Ransomes Bent Cutter
Heres something a bit unusual, introduced by Ransomes in their 1906 brochure described as......
New "Bent" Cutter
An entirely New Machine with Cutter of large diameter which enables it to deal with the longest and toughest 'bents'. Easy work for one man.
24 inches wide Price £3
I'm yet to give it a good clean, but with some Green/Red paint showing I will certainly preserve as is.
It must have been an awkward machine to use as it needs to be balanced at the right height to avoid the blades digging in.
In 1916 Ransomes introduced the No.2 'Adjustable', now referring to the earlier model as the No.1 'Fixed Type',
The adjustable had height adjustment similar to other mowers, see catalogue images, although still described as easy work for one man, it appears to have a draw bar fitted, also had larger wheels. Interestingly in my 1915 brochure where only the original model was shown there is a hand written note in the margin 'Mention large "Bent" cutter' !
They appear to have been sold until the early 1930's.
Stripping to clean should be easier than most mowers as according to the parts list I have there are only 33 parts, plus a spanner!
I assume not a great number were sold as very few seem to appear.
Forums
When I was at boarding school
When I was at boarding school in the 1950s the master in charge of cricket used to have us on hand and knees crawling across the square picking off bents. The reward was a Mars Bar for who ever had the most.
Wow what a rarity. Lovely old
Wow what a rarity. I think you've managed a hole in one. Lovely old mower. I agree that a sympathetic clean and a good oil covering will preserve it well.
Ah yes 'Queen of the Lawn' Agrostis - I remember when I first started in the industry as a lad with a very basic petrol cylinder mower being told to cut clients lawns riddled with the stuff. Later my boss provided me with a rotary Ransomes which made life a lot easier. I wish I could remember the model , it had a large triangular blade plate beneath, bombproof heavy rubber wheels, I believe an aluminium deck with a gap at the back to eject grass.The starter was a wide, hinged, wind up handle on top of the engine which when wound you would push down to start.
Here's the one that's
Here's the one that's mentioned above at our Annual Rally in 1998.
Of course the other way of
Of course the other way of cutting Bents is with a scythe,but not a traditional one,the best one is an Austrian,mine weighs less than a kilo,and I can cut the size of a bowling green in about an hour,leaving no sears! Just takes a little practice about 44 years
Don't forget the other side
Don't forget the other side of the pond,they have bents too, and here is there machine by Autosickle in Mass,USA,with there Allcut model,made in 2 sizes,which we have
Nice find!
Nice find!
Very true there are not many about,Christopher Proudfoot has one restored.Most were sold to Golf Courses,where bent's can be a problem on the piney's to golf greens,where there is bent's you'll never get a hole in one!
Andrew