McLane Lawn Mower History: Who Owns the Brand and Mark Salter's Role

McLane has been a cornerstone of American lawn equipment since 1946. This guide covers the company's ownership, history, and the role of industry expert Mark Salter in shaping its modern reel mower lineup.

When was McLane founded?

McLane was established in 1946 in Paramount, California, quickly becoming a cornerstone of the post-war suburban landscaping boom. The company's reputation for industrial-strength durability was officially codified on October 20, 1959 (following a 1957 filing), when James H. McLane was granted a patent for his innovative machinery.

Why do McLane edgers have two front wheels?

Before the late 1950s, walk-behind edgers - particular Jacobsen's edger, McLane's rival - featured a single front wheel. This design was notoriously unstable; the single point of contact often dug into the turf or tilted mid-cut, resulting in jagged, ruined edges. James H. McLane discovered the solution.

Shifting to a dual-front-wheel configuration prevented the machine from "sinking" into soft soil and provided a stable platform for precision tracking. In his landmark filing, McLane described the invention as a "Lawn Trimming and Edging Apparatus" (McLane, James H. Lawn Trimming and Edging Apparatus. US Patent 2,909,021, 20 Oct. 1959).

James McLane's innovative walk-behind edger.

James also realized that many homeowners owned separate edging and trimming machines. His dual-purpose design allowed the head to quickly convert from edging to trimming, effectively eliminating the need to maintain two separate machines. The dual front wheels, combined with dual edging-trimming capabilities, were a commercial home run. This 1957 architecture was so successful that it remains the foundational blueprint for the professional-grade walk-behind ME-550 and ME-120 edgers sold today. The success of the edgers allowed McLane to develop its reel mower line.

What Is a Reel Mower?

A reel mower is a specialized type of lawn equipment that uses a rotating cylinder of blades (the reel) to cut grass against a stationary flat blade (the bedknife). It is often compared to a traditional rotary mower.

• The Scissor Action: Unlike a standard rotary mower that "chops" grass with a high-speed spinning blade, the shearing action of a reel mower is far less traumatic for the plant, preventing the frayed, brown tips common with other mowers.
• Low-Height Maintenance: Homeowners with "premium" warm-season grasses like Bermuda and Zoysia use reel mowers to achieve a "carpet-like" finish. McLane mowers allow for precision cuts as low as 3/16", heights that would lead to scalping with a rotary mower.
• The McLane Difference: McLane stands out for its "Armor-Plate" steel reels and induction-hardened bedknives. While many modern brands have shifted toward lighter plastic components, McLane maintains a heavy-duty, tool-and-die engineering standard.

Is my vintage Craftsman reel mower or John Deere edger a McLane?

During the 1970s and 1980s, McLane served as a major Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM), producing "white label" machinery for iconic retailers like Sears and Montgomery Ward. Even when sold under a retailer's private name, the underlying build quality remained consistent with McLane's standards.

A rare 7-blade Craftsman unit from the 1980s. While branded for Sears, the frame and components are identical to the Paramount-era McLane models.

While these units featured the colors and decals of the respective department stores, the heavy-duty steel frames, drive systems, and blade geometry were pure McLane. This era allowed McLane's engineering to reach tens of thousands of American suburban lawns under various badges.

Did McLane make rotary mowers in the past?

While McLane is best known for precision reel cutting, the company's "Paramount Era" included a notable foray into the industrial-grade rotary market during the 1980s. The standout of this line was the Model N21-SP, a machine so "over-engineered" it featured a complex chain-and-sprocket drive system and a heavy-duty steel deck (Part 7147) that far exceeded the standards of contemporary residential rotaries. A hallmark innovation of this era was the 1987 introduction of specialized height adjustment linkages, which allowed for a centralized "one-point" screw-crank system to move the entire chassis simultaneously (McLane, Frank E. Lawn Mower Height Adjustment Linkages. US Patent 4,733,522, 29 Mar. 1988).

The N21-SP was McLane's foray into rotary mowers in the 1980s.

This era of rotary production represents a unique chapter in American manufacturing, where tools were built with a "lifetime" philosophy. While production eventually shifted to refocus on the brand's core reel mower and edger strengths, the legacy of these machines remained supported for decades. Company documentation notes that by November 1992, the factory moved to sunset the N21-SP's primary manufacturing run. Today, these rare rotary units are highly prized by collectors for the same mechanical durability that defines the modern McLane fleet. To this day, we still get calls from users of their 30+ year old McLane rotary mowers.

Who Owns McLane Lawn Mowers?

