American Lawn Mower Company 1415-16 16-Inch 5-Blade Push Reel Lawn Mower, 5-Blade, Gray Review

Name: American Lawn Mower Company 1415-16 16-Inch 5-Blade Push Reel Lawn Mower, 5-Blade, Gray
Brand: American Lawn Mower
Price: 105 USD
Availability: InStock

By the Mowers.Cloud editorial team · How we research & rate · Updated June 2026

★★★★ 4.3/5 (22499 reviews)

$105.00

Brand: American Lawn Mower

American Lawn Mower Company 1415-16 16-Inch 5-Blade Push Reel Lawn Mower, 5-Blade, Gray

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Overview

The American Lawn Mower Company 1415-16 is a classic 16-inch, 5-blade push reel mower that brings a quiet, eco-friendly alternative to gas and electric machines. Designed for homeowners with small to medium-sized, flat lawns—think 1/4 acre or less—it’s a manual, muscle-powered cutter that delivers a clean, scissor-like cut without emissions, noise, or the hassle of cords and fuel. It’s a throwback that works, and for the right buyer, it’s a smart, low-maintenance investment.

Who Should Buy This

Homeowners with small, flat lawns (under 1/4 acre) – If your yard is compact and relatively level, this reel mower will handle it efficiently without the overkill of a gas engine or the tether of a cord. It’s light, nimble, and perfect for tight spaces.
Eco-conscious users who hate gas cans and extension cords – Zero emissions, near-silent operation, and no need for fuel, oil, or electricity. If you want to mow without waking the neighbors or burning fossil fuels, this is your machine.
Budget-minded buyers looking for minimal long-term costs – At $105, it’s cheap upfront, but the real savings come from never buying gas, oil, spark plugs, or filters. Maintenance is a simple sharpening every few seasons.
Fitness-minded homeowners who want a light workout – Pushing a reel mower burns calories and engages your core and legs. It’s not a chore if you treat it as a low-impact workout.

Key Features Breakdown

16-inch cutting width – This is on the narrow side, which means more passes for larger lawns (hence the “under 1/4 acre” recommendation). But it also makes the mower highly maneuverable in tight flower beds, around trees, and along fence lines. It fits through narrow gates easily.
5-blade reel – More blades mean a finer cut. The 5-blade design produces a clean, scissor-like action that tears grass less than rotary mowers, reducing browning at the tips. It’s especially good for Bermuda, fescue, and other fine-bladed grasses.
14-inch rear wheels with ball bearings – Larger rear wheels roll over bumps and uneven ground more smoothly than smaller wheels. The ball bearings reduce rolling resistance, making it easier to push than cheaper reel mowers with plain bushings.
Adjustable cutting height (1/2 to 2 inches) – Five positions let you dial in height for different grass types and seasons. Note: this is a low cut range. If you prefer tall grass (3+ inches), this isn’t the mower for you.
All-steel construction – The frame, reel, and bed knife are steel, not plastic. That means durability and the ability to hold a sharp edge for years. It’s heavier than plastic reel mowers (about 30 pounds), but that weight helps the reel spin with momentum.
5-blade reel with heat-treated steel – The heat treatment hardens the blades for longer edge retention. You’ll still need to sharpen every 1-2 seasons depending on use, but it’s a step up from basic unhardened blades.

Pros

Quiet enough to mow at dawn – The loudest sound is the click of the blades. No roar, no drone. You can mow while others sleep or work.
Zero emissions – No gas fumes, no exhaust. It’s genuinely green, and your lawn won’t smell like a gas station.
Simple, reliable maintenance – No engine, no carburetor, no spark plugs. Just keep the blades sharp and the wheels greased. A flathead screwdriver and a sharpening kit are all you need.
Excellent cut quality on short grass – The scissor action leaves a manicured, striped finish that gas mowers can’t match. It’s the kind of cut that makes neighbors ask what you’re using.
Lightweight and easy to store – At 30 pounds, you can carry it one-handed. It stands upright for garage storage, taking up minimal floor space.
Cost-effective over time – $105 upfront, and your only recurring cost is occasional blade sharpening (a $10-20 DIY kit). Compare that to $30-50/year in gas and oil for a gas mower.

