Tier E — Heritage / discontinued Two-wheel tractor
Allen Scythe
Iconic British two-wheel motor scythe (1935-73), Villiers 2-stroke, 2-4 ft finger-bar for mowing - NOT a tiller (tineType is nominal; it cuts with a reciprocating bar). Engine/cutting width verified; weight approximate. Used-only.
Indicative price
£150–£600
Specifications pending verification.We publish estimates openly rather than hiding them. Figures here are a used-market range and should be confirmed against a live dealer quote or listing before you buy.
Who it's for
Best for: Collectors of vintage British two-wheel machinery.
Strengths
- Iconic British heritage machine
- Simple Villiers engine
- Collector appeal
- Distinctive finger-bar design
Trade-offs
- Mower, not a rotavator
- Discontinued - used only
- 2-stroke and dated
A mower, not a rotavator
The Allen Scythe is on this site because people search for it alongside the Howard Gem and the other British walk-behind classics, but it is worth saying plainly what it is: a two-wheel motor scythe that cuts with a reciprocating finger bar at the front. It does not till. John Allen & Sons of Oxford built it from 1935 to 1973 for exactly the job the name suggests — cutting long grass, rough vegetation, orchard floors, verges and paddocks that a lawnmower could not touch and a hand scythe took a day to clear.
The engine is a Villiers two-stroke of 1.9 hp, from the maker whose engines powered a great deal of small British machinery in the post-war years, driving both the wheels and the knife. Cutter bars were sold in several widths, from 2 to 4 ft; the 76 cm in our record is the common size. The 90 kg weight is approximate and depends on the bar and equipment fitted.
What it does well, and what it does not
The finger bar is the point. Unlike a rotary mower, a reciprocating knife cuts standing material cleanly at the base and lays it down in a swathe, which is why the Allen is still valued by anyone making hay from a paddock or orchard, clearing nettles and bramble regrowth, or cutting a wildflower meadow late in the season. The modern equivalent is a sickle-bar mower on a two-wheel tractor; the Allen is the cheap, characterful way to do the same job.
What it does not do is anything else without a great deal of effort. It is heavy, the two-stroke needs petrol and oil mixed, and the controls and the exposed knife predate any modern idea of operator-presence safety, so it demands attention, particularly on a slope. It is a machine for someone who understands old machinery and respects it. Anyone who simply needs rough ground cleared to bring it into cultivation is better served by our guide to clearing overgrown ground and a hired machine.
Buying one in the UK
Allen Scythes are cheap by heritage standards — £150-600 used — because they were made in large numbers and many survive in barns and lock-ups. They appear constantly on auction sites, at farm sales and through the vintage horticultural and garden machinery clubs. Restored examples at the top of the range are show machines; the ones at the bottom are usually complete but not running, and a Villiers two-stroke that has stood for a decade is a known quantity to bring back: ignition, carburettor, fuel system, in that order.
On inspection, check the knife and fingers for missing or bent sections, the knife drive for play, the clutch and wheel drive for engagement, and the frame for cracks around the bar mounting. Look for the extras: Allen offered attachments over the years, and a machine that comes with them, or with spare knives, is worth more than the headline. Confirm the bar width against what you need — a 4 ft bar is a very different proposition to handle than a 2 ft one.
Parts and living with a Villiers
Villiers engine spares are one of the best-supported corners of the British vintage trade: pistons, rings, magneto parts, carburettor rebuild kits and gaskets are obtainable from specialists, and the engines are simple enough that a competent home mechanic can rebuild one. Knife sections and fingers are standard agricultural mower parts and can be sourced or made. The Allen-specific castings are the hard part, which is why a complete machine is worth buying over a bargain that is missing pieces.
Run it on the correct two-stroke mix, keep the knife sharp and properly set, and store it dry, and an Allen Scythe will keep cutting for another generation. For the buyer who wants a heritage British machine that tills rather than cuts, the Howard Gem is the counterpart; plenty of enthusiasts end up with one of each.
Specifications
| Category | Two-wheel tractor |
|---|---|
| Type | Front-tine · Heritage / discontinued |
| Power source | Petrol |
| Engine | Villiers 2-stroke (1.9 hp) |
| Power output | 1.9 hp / 1.4 kW |
| Working width | 76 cm |
| Weight | 90 kg |
| Status | Discontinued (1973) |
| Introduced | 1935 |
| Indicative price | £150–£600 |
| Price basis | Used-market range |
Front-tine machine. Width and weight determine how much ground you cover and how manoeuvrable it is — heavier machines bite harder but ask more of you to turn and transport.
Scythe — your questions
How much does the Allen Scythe cost?
The indicative price is £150–£600, based on used-market sale prices. Always confirm against a live quote — these figures are estimates pending verification.
What size plot is the Scythe suited to?
Collectors of vintage British two-wheel machinery. With a 76 cm working width it covers ground quickly on larger plots and smallholdings.
Is the Scythe petrol, diesel or electric?
It is petrol (Villiers 2-stroke (1.9 hp)). That means strong sustained power for breaking and turning ground, with routine fuel and oil maintenance.
Can an Allen Scythe be used as a rotavator?
No. The Allen Scythe is a finger-bar mower; it cuts grass and rough vegetation and does not turn soil. Some attachments were offered over its production life, but it was never a tiller. If the job is bringing overgrown ground into cultivation, cut it down with the Allen first, then break the ground with a rotavator — the two machines complement each other rather than overlapping.
Are Allen Scythe parts still available?
Largely, yes. The Villiers engine is well served by vintage specialists for ignition, carburettor and rebuild parts, and knife sections and fingers are standard mower components. The Allen-specific castings and drive parts are the scarce items, found through the vintage machinery clubs and by breaking donor machines, so buy a complete example rather than one that has already been stripped.
