In What Area Town was the Zero-Turn Mower Invented?

The first riding mower that I straddled belonged to my grandparents. I didn't realize back in the 60's that I was riding a piece of Missouri history.

Every state has an invention that has helped to put that person's name and location on a map. The Zero-Turn Mower inventor may be closer than you think.

In 1963 in Post Falls, Idaho it was the Buck Knife, the Zippo Lighter was invented in 1932 in Bradford, PA and it was 1945 that the Zero-Turn Mower was invented in Warrensburg, MO.

That's right...the 'burg. Max Swisher started it all back in '45 with a rope, a mower and an idea. He rigged up the mower to be self-propelled, tied a rope to it and tethered it to a tree. Simple idea...as the mower went around the tree in circles, the rope tightened, the yard was mowed and the rest is history.

Swisher went on to invent the first commercial "Ride King" mower in 1949. It had two wheels in the back and one in the front.

Today, you're options when purchasing a zero-turn mower are greater. More than three-dozen zero-turn mowers are available.

Thank you Mr. Swisher for making our mowing a little easier and a whole lot faster.