S' as below, 1951 I believe.