60 Years of Battery Power

The Webb ones were better than the Atco's, at least they didn't burn out the wiring as often. Whilst the Webb's used a modified automotive starter solenoid , the Atco's used strips of brass and plastic insulators (that sometimes didn't). Some of the Atco's  were two speed by virtue of an extra battery tapping. There was also the Qualcast Super battery Panther, very similar to the 240V version, but with a battery clagged on the back.

I presume there were others, but the above are the ones that spring to mind.

We have an Atco Battery in the museum collection with the original 2 post exide battery, I think 9v & 12v take offs, no doubt now beyond holding  a charge!

As Hortimech observes , the Atco battery had three posts, ground, 12v and, I think, 9v.

I remember in the early 80s having an 18” battery Webb for service with a battery tray running right across the width of the machine and a battery that would have looked more at home on a diesel van. However the thing that I will never forget is the complicated number of sprockets and chains taking the drive to the rear roller and cutting cylinder. No such things taking a snap on the yet to be marketed “mobile” phone or even a digital camera. Job done , down on the floor , pull the lever and the machine took off at a fair lick.  My then business partner nearly w****d himself and suggested the we return it as is to the owner who was a grumpy old s*d at the best of times. However commercial common sense prevailed and we did a bit of sprocket swapping.

Despite having a fair collection of Webb parts books of tha era I have never found one for that 18” battery beast - got one anyone?

Interesting article Clive.

Whilst not professing to be a petrol head, these electric mowers weren't a lot of good during the 3 day week in the 1970's due to the miners strikes when the country lived by candlelight!...Perhaps they will make a comeback?

Tony

Yes many memories of the 3 day week (1st Jan to 6th March), but it was of course outside the mowing season!

This old 12V battery operated lawn edger seems to be a UK product from the sixties

Looks like an early Andrews Spintrim which was a Delco car heater fan motor with a blade on wheels, with two 6v wet batteries in series. I've got a later version with dry batteries and a bit more guarding!

Yes, it has two 6Volt batteries. Didn't know that it is a car fan motor. Twickel Castle showed it, together with other old garden tools  (www.twickel.nl)

Heres the Spintrim for the 74/75 season, assume mini skirt extra!

Together with the Webb battery which we do see occasionally. 

Surprising what you forget and I had completely forgotten about the Webb edge trimmer, but then they say you only remember the good things and that wasn't a good thing.

Terrible battery life, in both run time and when they needed replacing. The motor had an habit of seizing up and they rusted from the inside out. They were not a patch on the spintrims, even if the spintrim could suffer from the same battery problems.

The trouble with machines with wet lead acid batteries is charging..Lead acid batteries are heavy so are charged on mower,this means mains into shed.If not a battery removal each charge.Its bolt off the terminals ie no quick slot in type.During the winter the batteries need to charged.and is often forgotten.Lead acid batteries have a short life span and create nasty environment via fumes/spillage.Lithium batteries solve all of the above.I have seen a new Allett liberty battery mower being used and was impressed but stunned with the price..

The other issue with acid filled batteries was corrosion around the terminals and, if not routed correctly ,the breather pipe. Then, between lead acid and Li were NiCad wihich suffered from “ memory effect” reduction in capacity, if their charging routine was not managed.

Despite all the drawbacks of early battery powered mowers they had their uses. In the 80s I was renovating a little terraced cottage with a typical 100’ x 30’ back garden only accessed through the house or a neighbouring garden . Mowing was conveniently achieved with a little battery Webb stored and charged in the back porch - bought at the local collective machinery sale for the then minimum bid of a couple of quid. The charger which looked like a car ignition coil was a permanent on-board fixture. What happened to it  - I left it for the project’s purchaser!

Back to today, I understand that the Spring will see a new battery powered roller rotary from Bishop’s Stortford.

Wristpin re your earlier comment about the 18in De-Luxe Webb Battery, heres an image of the beast, looks like they were chain drive 1962 - 66 then a belt drive from 1971.

Just looking through some 1961 season Webb items I recently bought off E Bay amongst which was a single page reprint from 'Amateur Gardening' magazine dated 13 August 1960 entitled 'The best of both worlds - A Battery Driven Mower' written and illustrated by A. D. Johnson. Basically his review of the Webb 14" Battery Mower. A few things mentioned in the article that took my eye were  - 'A single charge seemed to provide about 3 hours cutting on my lawn - say about 1600 square yards'. 'The 6 blade cutting cylinder gave 70 cuts per yard' and  'Despite its considerable weight, actually 146 pounds with battery, it is extremely easy to use'. The final sentence in the article stating 'In all, I found this mower a well built and very attractive machine' 

Wristpin re your earlier comment about the 18in De-Luxe Webb Battery, heres an image of the beast, looks like they were chain drive 1962 - 66 then a belt drive from 1971.

From this it looks as though I was working on a 1960s machine so it was, perhaps, twenty years old at the time. I don’t remember it as being “so smooth” as the belt driven one in your brochure which is reminiscent  of the 1980s petrol machines even down to the push pull control in the centre handle bar brace. On the petrol machines this would have been the choke but as the text for the battery one mentions “two speed” , I’m guessing that it was used to operate the change of speed switches.

Battery power!

Note the extra terminal.

Al

Note the extra terminal.

Very interesting. Tapped at 8 volts. Have never seen one like that. Thanks for posting the brochure.

I do have one with the original Exide 3 post battery, will try & take an image if I can get near it.

Clive

This Atco might have been yours at the 2017 rally?

Al

Thanks Al, yes that's it, you have saved me digging it out.