I picked this up this Sunbeam from craigslist today. Got it home and it works. The blades need to be sharpened.
Sunbeam Find
- Thread starter countryford
- Start date
another pic.
polkanut
Well-known member
Looks like the mower my great-aunt Adela had. What a cutie!
danemodsandy
Well-known member
You DAWG.
I've been looking for one of those forever - I used to have one, long ago and wish I'd never made the dumbass decision to leave it with the house when I sold it.
I'm very happy for you.
P.S.: If this is one of the earlier ones (which it doesn't appear to be), you will find wire encircling the tires; it sits down in the grooves of the tread. This is the mower's grounding system - don't mess with it.
I've been looking for one of those forever - I used to have one, long ago and wish I'd never made the dumbass decision to leave it with the house when I sold it.
I'm very happy for you.
P.S.: If this is one of the earlier ones (which it doesn't appear to be), you will find wire encircling the tires; it sits down in the grooves of the tread. This is the mower's grounding system - don't mess with it.
I don't know if I'll actually use it. My hard is rather large and I prefer gas lawnmowers. Plus like the ones with bags. I did get a bit of grief when I bought it home. Oh well. I couldn't resist.
laundromat
Well-known member
"rather large hard"?????? Let's discuss.
danemodsandy
Well-known member
Justin:
"I did get a bit of grief when I bought it home."
It's shippable, mmkay?
"I did get a bit of grief when I bought it home."
It's shippable, mmkay?
I meant to say my yard is large. Opps. Don't need this to go to the Dirty Laundry Forum. 
redcarpetdrew
Well-known member
A large hard that needs a gas machine...
Leaving that alone and it's likely for the best...
That is a neat little mower. I didn't even know Sunbeam made one. Makes me wonder what else Sunbeam made that wasn't common.
RCD
Leaving that alone and it's likely for the best...
That is a neat little mower. I didn't even know Sunbeam made one. Makes me wonder what else Sunbeam made that wasn't common.
RCD
kb0nes
Well-known member
Electric Snow Throwers
Drew,
Out in the West I bet you never saw one of the Sunbeam electric snow throwers. They made a number of these over a period of many years!
We had one here but it never worked well due to the combination of heavy snows and voltage drop in the wiring to the garage. John hauled it back to the East coast last year. An electric snow thrower would only work well if it were run on 240v AC!
Here is a Youtube video of a similar model:
<iframe width="420" height="315" src="" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
I also recall once seeing a cool reel type mower with an electric motor mounted above the reel that had the Sunbeam name on it.
Drew,
Out in the West I bet you never saw one of the Sunbeam electric snow throwers. They made a number of these over a period of many years!
We had one here but it never worked well due to the combination of heavy snows and voltage drop in the wiring to the garage. John hauled it back to the East coast last year. An electric snow thrower would only work well if it were run on 240v AC!
Here is a Youtube video of a similar model:
<iframe width="420" height="315" src="" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
I also recall once seeing a cool reel type mower with an electric motor mounted above the reel that had the Sunbeam name on it.
polkanut
Well-known member
Here is a YouTube video of a similar model like the one Justin found. The one in the video looks a bit rough compared to the one pictured above. Nice demo though.
Sunbeam Twin Blade Electric Mower
Our next door neighbor had one these years ago that I fixed several times, this is indeed a fairly early one [ one these early ones they used two coged belts and you had to assemble them properly so the two blades would not strike each other at the blade tips, like a beaters on a food mixer ] I have a later SB TB mower and on these they moved one blade ahead of the other to eliminate the interference problem.
This little mower would be plenty big enough for your yard. Electric mowers today are so good I cannot imagine why anyone would still buy Middle Eastern oil to cut their lawns. The new rechargeable electrics are the perfect way to mow up to around an acre of lawn, these mowers are safer, more reliable, quieter and just an all around more civilized way to cut grass.
Our next door neighbor had one these years ago that I fixed several times, this is indeed a fairly early one [ one these early ones they used two coged belts and you had to assemble them properly so the two blades would not strike each other at the blade tips, like a beaters on a food mixer ] I have a later SB TB mower and on these they moved one blade ahead of the other to eliminate the interference problem.
This little mower would be plenty big enough for your yard. Electric mowers today are so good I cannot imagine why anyone would still buy Middle Eastern oil to cut their lawns. The new rechargeable electrics are the perfect way to mow up to around an acre of lawn, these mowers are safer, more reliable, quieter and just an all around more civilized way to cut grass.
alsaroy
Member
I had one of these back in the 60's
My grandmother had this exact electric Sunbeam mower back in the 60s. I used to do her lawn and the neighbors all the time. For a small machine, with two small blades, it did a fairly good job. The key was the handle which flipped over from one direction to the other. This way when you got to the end of a row, you did not turn the machine, but flipped the handle over. This way, you never had to turn the machine and worry about moving the electric cord. You just kept mowing each row away from the electric cord.
You certainly did not want to have an electrifying experience by cutting the cord!
