Montgomery Wards made a mower?? They must have relabeled it. Its a department store like Sears was. Looks like wards.com still exists though.

 

It's a total mclane's clone, just painted orange, but I cannot find any numbers stamped on it, nor literature as to what year it could be from. I don't know if the motor has been replaced, but I guess I could start there to get me in the year ballpark.
I need to find more info like how to adjust the blade to cut higher because I think I've got it as high as it can go and its still not high enough for my yard.

 

A relabeled McLane no doubt. The Montgomery Ward/McLane I had came with a 3hp Tecumseh engine on it. I'm the rare individual who likes Tecumseh more than Briggs.

Seriously doubt there's any real info out there besides what you've already observed. What we need is a McLane insider to share how production changed over the years!

Visual appearance means a lot to some people. I'd say around $500-$600 on value assuming form and function are both good.

 

Saw a JC Penny relabeled McLane a while back. Only one I've ever seen, or heard of.

 

$2-300 ...age, no roller

 

Thank you all for your input. I'm curious if its a 70's or 80's model. I need to grab that serial off the engine and will report back.

 

... I'm the rare individual who likes Tecumseh more than Briggs...

Some of us appreciated what they were! Unapologetically economical, never pretended to be anything else. They understood that for a consumer mower, you needed the engine to outlast the machine. By about 2-3 minutes. :lol: Everything you needed, and nothing more. Anything that required more than one or two head scratches to fix, got replaced. Carbs were stupid simple to clean and rebuild. If it was corroded inside or was going to require extensive cleaning, it was $35-50 to replace. Starters were the same way. Sent many homeowners home with complete assemblies for $30-40 rather than replacing ropes or springs.

Briggs usually had better air filters which contributed to the longevity, but you also had infinitely more trouble with the carbs (brass pickup tubes falling out of the castings, fuel pump diaphragms failing, leaking gaskets, etc) and the recoil clutches. Briggs had a couple temperamental ignition systems too.

 

I like the older Tecumseh engines. I sort of started disliking them with the eager models used in cheaper push mowers. The slightest bit of anything in the float bowl would cause the engine to not run. The air filters and plastic housings that would warp and were held on with plastic clip and turn mechanisms were junk also imho.

 

Pricing does seem to be a bit regional. In North Texas something in that condition advertises for $400-500+ but the same thing in Oklahoma is $150-250. Based on FB marketplace, no idea what actual sales prices are.

$2-300 ...age, no roller

 

I hate the carb on tank Briggs, takes 10 screws/bolts to remove. The Tecumseh H35 on my reel takes 2 nuts to remove the carb. It's the diaphragm style without a bowl. Really like the low and high speed adjustability. Newer carbs don't have that......
probably best for "advanced" users though. I can imagine a consumer messing with the screws then it's nothing but complainants/returns to whoever they bought it from. Definitely not mostly dummy proof like now.

... I'm the rare individual who likes Tecumseh more than Briggs...

Some of us appreciated what they were! Unapologetically economical, never pretended to be anything else. They understood that for a consumer mower, you needed the engine to outlast the machine. By about 2-3 minutes. :lol: Everything you needed, and nothing more. Anything that required more than one or two head scratches to fix, got replaced. Carbs were stupid simple to clean and rebuild. If it was corroded inside or was going to require extensive cleaning, it was $35-50 to replace. Starters were the same way. Sent many homeowners home with complete assemblies for $30-40 rather than replacing ropes or springs.

Briggs usually had better air filters which contributed to the longevity, but you also had infinitely more trouble with the carbs (brass pickup tubes falling out of the castings, fuel pump diaphragms failing, leaking gaskets, etc) and the recoil clutches. Briggs had a couple temperamental ignition systems too.

 

UPDATE: I listed it on the local facebook marketplace for $440 and sold it for $400. The person who purchased it wanted it badly enough, he rented a truck, drove 2.5 hours to me, and took it home. I'm in Lawrence, KS for anyone wanting to know the region.

 

I purchased a seven bladed reel mower fron JC Penny in 1979 which looks to be a McClaine product. I have never used it or even put gas in the tank so if I hold onto it long enough it will be considered a classic antique and I will take it to lawn mower shows. Actually I'll sell it.