Push Mowers Then & Now

Push Mowers Then & Now

Going to my great grandmother’s house was always a treat for me as a youngster. Some of the contraptions she had at her house were interesting in appearance. One of my favorite items she had was her push lawn mower. It wasn’t powered in any way, it was a manual push reel mower. It was a challenge for all of us to push, let along cut the grass with it. Granny didn’t feel the need to own what she referred to as “one of those new-fangled contraptions”. Dad would bring over his push mower to mow the lawn and have it cut before Granny caught on that he wasn’t using her mower.

Even Dad’s mower back then is a far cry from the walk behind, self propelled mowers that are now available for home owners lawn care needs. It is so nice mowing my lawn with my Toro Super Bagger walk-behind mower. It is self propelled, has a bag attachment to catch all the trimmings and leave my lawn so well manicured that all my neighbors are green with envy.

As I prepare to store my walk-mower for the winter, I fondly look back on my childhood days and Granny’s push mower and count my blessings that I won’t be mowing with it in the Spring.

Dixon Lawn Mowers

Dixon Lawn Mowers

More than 30 years ago, an idea combined with ingenuity inspired the beginning of a brand that revolutionized the way homeowners and professional landscapers alike cut grass.
Dixon acquired the patent to a unique mechanical transmission that allowed a zero turning radius on a mower. This transaxle allows steering to be controlled by the power wheels on the mower instead of a steering wheel. By delivering the power independently to each rear wheel, the operator is able to turn the mower around within its own dimensions. This greater maneuverability allows for trimming close to shrubs, around trees, and in fence corners or other tight spots – places that usually had to be trimmed by hand.

With its new design and a plan to carve a niche in the riding mower market, Dixon rolled its first zero turn mowers off the assembly line in 1974. Then, beginning with a group of distributors in the Midwest, Dixon convinced the world that there was a better, faster and easier way to mow. The rest is an American success story. Today, Dixon mowers are sold across the United States and throughout the world.

Source: Dixon ZTR