The Anvil Pruner is 90 years old

by Michael Smith (Veshengro)

The Anvil Pruner is 90 years old and the world's first was the Original Löwe 1 made, as it is still today, in Kiel, Germany, by what is now Gebr. Schröder GmbH. Happy Birthday Löwe and the Anvil Pruner.

It is now 90 years ago that Walther Schröder invented, produced and patented the first ever anvil pruning shears in Kiel, in Northern Germany and his grandson, Randolph Schröder, who is now the managing director of Gebr. Schröder, continues this tradition of high quality products for the horticultural, viticultural and aboricultural trade.

Many professionals appear to advise the use for anvil pruners only for dry wood and bypass pruners for green but I have found that anvil pruners can do both equally well. It is a myth that anvil secateurs cannot deal with thin green materials and that their cut is not good enough for green wood. The opposite rather. But only if the pruners are made to the highest standards and many anvil pruners of the budget range simply are not.

Anvil pruners will cut green wood perfectly, as they will dry, and the thicker the branch will be, the easier the cut with an anvil pruner is. But, if the blades are well sharpened and the tip is being used even the smallest plant materials can be cleanly cut with ease.

It is a popular misconception that anvil pruners will squeeze the branch, that is to say good anvil pruners will not squeeze, and especially not those of the company that invented the anvil pruner, namely Gebr. Schröder, under the Original LÖWE brand, because the secret is the quality of the blade and general construction.

Many cheap anvil pruners from Asia or of medium quality will lose their sharpness immediately after several cuts, and from this point on they may squeeze more than provide a clean cut. And that fact, the medium quality of other brands, discredit the standard of our products and how an anvil pruners has to be. In general it has to be said that anvil pruners offer much more advantages in comparison to bypass pruners. Having a good pair of anvil pruning shears mean the user can cut both dry and green wood without the need for changing tools.

For many years, Löwe anvil pruners – first invented by Walther Schröder in 1923 – were manufactured and sold under license in the UK as 'Rolcut Secateurs'.

In fact, they were manufactured in the UK under license in the time when, after World War One and later World War Two, German products were not permitted to be imported to Britain. “Made in Germany” certainly was not welcome in Britain as too many “Made in Germany” products had been dropped onto the country in a destructive way.

Although Rolcut was a well known brand in the UK the tool design was from a German company using the “Original LÖWE” brand who had patented the first anvil pruner in 1923. The all metal design and anvil blade made them the toughest pruner available and they were the choice of many professionals and enthusiasts.

In 1928 came the “invention” of the Original LÖWE pruning shear under the "Rolcut" brand in England by Colonel B.J. Walker. In 1933 Foundation of the company "Fritz Howaldt Ltd." in London where in 1945 Rolcut took over the manufacture in London. In 1994 Rolcut was taken over, so I understand, by Fiskars and deliberately destroyed. Guess they were just too much of a competition.

Mind you, we have seen this same action in Germany when the German Democratic Republic was annexed after the fall of the wall and great companies such as Zeiss Jena and other were deliberately destroyed; in the former case because the original owners of Zeiss Jena are now Zeiss Wetzlar and did not wan the competition from the Jena factory.

I still have a very old small pair or Rolcut pruning shears, much smaller than the Original LÖWE 2 or the Rolcut 7 that I found in a park and have refurbished myself (spare parts are not available for those old Rolcut ones anymore unfortunately). It is probably some 50-60 years old and, aside from some rust on the chrome and the blade, being carbon steel, showing some tarnishing, the secateurs still perform well indeed.

On the occasion of the 90 years anniversary LÖWE have designed pruning shears that are visually representative of their first shears – the Original LÖWE 1 anniversary shears, the LÖWE 1.102.

This Anniversary Edition of the well-known LÖWE 1 combines the most modern technology with nostalgic design:
- Typeface an logo reflect the first shears from the 20s
- Engravings of plant shoots embellish the metal grips and offer a higher resistance to slipping
- Simple, clean cutting of branches up to 25 mm, 1''
- Suitable for the most versatile of applications with almost any species of trees and shrubs
- Nostalgic packaging design

The design is exactly the same as the original LÖWE 1 with the same designs on the handle but made with modern materials and a better lock than those of the ones of the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s.

All parts are replaceable which means should any part ever get damaged in a way that it needs replacing it can and thus the shears can live almost for ever.

Today there are anvil pruners made by and for many different companies and most are now made in the Far East, and in addition to that there are even ratchet secateurs of this Nature. However, none equal, in quality of materials and workmanship the originals made by Gebr. Schröder under the Original LÖWE brand.

When it comes to the using of anvil pruning shears, as with pruning shears in general, the size of the branch to be cut should always be considered and anything that is too big is a job for loppers and not for pruning shears, period. And if that fails then it is a job for the pruning saw. When you have to apply herculean force then you are using the branch is too large and you need to change the tool.