Cons

Struggles with tall, thick, or wet grass – If you let the lawn get over 4 inches or try to mow after rain, the reel will clog, stall, or skip clumps. You must mow frequently (weekly or more) and only when grass is dry.
No grass catcher included – This model doesn’t come with a bag. You’ll either have to rake clippings or buy the optional rear catcher (sold separately). Clippings left on the lawn can be fine, but they’re messy if you’re a neat freak.
Narrow cutting width – 16 inches means more passes. On a 5,000-square-foot lawn, you’re looking at 30-40 minutes of walking vs. 15-20 with a 21-inch self-propelled mower.
Not for uneven or hilly terrain – Reel mowers need a flat, smooth lawn. Bumps, dips, and roots cause the reel to skip or scalp the grass. If your yard is lumpy, this will be frustrating.

Bottom Line

The American Lawn Mower 1415-16 is a fantastic tool for the right situation: small, flat lawns, frequent mowing, and a desire to ditch gas and noise. It delivers a beautiful cut, costs peanuts to maintain, and is built to last. But it’s not a universal solution—if you have a large, overgrown, or bumpy yard, you’ll be fighting it every step. For homeowners with a tidy 1/4 acre or less who value quiet, clean, and simple operation, this is a no-brainer at $105. Just buy a sharpening kit and a grass catcher if you want a bag, and commit to mowing weekly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Does this mower work on St. Augustine or other thick grasses?
A: Not well. Reel mowers excel on fine-bladed grasses like Bermuda, fescue, and Kentucky bluegrass. St. Augustine, zoysia, and other thick, coarse grasses tend to get crushed or bent rather than cut cleanly. Stick to rotary mowers for those lawns.

Q: How do I sharpen the blades, and how often?
A: You’ll need a sharpening kit (a lapping compound and a brush) that back-laps the reel against the bed knife. Do this every 1-2 seasons depending on use. If you notice the mower tearing grass instead of cutting

How It Compares

Here is a head-to-head comparison of the American Lawn Mower Company 1415-16 (Mower A) and the Gorilla Carts Poly Garden Dump Cart (Mower B).

Important Note: These are not competing products. Mower A is a manual reel mower. Mower B is a utility dump cart, not a mower. This comparison treats them as alternatives for a buyer who might be considering a simple, non-powered lawn tool versus a powered hauling tool for yard work.

Quick Verdict

The Gorilla Carts dump cart wins for overall utility if you need to move heavy loads, but the American Lawn Mower reel mower is the correct choice if your primary need is actually cutting grass without gas or noise.

Side-by-Side Comparison

Feature	American Lawn Mower 1415-16	Gorilla Carts Poly Dump Cart
Price	$105.00	$129.99
Power Source	Manual (human push)	Manual (pull/tow)
Primary Function	Cutting grass	Hauling/dumping materials
Cutting Width	16 inches	N/A
Self-Propelled	No	No (requires towing vehicle or manual pull)
Best Yard Size	Up to 1/4 acre	Any size (for hauling)
Warranty	Limited lifetime (typical)	1-year limited (typical)

Where American Lawn Mower Wins

Precision Cutting for Small Lawns: The 5-blade reel design scissor-cuts grass cleanly, promoting healthier turf than a rotary blade that tears. It excels on Bermuda, Zoysia, and other fine-bladed grasses under 3 inches tall.
Zero Emissions & Near-Silent Operation: With no gas, oil, or battery, it produces zero pollution and runs at whisper-quiet levels. You can mow early morning or late evening without disturbing neighbors or wearing hearing protection.
Low Maintenance & Storage: There is no engine to tune, no spark plugs, no oil changes, and no fuel to store. It folds flat for vertical storage and weighs roughly 20–25 lbs, making it easy to hang on a garage wall.

Where Gorilla Wins

Massive Hauling Capacity: It can carry up to 600 lbs of soil, mulch, stone, or firewood in its 4-cubic-foot poly tub. This is ideal for landscaping projects, gardening, or moving heavy bags of fertilizer—something no mower can do.
Quick-Dump Feature: The tub tilts forward to dump loads without lifting. This saves significant time and back strain when spreading mulch or unloading debris, a function a mower completely lacks.
Pneumatic Tires & Versatility: The air-filled tires roll smoothly over rough terrain, gravel, and grass. It can be towed by a lawn tractor, ATV, or pulled by hand, making it a year-round tool for hauling leaves, tools, or firewood.

