Who built the first zero turn lawn mower?
In 1949, Warrensburg, MO resident Max Roper invented the very first commercially available zero-turn mower and called it the "Ride King". It was a three-wheeled machine - one drive wheel in front and two in the rear. The patented system utilized the front wheel as the drive wheel that also was able to turn an amazing 360 degrees. The wheel was driven by the motor in the same direction 100% of the time. In order to reverse and/or utilize the zero turn capabilities, you simply turn the steering wheel 180 degrees and the mower would move in reverse. In 1963, John Regier was an employee of the Hesston Corporation, a manufacturer of farm and agricultural equipment. The company had recently engineered a device called the swather, which, propelled by a series of belts, cut hay, alfalfa and other farming materials and laid them out in windrows. The way the belts and pulleys operated allowed for counter- rotation—a process which particularly struck Regier. An idea came to him one day: What if he could incorporate the same technology into lawnmowers?
Who built the first commercially available zero turn lawn mower?
Max Roper
Zero-turn mower
"We were the first company to offer mowers with zero-turn technology," says Paul Mullet, president of Excel Industries. "After Regier sold us the patent, he came to work for us and the rest is history." Excel Industries is the parent company of Hustler Turf Equipment, Inc., which manufacturers Hustler Turf and BigDog Mowers zero-turn mowers.
Who was the company built the first zero turn lawn mower?
Hesston Corporation Excel Industries
Zero-turn mower
Zero-turn mower
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zero-turn%20mower
Regier's patent was eventually sold to Excel Industries
Zero-turn mower
Regier's design was the first twin-lever zero-turn lawn mower
Zero-turn mower
In 1949, Warrensburg, MO resident Max Roper invented the very first commercially available zero-turn lawnmower and called it the Ride King. In 1963, Hesston Corporation was a manufacturer of farm and agricultural equipment that had recently engineered a device called the swather, which, propelled by a series of belts, cut hay, alfalfa and other farming materials and laid them out in windrows. One of their employees, John Regier, was struck by the swather's belt-and-pulley mechanism that allowed for counter-rotation. His idea was to use the same technology in lawnmowers. Regier's design ultimately became the first twin-lever zero-turn lawnmower. Regier's patent was eventually sold to Excel Industries. "We were the first company to offer mowers with zero-turn technology," says Paul Mullet, president of Excel Industries. "After Regier sold us the patent, he came to work for us and the rest is history."