Reel mowers were on the brink of extinction by the 1970s. But lifestyle and economics saved the reel mower in the 1980s. Escalating land prices forced builders to put large homes on small lots, a practice that continues today. In some higher-end communities, association fees pay for front yard maintenance, leaving homeowners responsible for only a small patch of lawn in the back yard. When it came to lawn size, smaller was much better.
Cost also is smaller.
The actually cutting swath is 1 or 2 inches less. Best for flat lawns of less than a half-acre. A mower that comes with an additional handle that, when engaged, moves the mower along by driving the rear wheels. Best for lawns a half-acre or more or lawns with hills or inclines. Because of the public's environmental concerns, about 85 percent of walk-behind mowers are now mulching mowers.