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Re: (ET) Ariens AMP Mower
Agreed RJ.
I think GE had a marketing "infrastructure" problem in that lawn &
tractor dealers didn't know much about electrics beyond charging systems
and headlights on gas engines. Golf cart dealers are relatively scarce
and don't do much retail. Certainly they don't carry a line of lawn
mowers. So there really wasn't much of a "middle man" for selling and
servicing the GE tractors. And of course the public was less
enthusiastic about lower emissions then than now. I remember the gas
lawn tractors of the day, and it seems that the gas tractors were able
to outperform the GEs of similar HP ratings.
Today I think the general public might be more inclined to accept
electric technology. (plus) And the "intelligent" and solid state
circuits available should easily improve the reliability and performance
of the tractors - like the Alltrax controller for example (plus). But I
don't think the dealer support still isn't there, and the competition
from Home Depot et al with cheaper down-engineered gas lawn tractors is
a far bigger problem than it was in the 1970's. Of course, if air
quality rules in CA were adopted that would kill the small gas engine,
the GE tractors would have a ready made market.
As you point out, and I agree, the tractor itself was (and is) a study,
well executed concept. It could be easily modernized to overcome a few
flaws. But I suspect is still wouldn't sell in sufficient numbers to
make it a mass production item due to the lack of marketing
"infrastructure" and competition from mass marketed down-engineered lawn
tractors.
On 5/14/2009 12:37 AM, RJ Kanary wrote:
Those who look upon history and do not learn from it are doomed
to repeat it.The fact that so many GE tractors [and their heirs and
assigns.] are still earning their keep is testimony to the fact that
the basic concept is sound, and the execution for the most part was
correct.But the educating the dealer base and the buying
public..........well.................... :(
RJ
<snip>