Over 30 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/Cultivator 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 gas engine, the
Mantis Tiller's patented
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 favorite 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.
Mantis receives hundreds of unsolicited testimonial letters and emails
every
year. Many gardeners become quite fond of their Mantis Tillers.
We especially love the letters from customers
who at first did not believe the claims made in the company's
ads. Kenneth Porter of Copperas Cove, Texas, was one of those
skeptics. Porter admits that the only reason he bought a Mantis
Tiller was because of
the one-year
"no questions asked" return policy.
"When I first got this little thing [the Mantis Tiller], I
thought to myself, ‘What a waste of money!'" wrote Porter. "But when I
started tilling, I was so amazed... My son even wanted to use it. We
want to tell you, we love this little jewel – it's great and I would
tell anyone that it is well worth the money! Especially when you can get
the kids to do the work!"
And then there are the fanatics. Rhonda Schmidt of Sheboygan,
Wisconsin, freely admits to being in love with her Mantis Tiller. "I
love my Mantis Tiller, and I will never give it up," says Schmidt. "I
tilled my garden all by myself this year and it looks great!"
THE LITTLE TILLER THAT DOES IT ALL
In an age of products that are imported from overseas,
the powerful little
Mantis Tiller is a
made-in-America
success story. The Mantis Tiller has proven
itself to be durable, efficient and remarkably versatile.
Over 30 years ago, and more than one million units sold, the
Mantis Tiller is still
assembled
in a small factory in suburban Philadelphia.
In spite of its many imitators – and there are quite a
few mini tillers offered by other manufacturers – the Mantis
Tiller is still the best-selling tiller in the world.
It's the patented "serpentine" (curved) tines that still set the
Mantis
Tiller apart from other tillers, giving it the ability to cut through
sod, tough soil and even vegetation with ease. (Other small tillers
use a scaled-down version of the "bolo" bent tines found on big, heavy
tillers, a design that is significantly less effective on a lightweight
machine.)
The Mantis Tiller's
high-quality
craftsmanship and powerful commercial-grade
engine consistently get rave reviews. And gardeners are pleased
with the handy way the Mantis Tiller tills garden plots and
effortlessly weeds around trees and landscaping.
Like the proverbial Swiss Army knife, the mighty Mantis Tiller
can effectively perform a wide variety of tasks. The tiller tines can
easily be removed and many optional attachments can be quickly
installed. These optional attachments convert the Mantis Tiller into a
border edger, furrower, plow, lawn aerator, lawn dethatcher, crevice
cleaner – and even a hedge trimmer. Thus, one Mantis Tiller and its
attachments can do the work of eight different power tools.
Over the years, the Mantis Tiller has received many impressive
official awards, including a Consumers Digest "Best Buy" award and a
"Member Tested and Recommended" Seal of Approval from the National Home
Gardening Club. The Mantis Tiller was also honored as the most-often
praised garden power tool in the Organic Gardening Buyer's Guide. The
lightweight Mantis Tiller/Cultivator does a great job of getting garden
soil ready for planting – and it can be used for dozens of other jobs
throughout the year.
Back in the 1990s, after the Mantis Tiller had
thoroughly conquered
North America, the little tiller was test marketed in
Europe.
The result? European gardeners embraced the little
tiller in
much the same way Americans had. As the
Mantis Tiller
celebrates another anniversary, happy tiller owners in every state in
the USA, every province in Canada, throughout Europe
and around
the world in countries such as South Africa, Israel
and China
are using their Mantis Tillers to cultivate soil, weed
gardens,
dig furrows, aerate and dethatch lawns, edge borders,
dig holes
for planting trees and shrubs, and even trim hedges.
All with
a little red tiller that many people laughed at when
it was
first introduced.
It's safe to say that no one is laughing at the little tiller now.
The Mantis Tiller/Cultivator
The Mantis Tiller/Cultivator is the incredible
lightweight tiller that has made gardening easier for more
than a million people. Originally designed to help landscapers
get their jobs done quicker, the Mantis Tiller has been America's
favorite tiller for over 30 years, and is standard equipment in home gardens across the country.
Mantis Tillers are lightweight, but powerful
enough to till through sod and compacted soil. Our
unique, patented serpentine tines turn soil into
a fine texture, ready for planting, and are guaranteed
for life against breakage! Mantis Tillers are easy to carry - to
the shed, to the car, or to your neighbor who can't wait to
try it! Great for senior gardeners, too!
Mantis
2-Cycle Tiller/Cultivator
The Mantis Tiller/Cultivator
is the incredible lightweight tiller that has made gardening easier for
more than a million people. The Mantis Tiller/Cultivator is
lightweight, but powerful enough to till through sod and compacted soil.
Originally designed to help landscapers get their jobs done quicker,
our
20-pound tiller is the world's best selling tiller. Our tines are
guaranteed for LIFE against breakage. Mantis tillers are backed by a
5-Year Warranty!
The Mantis tiller
features our patented, serpentine tines that easily break new ground
when you are ready to start a garden. Our tines turn soil into a fine
texture, ready for planting. Once your garden is established, use the
Mantis Tiller to cultivate and weed your garden with ease. You'll use
the Mantis Tiller to create new flower beds and vegetable gardens,
maintain existing gardens, quickly dig planting holes for trees and
shrubs, and more. At 20 pounds, the
Mantis tiller is easy to carry... to the shed, to the car, or to your
neighbor who can't wait to try it! Great for senior gardeners, too!
Mantis 4-Cycle Gas
Tiller/Cultivator Powered by Honda
The Mantis 4-cycle gas-powered tiller is lightweight,
but powerful enough to till through sod and compacted soil. The
4-cycle engine is easy to start, and requires no fuel mixing.
The Mantis 4-cycle rototiller features our
patented, serpentine tines that easily break new ground when you're
ready to start a garden. Once your garden is established, use the
Mantis Tiller to cultivate and weed your garden with ease. Since it
weighs just 24 pounds, it's easy to carry – to the shed, to the car, or
to your neighbor who can't wait to try it! Great for senior gardeners,
too!
Our tines are guaranteed for LIFE against breakage. Plus, the Mantis Tiller is backed by a 5-Year Warranty!
Mantis Electric Tiller/Cultivator
Weighing only 21 pounds, the incredibly
powerful but lightweight Mantis Electric Tiller / Cultivator
tills even the hardest of soils. The secret is the patented Mantis
serpentine tines! Use the Mantis Electric Tiller to easily break new
ground when you're ready to start your garden. Once your garden is
established, use the Mantis Electric Tiller to cultivate and weed.
Maintaining your garden has never been easier! Our
tines are guaranteed for LIFE against breakage. And the Mantis Tiller is
backed by a 5-Year Warranty!
See for yourself how easy gardening can be
with the Mantis Electric Tiller. It is so easy to start, and maneuvers
nimbly in narrow rows, along fences, or in raised bed gardens.
Mantis Tiller Trivia: Why is it called a Mantis Tiller?
Because the tiller handles resemble the shape of praying mantis
arms, and the praying mantis is a beneficial insect in the garden.