My grandmother had this exact electric Sunbeam mower back in the 60s. I used to do her lawn and the neighbors all the time. For a small machine, with two small blades, it did a fairly good job. The key was the handle which flipped over from one direction to the other. This way when you got to the end of a row, you did not turn the machine, but flipped the handle over. This way, you never had to turn the machine and worry about moving the electric cord. You just kept mowing each row away from the electric cord.
You certainly did not want to have an electrifying experience by cutting the cord!
I like the rechargeable electric mowers as well-have a small collection of them.If only I could get the Whisper Mow rechargeable electric rider!-but its $15,000!Reminds you of the GE Electric-Trac.But alas-the only gas mower I use with the electrics is my John Deere tractor-it was $2000 as opposed to $15,000.Maybe-just maybe the prices of electric riders will come down-hopefully!.I like the idea of a mower that makes mowing as easy as vacuuming your living room floor!
retromania
Well-known member
???
Don't think I've ever see one that small?!
Don't think I've ever see one that small?!
Vintage mowers-like vintage washers-just corrode away to a pile of rust out my way.Both are very rare.
redcarpetdrew
Well-known member
Phil, that snow thrower is just too neat. I'd use one out here if I could find one close and reasonable as it would be perfect for my small piece of real estate. Just too cool. Thanks for showing me that...
RCD
RCD
kb0nes
Well-known member
RCD,
Indeed the Sunbeam snow thrower was pretty neat! It sure started easily... I think it could actually do ok in the right circumstances. It needed better power then I had and MN snowfalls on a 40 foot 2 car driveway are just past its capabilities. I think I'd like the new Toro version better with the safer rubber blade impeller design though. I hope John found a good home for it, I bet it had less then 3 hours on it total.
Its a bit surprising someone hasn't built a cordless snow thrower yet... There is no limit to the ridiculous cordless applications they come up with, i.e. Shop Vac, Chop Saw and even a wirefeed welder!!
Oh and here is an image from the web of that Sunbeam electric Reel mower I saw years ago. I'd buy one of these if I saw it!
Indeed the Sunbeam snow thrower was pretty neat! It sure started easily... I think it could actually do ok in the right circumstances. It needed better power then I had and MN snowfalls on a 40 foot 2 car driveway are just past its capabilities. I think I'd like the new Toro version better with the safer rubber blade impeller design though. I hope John found a good home for it, I bet it had less then 3 hours on it total.
Its a bit surprising someone hasn't built a cordless snow thrower yet... There is no limit to the ridiculous cordless applications they come up with, i.e. Shop Vac, Chop Saw and even a wirefeed welder!!
Oh and here is an image from the web of that Sunbeam electric Reel mower I saw years ago. I'd buy one of these if I saw it!
ovrphil
Well-known member
Countryford: Cute mower - must be rare..never saw one in an ad or anyone other than you who found it...it will look great cleaned up and sharpened. Does it have any body/case attachment points for a bag? I'm guessing, though - it just mulches the grass.
kb0nes(Phil L): I LOVE that beautiful blue/white trimmed electric rotary. Sweet!
With no more lawn to mow here, I miss getting out and cutting the grass - er, as long as it's not a huge yard.
kb0nes(Phil L): I LOVE that beautiful blue/white trimmed electric rotary. Sweet!
With no more lawn to mow here, I miss getting out and cutting the grass - er, as long as it's not a huge yard.
danemodsandy
Well-known member
Phil:
For a long time, Sunbeam essentially owned the electric mower market. They were a niche product for a long time, with few people choosing one; it was the age of suburbia, with lawns too big for what Sunbeam had to offer.
The twin-blade idea was also used by Sears and Black & Decker for a time. Eventually, the 18-inch cut was superseded by larger models with a single blade.
The electric mower I have today, a Homelite, is a 22-inch mower that is every bit as powerful as most gas mowers. It's actually more mower than I need for my 30' X 30' yard; if I found a vintage Sunbeam like the one above, I'd probably buy it in a heartbeat, for the joy of having something so simple. Parts are still available if you know where to look.
For a long time, Sunbeam essentially owned the electric mower market. They were a niche product for a long time, with few people choosing one; it was the age of suburbia, with lawns too big for what Sunbeam had to offer.
The twin-blade idea was also used by Sears and Black & Decker for a time. Eventually, the 18-inch cut was superseded by larger models with a single blade.
The electric mower I have today, a Homelite, is a 22-inch mower that is every bit as powerful as most gas mowers. It's actually more mower than I need for my 30' X 30' yard; if I found a vintage Sunbeam like the one above, I'd probably buy it in a heartbeat, for the joy of having something so simple. Parts are still available if you know where to look.
Greenworks makes a recharcgeable cordless twin blade mower-it has two motors instead of one and the blades connected by belts.You can see those at Lowes.I have a cordless Homelite 20" use a Gater blade on it instead of the stock blade.Found a 20" blade that would fit it-cuts and mulches better.The Gater blade does discharge the battery faster-but its better performance is worth it.The mower will do my backyard-then needs recharging.
Sunbeam Mowers
Speaking of the rarer Sunbeam mowers, have you guys ever came across a model 3148 twin-blade mower with a Tecumseh 85cc 2-cycle engine?
