Our History
Our Roots go Deeper Than Anyone Else's
American Lawn Mower Company was established in 1895. Our history goes back over 125 years. From the Victorian era to World War II to the second suburban boom of the 1970s, we’ve been around for nearly every industrial revolution in America. From day one, we built the business around providing a cleaner and greener option for maintaining America’s lawns.
1902
In 1902 American Lawn Mower Company moved to a new home, and started manufacturing lawn mowers in Muncie, Indiana. Here, the business continued to manufacture a complete line of reel lawn mowers.
1936
American Lawn and Great States Unite
In 1936, American Lawn Mower Company acquired the Great States Corporation in Shelbyville, which also produced reel lawn mowers.
The merging of these two companies continues to stand strong, and is one of the big reasons why American Lawn mower still exists today.
GREAT STATES CORPORATION BUILDING EARLY 1940S
1950's
Post War Boom Creates Reel Mower Bust
The reel mower business sustained nearly 60 manufacturers and boomed until the post war era. With increased industrialization, came power rotary mowers. For a short time prior to 1950. American /Great States produced power reel mowers to ride out the post war decline in the market and after that time continued to manufacture reel mowers. By 1953, power mower sales surpassed reel mower sales, and most reel mower manufacturers went out of business.
American/Great States was able to survive largely because the family who owned the business also owned an iron foundry where they could get cast iron mower components inexpensively.
FACTORY WORKERS WORK ON BY NEW REELS IN THE WAREHOUSE
1990's
A New Market Begins to Emerge
Business continued to shrink, so the company introduced two limited lines of garden cultivators to expand their market. Production dwindled on these until they were discontinued in the early 1990’s. The company endured. A resurgence was waiting in the wings. Increased land costs, expansion of leisure opportunities and a desire to spend less time cutting grass led many Americans to build homes on small lots or to buy low-maintenance condominiums. Soon a new market became available.
AMERICAN LAWN MOWER MAGAZINE ADVERTISEMENT FROM THE 1990'S.
American Lawn Mower Today
Throughout the years, American Lawn Mower Company has products, and expanded brands across several markets.
Today, the American Lawn Mower Company offers a comprehensive line of manual reel lawn mowers, corded, electric, and battery-operated outdoor power equipment. Our tools are offered under multiple brand names including American Lawn Mower, Great States, Radius Garden Tools, Root Assassin, and Earthwise. Our brands are carried in fine garden centers, nurseries, hardware stores, independent retailers, and catalogs throughout the world. We hold dozens of design and utility patents and have received many awards. In 2017, Radius Garden’s Root Slayer Shovel was awarded the Green Thumb Award for the Most Innovative Garden Tool. In early 2020 American Lawn Mower launched the Pronk! Pets brand. Pronk! Pets was created to instill excitement, joy, and happiness for your pet friends.
Since 1895, American Lawn Mower Company has strived to deliver the best performance and service in the industry. As tools continue to develop, we adapt to modernize our equipment while keeping America green.