Which Should You Buy?

Buy Mower A (American Lawn Mower 1415-16) if:

You have a small, flat lawn (under ¼ acre) with fine grass and want an eco-friendly, silent, low-maintenance mower. It is perfect for the environmentally conscious homeowner who enjoys a light workout and doesn’t want to store gas or batteries.

Buy Mower B (Gorilla Carts Poly Dump Cart) if:

Your primary need is hauling heavy loads—soil, mulch, stone, or yard debris—for landscaping or gardening projects. This is not a mower; it is a utility cart. Buy it if you already have a mower and need a way to move materials across your property.

Neither product is right if:

You need to mow a large, uneven, or overgrown lawn (over 3–4 inches tall). The reel mower will struggle, and the dump cart cannot cut grass at all. In that case, look for a gas or battery-powered rotary mower (like a Toro or EGO).

Quick Verdict

There is no single winner—these are completely different tools for different jobs—but for purely cutting grass on a small, flat lawn, the American Lawn Mower reel mower wins for eco-friendly, quiet, low-maintenance trimming, while the WORX string trimmer wins for versatility, ease of use, and tackling weeds/edges.

Side-by-Side Comparison

Feature	American Lawn Mower 1415-16	WORX WG163 Trimmer/Edger
Price	$105.00	$89.99
Power Source	Manual (push reel)	20V Cordless Electric
Cutting Width	16 inches	12 inches
Self-Propelled	No	No
Best Yard Size	Small (up to 1/4 acre)	Small to medium (up to 1/3 acre)
Warranty	Limited lifetime (frame)	3-year limited

Where American Lawn Mower Wins

1. Zero Emissions & Silent Operation The 1415-16 uses no gas, oil, or electricity—just human power. It produces zero noise pollution, making it ideal for early-morning mowing or noise-restricted neighborhoods. You’ll never need to recharge batteries or refill a tank.

2. Healthier Grass with Scissor-Cut Action Its 5-blade reel cuts grass like scissors, not tearing it like a rotary blade. This results in cleaner cuts that heal faster, reduce water loss, and promote denser turf. Over time, your lawn can look greener and more manicured with less browning at the tips.

3. Practically No Maintenance No spark plugs, air filters, fuel stabilizers, or battery degradation. The reel mower only requires occasional blade sharpening (every 1-2 seasons) and lubrication on the wheels. It’s built with a steel frame and weighs just 16 pounds, so it’s easy to store and lasts for decades with basic care.

Where WORX Wins

1. Versatility for Edging and Weeds The WORX WG163 converts from a string trimmer to a wheeled edger in seconds—perfect for cleaning up sidewalk edges, flower beds, and fence lines. The American Lawn Mower can’t trim along borders or reach under shrubs; you’d need a separate trimmer anyway.

2. Effortless Operation on Uneven Terrain With no pushing resistance from spinning blades, the WORX cuts through tall grass, weeds, and slopes with ease. The 20V motor delivers consistent power without the physical effort required by a reel mower on bumpy or overgrown lawns.

3. Two Batteries for Extended Runtime The included 2.0Ah batteries provide about 30-40 minutes of runtime each, so you can swap and keep working. The 5.5-pound weight makes it highly maneuverable, and the Command Feed system lets you reload line automatically—no bumping required.

Which Should You Buy?

Buy Mower A (American Lawn Mower) if: You have a small, flat lawn under 1/4 acre with grass under 4 inches tall. You value quiet, zero-emission mowing and want a tool that requires no fuel, batteries, or ongoing costs. This is also the best choice for eco-conscious homeowners who want a workout and a pristine, scissor-cut lawn finish.

Buy Mower B (WORX WG163) if: Your lawn has slopes, weeds, or uneven areas, or you need to edge sidewalks and gardens regularly. You prefer electric convenience—just grab, pull the trigger, and trim—without pushing a mower. This is ideal if you already own other 20V WORX tools (batteries are shared) or want a lightweight trimmer for quick touch-ups.

Neither is perfect if: You have a large lawn (over 1/2 acre) or need to bag clippings. The reel mower leaves clippings on the lawn (good for mulching but messy for some), and the WORX trimmer can’t cut a full lawn efficiently—it’s for trimming/edging only. For a full lawn solution, consider a self-propelled gas or cordless rotary mower instead.