Mantis Tiller History – how it all began
Over 35 years ago a small red tiller was first introduced to American gardeners. Its manufacturer boldly promised that the little dynamo would make gardening easier.
Back then, all tillers were big, heavy behemoths that were difficult to maneuver. Running a tiller was a big, manly man chore. After tilling a garden with a giant beast of a machine, every muscle in your body ached.
By comparison, the little red Mantis Tiller looked like a toy. It weighed in at just 20 pounds, and you could easily pick it up with one hand to move it from garage to garden. But when you pulled the cord to start the petrol engine, the Mantis Tiller’s unique tines chewed up soil with amazing ease. Here was a piece of power equipment that actually delivered on its promises. It really did make gardening easier by taking the backbreaking strain out of tilling garden soil.
Still, when the Mantis Tiller was first offered for sale in 1980, no one could have predicted how popular the world’s first mini-tiller would become. Initially, the Mantis Tiller was largely shunned by men (who, apparently, did not want to be seen operating a diminutive “20-pound wonder”). But women and seniors wholeheartedly embraced the little tiller and made it a bestselling sensation. They loved the little red tiller because it was simple and easy to us – and it did exactly what the product ads said it would: take much of the hard work out of America’s favourite leisure activity.
Today, men and women alike are happily tilling their gardens with Mantis Tillers. In fact, it’s hard to find a gardener who will say anything disparaging about a Mantis Tiller.