Wonder Boy X-100

Newsweek - Oct 21, 1957

1957: Simplicity Manufacturing introduced its experimental lawnmower of the future — the Wonder Boy X-100. It could mow, weed, feed, seed, spray, vacuum the lawn, and plow snow, all the while keeping its operator in air-conditioned comfort. It had running lights and an onboard radio-telephone. And the manufacturer noted that it could also be used as a golf cart! It went at a top speed of 10 mph.

I don't think that Simplicity ever produced these for commercial sale.

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Posted By: Alex - Mon Sep 19, 2016
Category: Inventions | 1950s

Comments

That was waaaay ahead of its time! BD, you need one of those honey!!! 😊

Posted by Patty in Ohio, USA on 09/19/16 at 10:24 AM

You would need 40 acres just to turn that rig around. I like the idea of keeping the mosquitoes and horse flies out.

Posted by BMN on 09/19/16 at 04:31 PM

Hey, that coulda beena da Popemobile!

Posted by KDP on 09/19/16 at 04:53 PM

"and plow snow, all the while keeping its operator in air-conditioned comfort."
Somehow, the editor didn't catch that one the first go-round.

Posted by Greg on 09/19/16 at 09:56 PM

Dammit, EVERYTHING was supposed to look like that by now! WHAT HAPPENED TO THIS DESIGN AESTHETIC??? It turns out the future is actually pretty boring.

And I just love the idea of something that complex being manufactured by a company called "Simplicity".

Posted by PupTentacle on 09/19/16 at 11:33 PM

I'd give the average person about fifteen minutes under that glass dome on a sunny Midwestern summer day before collapsing.

Posted by TB on 09/25/16 at 09:20 PM

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