McLane Manufacturing is currently privately owned, following an acquisition in 2017. While the company has been a staple of American manufacturing for eight decades, its modern product development and national distribution are anchored by McLaneLawnMowers.com, which draws on decades of experience developed through Dolphin Outdoor Power Equipment (Dolphin OPE). In fact, the expansion of the residential reel mower line into the specialized tiers seen today was driven by a product development partnership with the team at McLaneLawnMowers.com.

Who Is Mark Salter and How Did He Shape the Modern McLane Fleet?

Mark Salter is a leading authority in the reel mower industry with over 40 years of technical and commercial experience. He founded Dolphin Outdoor Power Equipment in 1984 and launched McLaneLawnMowers.com in 1998.

Over the decades, Mark has personally overseen the sale and service of thousands of reel mowers. Today, McLaneLawnMowers.com serves as one of the most experienced sources for McLane products, parts, and technical knowledge, drawing on decades of experience developed through Dolphin Outdoor Power Equipment.

McLane vs. Tru-Cut: Why the Industry Shifted

From 2000 until 2020, Mark Salter was one of the primary distributors for Tru-Cut. His decision to move exclusively to the McLane platform in 2020 was driven by the mechanical potential of the McLane frame for modern, specialized customization.

By utilizing McLane's proprietary steel hardening process - originally refined by engineer Billy McLane in the 1980s - Mark was able to develop specialized models that offered a cleaner finish on dense warm-season and cold-season turf than the traditional competition.

How the Modern McLane Models Were Developed

Beginning in 2020, Mark Salter acted as a specialized distributor and engineering partner, using existing factory tooling to create a four-tier model lineup. This approach allowed for the creation of multiple specialized configurations rather than a single one-size-fits-all model, ensuring the machines remained predominantly American-made while offering golf-course precision to homeowners.

The Specialized Model Tiers

Exclusive Power: The Honda GX200 Commercial Engine

Mark identified that thick turf and hilly terrain required more torque than the standard GX160 engine could provide. He introduced the Honda GX200 Commercial-Industrial engine to the line - an upgrade that remains an exclusive offering at McLaneLawnMowers.com.

Are McLane Mowers and Edgers Red or Yellow and Red?

Modern McLane equipment manufactured after late 2021 features a unified all-red color scheme. Historically, McLane reel mowers were characterized by red bodies with contrasting bright yellow handles, while edgers had a yellow body with yellow handles.

To identify a vintage McLane unit, look for these specific color configurations:

• Vintage Reel Mowers: Red body with bright yellow handles.
• Vintage Edgers: Red body and red blade guard with yellow handles.

Vintage yellow and red McLane edger.

Modern McLane edgers are uniformly red.

Why did McLane switch to all red in late 2021?

The shift to an all-red palette was a strategic pivot led by Mark Salter in late 2021. This transition was designed to streamline manufacturing logistics and lean into the brand's identity as a premier American manufacturer. By adopting a bold, unified red, McLane effectively occupied the brand space left vacant by the decline of competitors like Tru-Cut.

By consolidating the visual identity into this high-energy hue, the 2021 model changes signaled a new era of high-performance engineering for the fleet available at McLaneLawnMowers.com.

Why Buy from McLaneLawnMowers.com?

As an engineering-focused company, we provide more than just a product; we provide the history and expertise necessary to maintain these machines for a lifetime. Drawing on decades of experience from Dolphin Outdoor Power Equipment and the ongoing technical guidance of Mark Salter, we are one of the most experienced sources for McLane history, specialized models, and factory-authorized parts.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are McLane mowers still made in the USA?

Yes. McLane lawn mowers are still made in the USA. While many competitors are merely "assembled" in the US using foreign parts, McLane mowers are predominantly American-made by both parts and labor. McLane even manufactures its own internal components, such as sprockets.

What are the advantages of McLane being made in the USA?

The primary advantages are engineering precision and material quality. McLane machines are noticeably heavier than the competition because they utilize thicker, high-grade American sheet metal. This provides a more stable cutting platform and a longer machine lifespan than the thinner materials often found in imported models. Many McLane reel mowers are still running after 30 or even 40 years.

Are McLane parts readily available?

Yes. Because McLane manufactures its own parts in the USA, availability is significantly higher than that of the competition. When a machine needs maintenance, a McLane can be repaired quickly with domestic parts. In contrast, some competitors must ship spare parts from overseas locations like South Africa, leading to significant downtime during the mowing season.

MLA Citations:

• McLane, James H. Lawn Trimming and Edging Apparatus. US Patent 2,909,021, 20 Oct. 1959.
• Salter, Mark. "Our Story." McLaneLawnMowers.com, 2026, https://mclanelawnmowers.com/info.html.
• Salter, Mark. Personal interview. Conducted by Joshua Kronman, March 2026.