Mountfield Empress 16 Petrol Mower

Description

Got this old Mountfield Empress 16 out of the garage last week — sat there for years, basically just watching the world go by. Moving house, so it’s now going to find a new home.

I tried it out properly — put in some old petrol that’s been sitting around for ages, gave it a good choke, pulled it a few times, and it sputtered, then just… went alive. A bit fiddly at first, but once it got going, it was smooth. I ran it through the front and back of my lawn, and it handled it like a pro. Picks up all the grass, leaves those classic stripes — I swear I can still smell the petrol, and I love that.

I actually regret getting the electric one. Don’t know why, but there’s something about the sound, the smell, the way it cuts — it feels more like a real tool. I don’t know if it’s nostalgia or just a weird fondness for petrol, but I’ll take it.

It runs well, works fine, and comes with a bottle of petrol (over 18s only, obviously). Dimensions are in the photos — height adjustment is set as shown. Just a bit of a character, but works perfectly.

It’s in Devon, England — if you’re local and want to give it a go, I’m happy to chat.