Makita

Makita Garden Lawnmowers

Although founded in 1910 in Anio, Japan, Makita did not make the first power tool for which they are so well known until 1958.

Originally, when Hisashi Makita first began his business, he operated as a one-man concern, making motors, obviously to start with he made diesel and petrol motors, much later moving on to electric motors. By 1958 the company had grown considerably and began to make the tools in which his motors are used.

By1937 the business had grown so extensively that it needed new premises. They moved to Takamatsu city where they still have a manufacturing plant today, although the official head offices were moved in 1972 to Asahi-Machi where they still remain now.

Since those most humble of beginnings almost an entire century ago, with one man at the helm… and on the deck, Makita has grown immeasurably and now has enormous production plants all across the world. There are Makita factories in America, Canada, Brazil, Mexico Germany, Britain and China, as well of course in Japan.

Although today Makita is highly respected with tradesmen in the building and repairs professions for the quality of their power tools, their first power tool was not actually produced until 1958; forty eight years after Hisashi started the original business.

Today their tools are used throughout the world, not just by the tradesmen but also those who have a penchant for completing their own home improvement projects and general DIY.

However Makita tools are not recommended if all you ever do is put the odd shelf up. They’ll do the job alright, but Makita’s extremely high quality is reflected in the price, which is often three or four times more than similar products made by other tool making firms.

However, you get what you pay for, and if you use tools like this a lot then it is worth paying that bit extra. The tool should rarely need repairing, if at all, and this is reflected in the lifetime guarantee which comes with every Makita tool.

Over the years of heavy use a tradesman, or serious DIYer subjects his tools to, this will probably save him a fortune in the long run. Lesser quality tools may have to be repaired, or even replaced several times during that time at his own cost. After initial buying of the Makita tool, another penny need never be spent on that or any other tool of the same variety.

Makita have now expanded their business yet further, and now cater more for the ordinary householder as well as the specialists and the tradesmen. They have designed a ‘budget’ range of tools designed for just this purpose. This includes a range of extremely good lawnmowers.

Although not traditionally lawnmower manufacturers, they seem to be doing a good job of it. The motors in these mowers are of course Makita originals, and are now all self-propelled which gives a cleaner, more even cut. And although the price is more suited to the average working class family the quality is still what you would expect from the Makita brand.