NEWTON POWER MOWER

Hello All,  Been awhile since I contributed here.  This last weekend I travelled from Maine to a location south of Philly chasing down a seldom seen piece of Willys Special Equipment.  My Willys Booth at the AACA Fall Show in Hershey is a gathering spot for Willys Nuts around the world, a place to swap stories (some true), talk tech stuff, explore needs, and occasionally find odd abandoned items.  A fellow came by asking if I had any interest in a Jeep sickle bar mower that had been in his storage barn many years.  Now, some of you know I've had many Willys Special Equipment items over the years.  The MAHL Jeep Loader, a Newgren Buzz Saw, a K&K side mounted Jeep Mower, Roper Post Hole Digger, and lots of PTO driven Jeep stuff just to mention a few.  If there's a page in the Willys Special Equipment Manual, I'm a player and this guy has my full attention.  He doesn't know any specifics but agrees to send pix and any data tag info he can find.  With a grandson's help, we identify the mower as a Newton Power Mower, Model J built especially for a Monroe 3 Point Hitch equipped Jeep.  The sales sheet I have is dated 10-1-48 and identifies HG&S Manufacturing Corp., Newton, Wisconsin as the builder.  He agrees to get the 400+ lb. unit out for loading when I can arrange the trip, of course we have to mix in some relative visiting along the way.  Sunday, two NJ brother in laws and I made the trip with fantastic results.  We captured the critter, almost complete, seemingly always stored showing lots of original paint, and very little wear or damage.  I staged the whole thing in NJ for exhibit at The Great Willys Picnic in June.  The only other one of these I know is a part of the NY Lady Actor who had the farm in PA and bought a CJ2A with every option.  Can't do pix right now, but stay tuned.

OK, Now I've got my facts a little better.  That PA Jeep owned by the NY Actress was a CJ3A.  I'm sure you remember the story.  If not, here it is with the only other Newton Mower I know of:

This Newton Power Mower was SOLD last Sunday, June 14, 2015, to a well known Jeep enthusiast.  He plans to show it as found, exhibiting much original paint and decals.  Look for it at the next Great Willys Picnic, June 12, 2016 or perhaps sooner at another East Coast Willys Event.