Lawn Mowers

"The Globe Lawn Mower. The Henderson-Achert Co. Litho. Cin." This is a good illustration of Dave Cheadle's observation regarding lawn mower trade cards: "To demonstrate the ease of operation, the mower is invariably shown being pushed by a remarkably overdressed girl, boy, or young woman." For additional information, see the "Lawn Mowers and Landscaping" section in Cheadle's Victorian Trade Cards: Historical Reference and Value Guide (Paducah, Ky.: Collector Books, 1996), pp. 150-51. Richard D. Sheaff features his own copy of this Globe Lawn Mower trade card in the Gaslight Album section of his dazzling and inspiring Sheaff : ephemera site. As Sheaff explains, lithographers used Gaslight Style to create the illusion of depth: "Type, vignettes, products, and design elements are made to seem multi-layered through the use of shadows, superimposition, dimensional banners and ribbons, turned-up faux page corners, and choice of colors." In this trade card, the shadowing and complexity of the letters in "The Globe," the flowing "Lawn Mower" banner that's superimposed over the G, and the elaborate border at the top all help to create the multi-layered effect that's characteristic of the Gaslight Style. The careful placement of the young woman and her lawn mower in the foreground, the bounding dog in the middle, and the tree in the background also contribute to the feeling of depth.

Cyanotypes seem to be getting mower and mower interesting!

A man pushes a "Genuine Philadelphia Lawn Mower" through the grass on the lawn of Philadelphia's historic Independence Hall in this early twentieth-century postcard. I suppose that the location proved just how genuinely Philadelphian these lawn mowers really were! "Genuine Philadelphia Lawn Mower. Style 'K' Mower." Printed on the back of this postcard: "Genuine 'Philadelphia' Lawn Mowers, standard of the world. All knives vanadium crucible steel. Style 'K,' 10 inch wheels, 5 blades, 6.5-inch cylinder, single pinion, geared on both sides. List Prices. 14 inch - $20.00. 16 inch - $22.00. 18 inch - $24.00. 20 inch - $26.00." Dealer's ink-stamped address on back: "Sold by Geo. W. Peck, 102-106 State St., Elmira, N.Y."

Eclipse 40th Anniversary. Trophy Line, styled by Eclipse. Eclipse, Zephyr, Pro, Vogue, Advance. Every model a leader in its price class. Beauty at any angle. Magnificently styled with chrome combination and rubber silencing--featuring Goodyear rubber tires and new silent tapered roller bearings. Eclipse Lawn Mower Co., Prophetstown, Illinois. Written franchises are profitable.

Eclipse Natural Grip, New for 1941. All steel handle. The greatest innovation in lawn mower performance. Amazingly different; for the first time normal posture with natural grip. Your 1941 feature item. Eclipse, Prophetstown.

Handwritten message on the back of this real photo postcard (no date, address, stamp, or postmark): "Dear Cousin Minnie, Here is a picture of our little home with Art and I in the picture. Hoping you are all well. With love, Cousin Jennie McCandless."