~Ben
Speaking of the rarer Sunbeam mowers, have you guys ever came across a model 3148 twin-blade mower with a Tecumseh 85cc 2-cycle engine?
~Ben
Never seen such a creature as a small Sunbeam gas dual blade mower.Usually gas dual blade or multiblade walk mowers are large-36"-48" or even on up.Usually used commercially.Beleive Toro made a small dual blade gas mower but it was discontinued --didn't sell.Folks liked the single blades ones better in the small sizes.Figure the small dual blade electrics were good becuase the electric motor could spin the small blades faster than a gas motor.
philr
Well-known member
I didn't know Sunbeam ever made gas-powered Twin-Blade machines! With a single chute and a bag!
When I was a kid I had a green Electric Twin Blade from my grandfather's aunt which had a loose blade because of a worn bushing. This was my first attempt at replacing bushings in something! It did work after but I gave it to my cousin with a few extra parts and straps.
When I was a kid I had a green Electric Twin Blade from my grandfather's aunt which had a loose blade because of a worn bushing. This was my first attempt at replacing bushings in something! It did work after but I gave it to my cousin with a few extra parts and straps.
Sunbeam Electric Lawn Edger
Oh, and has anyone ever come across this rare Sunbeam electric lawn edger from circa 1983, a model 919?
I mean, the placement of the motor makes me believe they could have revived their electric reel mower but with the double-insulated 12 amp motor.
~Ben
Oh, and has anyone ever come across this rare Sunbeam electric lawn edger from circa 1983, a model 919?
I mean, the placement of the motor makes me believe they could have revived their electric reel mower but with the double-insulated 12 amp motor.
~Ben
They could revive these tools with PM DC motors-rectified DC motors if used from 120V AC.And with todays technology-make them CORDLESS!It was fun running the edger-but cleaning up after it-no fun.These are FAR better than the hand pushed edgers of yesteryear-my Mom called them "Idiot Sticks"Guess powered ones --"Motorized Idiot Sticks" Think the motorized ones so much easier and do a better job!
tolivac
Rex,
I forgot to add that regarding the Sunbeam 919, Sears also sold a Craftsman version of that electric edger under catalog numbers 71-85730 (1984) and 71-79645 (1985-86). With the same 2.1 HP motor as their electric mowers which delivers the equivalent amount of high-load torque as a 3 HP gas engine, that one was truly the most powerful electric edger, and was considered the best alternative to the 4-cycle gas edgers of the day.
BTW -- here is another rare Sunbeam electric mower for you and other Sunbeam fanatics: the cord-reel mower, model RE-1875 (18" cut; a 20" cut version was also available under model RE-2175). As proclaimed in Sunbeam's 1967 catalog, both the RE-1875 and RE-2175 had a "cord recovery system" which worked as follows:
"The mower motor and recovery reel are mounted in the mower housing as a unit. The torque of the blade caused by cutting grass causes the recovery reel to revolve in the opposite direction and reel in the extra cord. The mower does not lose power as a result of the recovery action" and these are the results:
* Cord is always reeled in.
* Cord is stored automatically after mowing.
* Easy, fast mowing around shrubs and hedges.
~Ben
Rex,
I forgot to add that regarding the Sunbeam 919, Sears also sold a Craftsman version of that electric edger under catalog numbers 71-85730 (1984) and 71-79645 (1985-86). With the same 2.1 HP motor as their electric mowers which delivers the equivalent amount of high-load torque as a 3 HP gas engine, that one was truly the most powerful electric edger, and was considered the best alternative to the 4-cycle gas edgers of the day.
BTW -- here is another rare Sunbeam electric mower for you and other Sunbeam fanatics: the cord-reel mower, model RE-1875 (18" cut; a 20" cut version was also available under model RE-2175). As proclaimed in Sunbeam's 1967 catalog, both the RE-1875 and RE-2175 had a "cord recovery system" which worked as follows:
"The mower motor and recovery reel are mounted in the mower housing as a unit. The torque of the blade caused by cutting grass causes the recovery reel to revolve in the opposite direction and reel in the extra cord. The mower does not lose power as a result of the recovery action" and these are the results:
* Cord is always reeled in.
* Cord is stored automatically after mowing.
* Easy, fast mowing around shrubs and hedges.
~Ben
The "cord reel" Sunbeam-very interesting.Kinda like the self cord wind in Meile vacuums.
Sunbeam RE1800
Unfortunately, the original handle assembly has been replaced on this vintage Sunbeam so there is no motor switch per se that would shut the motor on or off... considering this unit was made around 1965, the original motor switch would stop the blade in about 5 seconds, but due to the redneck modification, unplugging the cord would require the 10 seconds that I've counted to stop the blade.
~Ben
Unfortunately, the original handle assembly has been replaced on this vintage Sunbeam so there is no motor switch per se that would shut the motor on or off... considering this unit was made around 1965, the original motor switch would stop the blade in about 5 seconds, but due to the redneck modification, unplugging the cord would require the 10 seconds that I've counted to stop the blade.
~Ben
