IMPROVEMENTS IN LAWN- MOWING MACHINES
Year: 1864

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Shaw, New Wortley, Leeds, Agricultural
Implement Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN LAWN-
MOWING MACHINES."
Sealed the 5th July 1864; and dated the 23rd January 1864.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Shaw at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 23rd January
1864.
I, JOHN SHAW, New Wortley, Leeds, Agricultural Implement Manufac-
turer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN LAWN-MOWING MACHINES," to be as follows: -
The first part of my improvements consists in making each side of the
framing of lawn-mowing machines of two parts, each part being centred or
hung upon or near the shaft or spindle which forms the axis of the primary
or main driving cylinder or wheel, in such manner that either of the said
frame parts may be raised or lowered without at the same time raising or
lowering the other part.

page_text: Hitherto each side of the framing has been made rigid from the pushing
handle to the other extremity, and the shaft or spindle of the main cylinder
passing through it has formed a fulcrum, so that when the handle end of the
framing has been raised the cutting end has necessarily been depressed
towards the ground, and vice versa.
With my improvement the workman is able to raise and lower the pushing
part of the framing to suit his working convenience, whilst the cutting end of
the framing is left free by its own weight merely to follow the course of the
ground surface, whether uneven or level; this cutting end may also be folded
up towards the pushing part of the framing, so that the machine.may be used
as a garden roller only without danger of injury to the cutters. The hinged
ends of the two parts of the framing may overlap each other in such way that
by putting a pin or pins through opposite holes the two parts of the framing
may be fixed rigid at any desired vertical angle with each other. This
attachment may be made in any other known mechanical way.
The second part of my improvements consists in the mode of adjusting the
distance between the revolving cutters and the stationary blade. I propose
to effect this by attaching the latter to a part which shall be movable between
or under the sides of the framing, instead of being permanently fixed as
hitherto. The adjustment of this movable part may be effected by means
of bolts or screws through the framing, or projections from the same. I
intend the shaft or spindle or other axes of the revolving cutters to run in
fixed bearings (not adjustable bearings as hitherto), which will insure
its permanent accuracy in relation to the main driving cylinder and
gearing.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Shaw in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 19th
July 1864.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
SHAW, of New Wortley, Leeds, Agricultural Implement Manufacturer, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-third day of January, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four, in the
year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto 3

page_text: me, the said John Shaw, Her special licence that I, the said John Shaw,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
John Shaw, my executors, administrators, [and assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use,
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN LAWN MOWING MACHINES," upon the condition (amongst others) that
I; the said John Shaw, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in
writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly
describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great
Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after
the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the. said John Shaw, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, that is to say :-
The first part of my improvements consists in making each side of the
framing of lawn-mowing machines of two parts, each part being centred or
hung upon or near the shaft or spindle which forms the axis of the primary
or main driving cylinder or wheel, in such manner that either of the said
frame parts may be raised or lowered without at the same time raising or
lowering the other part.
Hitherto each side of the framing has been made rigid from the pushing
handle to the other extremity, and the shaft or spindle of the main cylinder
passing through it has formed a fulcrum, so that when the handle end of the
framing has been raised the cutting end has necessarily been depressed towards
the ground, and vice versa.
With my improvement the workman is able to raise and lower the pushing
part of the framing to suit his working convenience, whilst the cutting end of
the framing is left free by its own weight merely to follow the course of the
ground surface, whether uneven or level; this cutting end may also be folded
up towards the pushing part of the framing, so that the machine may be used
as a garden roller only without danger of injury to the cutters. The
hinged ends of the two parts of the framing may overlap each other in
such way that by putting B pin or pins through opposite holes the two
parts of the framing may be fixed rigid at any desired vertical angle with

page_text: each other. This attachment may be made in any other known mechanical
way.
The second part of my improvements consists in the mode of adjusting the
distance between the revolving cutters and the stationary blade. I propose to
effect this by attaching the latter to a part which shall be movable between
or under the sides of the framing, instead of being permanently fixed to the
same as hitherto. The adjustment of this movable part may be effected by
means of bolts or screws through the framing, or projections from the same.
I intend the shaft or spindle or other axes of the revolving cutters to run
in fixed bearings (not adjustable bearings as hitherto), which will ensure
its permanent accuracy in relation to the main driving cylinder and
gearing.
In the accompanying Drawing, Fig. 1 is a side elevation, and Fig. 2 a plan
of one side of my improved lawn mower.
a is the spindle or axis of the primary or main driving cylinder or wheel b.
From c to d forms one part (the cutting end), and from e to f forms the other
part (the pushing end) of one side of the framing, and both of these parts
hinge loosely and independant of each other. It will be seen from this that the
handle of the pushing end is free to describe an arc of a circle, as from g to h
(more or less), shewn in dotted lines, without affecting the height of the
cutting end in any way. On the other hand the cutting end is free to rest
on the ground, on the wood rollers or other carriers, as at i, and to rise and
fall with all irregularities of surface, describing the arc (more or less), as at
j, k, without being under the vertical controul of the pushing end of the framing.
By folding the cutting end up still further than k, and putting a pin or pins
through the two parts of the side at 7, the machine may then be used as a garden
roller for gravel & other paths, the cutters being removed far enough from
injury. I construct both the sides of the framing on the preceding principle.
It is probable that the side of framing of lawn mowers may have already been
made of more than one piece; but if so it has been made rigid by means of
bolts or other attachments, so that when the machine has been at work the
side has been essentially of one rigid piece from the cutting end at or near c
to the pushing end at or near f, the spindle a forming a fulcrum in such way
that on the depression of one end the other end was elevated, and vice versa.
With respect to the second part of my improvements relating to the
adjustment of the cutters & the stationary blade, as I do not find any essential
advantage to be derived from it, I do not claim it; but what I do claim is,
making each side of the framing of lawn mowers of at least two parts, which

page_text: shall hinge or otherwise centre at or near the spindle or axis of the primary
or main driving cylinder or wheel in such manner that either of the said parts
may be raised or lowered without necessarily raising or lowering the other
part. And I claim folding the cutting end of lawn mowers up for the purpose
of being used for rolling only.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Shaw, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Sixteenth day of July, in the year of our Lord
1864.
Witness to the signature,
JOHN THOMAS SHAW,
New Wortley,
(Clerk.)
JOHN SHAW. (LS.)