That must be some A/C for it to overcome the greenhouse effect on the lawn-cutting fishbowl. I think I’d be embarrassed to be seen riding that thingamabob.
My in-laws have quite a big yard, and it’s about a four hour job to cut the whole spread with a riding mower (ask me how I know). I enjoy the sun and fresh air, and if their mower had an air-conditioned cab I wouldn’t appreciate the cold beer at the end of the job quite as much.
As bizarre as it seems, from what I can tell, this was actually produced by a legitimate company, one that is still in business (though has been acquired several times over).
This was a Simplicity Wonder-Boy X-100 — the Simplicity Manufacturing Co. was founded in the 1920s by a Wisconsin inventor and entrepreneur named William Niederkorn. Looks like he made all sorts of implements, but eventually found success in mowers, which he started producing in the 1930s. Simplicity introduced its Wonder-Boy range of mowers in 1957 – evidently they were the first rear-engine riding mowers ever made. Most were regular mowers, not the air-conditioned bubble example here. This X-100 picture is from the cover of Mechanix Illustrated (March 1958), though evidently the idea got a decent amount of attention at the time, and was featured in Newsweek as well (and likely other places). I’d love to know how many of these were actually made!
Thanks for digging this up. Yes, Simplicity was a major player, and also sold their products through Montgomery Ward branded as Garden Mark. Some friends have a vintage Garden Mark yard tractor and implements on their rural property. I shot it but haven’t written it up yet. These were highly regarded at the time. Had an unusual transmission setup.
They offered it to me, but I really don’t have the room, time or inclination.
I did some research at the time about Simplicity, a long-term player in the market.
Simplicity was a pretty large employer in Port Washington WI. They were a well regarded and quite expensive brand of power equipment. I believe the brand is owned by Briggs and Stratton now.
Growing up in urban California I don’t think I’d ever seen or even heard of riding mowers for residential use until I spent a summer with my grandfather on the east coast in 1972. In fact, I don’t recall anyone except professional gardeners (didn’t call it landscape services in those days) who had power mowers of any kind. In junior high, ‘67-68, I would drag our family’s Sears reel push mower around the neighborhood, mowing lawns for $1.50. That included trimming he edges with hand shears.
Those mowers are built by several producers today, John Deere beeing the largest. But methinks this one from swedish Husqvarna comes closest to the original spec:
That must be some A/C for it to overcome the greenhouse effect on the lawn-cutting fishbowl. I think I’d be embarrassed to be seen riding that thingamabob.
Between the compressor and the engine it must’ve been unbearably loud in there.
Maybe it’s nuclear powered.
Had no Idea the Jetsons had a yard.
My in-laws have quite a big yard, and it’s about a four hour job to cut the whole spread with a riding mower (ask me how I know). I enjoy the sun and fresh air, and if their mower had an air-conditioned cab I wouldn’t appreciate the cold beer at the end of the job quite as much.
Yes, but if you have one of these contraptions, you could enjoy your cold beer while your wife mows the lawn in air conditioned comfort:
This was the inspiration for the AMC Pacer.
As bizarre as it seems, from what I can tell, this was actually produced by a legitimate company, one that is still in business (though has been acquired several times over).
This was a Simplicity Wonder-Boy X-100 — the Simplicity Manufacturing Co. was founded in the 1920s by a Wisconsin inventor and entrepreneur named William Niederkorn. Looks like he made all sorts of implements, but eventually found success in mowers, which he started producing in the 1930s. Simplicity introduced its Wonder-Boy range of mowers in 1957 – evidently they were the first rear-engine riding mowers ever made. Most were regular mowers, not the air-conditioned bubble example here. This X-100 picture is from the cover of Mechanix Illustrated (March 1958), though evidently the idea got a decent amount of attention at the time, and was featured in Newsweek as well (and likely other places). I’d love to know how many of these were actually made!
And the brand does still exist today: http://www.simplicitymfg.com
Thanks for digging this up. Yes, Simplicity was a major player, and also sold their products through Montgomery Ward branded as Garden Mark. Some friends have a vintage Garden Mark yard tractor and implements on their rural property. I shot it but haven’t written it up yet. These were highly regarded at the time. Had an unusual transmission setup.
They offered it to me, but I really don’t have the room, time or inclination.
I did some research at the time about Simplicity, a long-term player in the market.
Simplicity was a pretty large employer in Port Washington WI. They were a well regarded and quite expensive brand of power equipment. I believe the brand is owned by Briggs and Stratton now.
What magazine is this from, please?
Mechanix Illustrated, March 1958.
Thanks kindly. It’s nice once in awhile to peep in on that era when we were only just round the last corner from a Jetsons pushbutton lifestyle.
How the heck do you get inside?
Does the entire bubble tilt forward, or…?
Growing up in urban California I don’t think I’d ever seen or even heard of riding mowers for residential use until I spent a summer with my grandfather on the east coast in 1972. In fact, I don’t recall anyone except professional gardeners (didn’t call it landscape services in those days) who had power mowers of any kind. In junior high, ‘67-68, I would drag our family’s Sears reel push mower around the neighborhood, mowing lawns for $1.50. That included trimming he edges with hand shears.
What a great idea
Those mowers are built by several producers today, John Deere beeing the largest. But methinks this one from swedish Husqvarna comes closest to the original spec:
The Simplicity actually looks more practical and usable than this 1921 device.
That has…two different reel mower mechanisms?
A person like me could ruin a lot of flower beds with that thing.
I imagine that would get quite hot in the summer.
All was fine, until an unfortunate manufacturing defect turned it into a blender.
I spit out my beer!!
That poor kid. Mom made him wear saddle shoes for the ad photoshoot.
Never mind the kid. Dad’s out cutting the grass in long sleeved shirt and pants? Mom looks like the only comfortable one there.
Dad’s out cutting the grass in tan khakis, black socks, and chukka boots.
Must have been 1957’s “dad look.”
Modern big farm equipment is pretty much like that today, except for having a sound system and computer inside and being GPS guided.
I’m surprised this lawnmower didn’t make a cameo in “Diamonds are Forever.”
Will Robinson used one of these in “Lost In Space” when they mowed the lawn on Planet MW-14.
This (1957) is apparently the launch of the base model here in Wisconsin—but that’s still a substantial amount of money:
A little more of same (1957)—no X-100 yet:
Looks like it should have been marketed by Cuisinart. As long as the blades are UNDER the machine and not INSIDE it…
Take my money!