© 2013

LÖWE 1.102 Anniversary edition anvil pruning shears – Product Review

Review by Michael Smith (Veshengro)

The world's first anvil pruning shears launched in 1923 by LÖWE and the LÖWE 1.102 is a very special Anniversary Edition of this popular and classic model, perfect for use in all types of gardening and horticulture, fruit growing, forestry, and viticulture.

Can be used left or right handed, for cutting any kind of wood.

It was the LÖWE 1 that made the Original LÖWE brand and the anvil principle (a drawing cut against a fixed base plate) world famous.

All Original LÖWE pruners are designed, produced and assembled in Germany to the highest standards with a unique hardening process giving the blades an unrivaled hardness and the latest CNC grinding machines, ensuring an outstanding sharp cutting edge. They are 100% “Made in Germany” throughout and this goes for all Original LÖWE pruners and not just the LÖWE 1.102. Spare parts available for all LÖWE pruners.

LÖWE 1.102 Anniversary edition anvil pruning shears

Length: 21cm
Weight: 270g
Cutting Capacity: 25mm (1")
PRICE: £34.52 (Quality Garden Tools)

Old technology still works and works best as it is simple and reliable with no frills, and most importantly, repairable. And the LÖWE 1.102 definitely falls into that category.

The packaging, for purpose of nostalgia, so to speak, has taken a step back in history too and proves that just a simple printed cardboard box could still work today and it would reduce our packaging waste.

The only concession to the modern world is the plastic back in which the shears are packed prior to wrapped in brown Kraft paper. In days gone by it would have just been the Kraft paper, often greased, before going into the cardboard box.

This proves, to me at least, that there would and should be no need for the hard plastic “bubble pack” that we see (almost) everywhere today.

What worked then would still work today but it would appear that the packaging industry is trying to tell us differently. The cardboard box and the Kraft paper both are biodegradable and will compost, even in a homer composting set up, in less than a year without trace. Alternatively it can both be be easily recycled.

Where this is only one special product of LÖWE where this old style packaging is being used it would be good, for the sake of the environment, if we could see a widespread return to this kind of more simple and sustainable packaging.

The LÖWE 1.102 Anniversary anvil pruning shears (secateurs) are a timeless 90-year-old design made with modern materials and methods and will last for generations, especially if cared for, as any good tool and product should be. The same goes, as to durability, for the other tools of Original LÖWE also. I know, I reviewed one of their modern design flagship pruners last year.

The LÖWE 1.102 anvil pruners performed extremely well in tests and accurately and precisely cut anything from Rosemary sprigs to 25mm (1inch) thick Elm branches, both green and dry. They are capable, of that I am sure, to cut to a greater thickness even but that would mean applying more pressure which might not be good for the user's hands. The blades of all LÖWE's pruners are sharp and strong and will stand up to the rigors of professional daily use.

As far as I am concerned Original LÖWE's pruning shears are superior to others on the market, even more expensive ones though mentioning no names.

As professional user I regard anvil secateurs/pruning shears to outperform bypass ones each and every time and day and I got used to them – under the Rolcut name – already as a child working in forestry nurseries. The cut onto the anvil, generally made of brass in the older days and now of aluminum, both being softer metals that the cutting blade, makes for a very precise cut where no twisting is being used, as often happens with bypass pruners, leading to a misalignment of blades.

Another great LÖWE product and if I could rate it the way I would like to it would definitely receive a 6 out of 5. But that does not really compute now does it.

My thanks to Original LÖWE in Kiel, Germany, and Dominic of Quality Garden Tools for allowing me to review this great tool and for supplying the sample.

If you are looking for pruning shears that your grandchildren will still be able and happy to use look not further than Original LÖWE. For all your garden tool needs, including LÖWE products, in the UK, contact Quality Garden Tools.

© 2013

The GREEN (LIVING) REVIEW received no payment for this article with the exception of the sample of the product free of change. Nevertheless, because their products are second to none, we are happy to endorse both Original LÖWE and Quality Garden Tools.

Original Löwe 8.104 Anvil Secateurs – Product Review

Review by Michael Smith (Veshengro)

The Original Löwe 8.104 anvil pruning shears feature the ‘best of both worlds’, utilizing anvil technology with bypass geometry. The slimness and curve of a bypass cutting head, makes selective pruning of intensive crops (fruit, flowers, etc.) easy, while the anvil blade allows easy cutting and less impact during use.
Designed for use in horticulture, fruit growing, forestry, and viticulture; these pruners can be used left or right handed, for cutting any kind of wood with plastic grips and easily adjustable handles to suit any hand size.

It was the Löwe 1 which made the Original Löwe brand and the anvil principle (a drawing cut against a fixed base plate) world famous. Original Löwe pruners are designed, produced and assembled in Germany to the highest standards with a unique hardening process giving the blades an unrivaled hardness and the latest CNC grinding machines, ensuring an outstanding sharp cutting edge.

Length: 21cm

Weight: 230g

Cutting Capacity: 25mm (1")

While it is often claimed, especially by manufacturers of bypass secateurs that anvil secateurs (pruners) should be used for dead wood only and that only bypass secateurs should ever be used on green wood this is a fallacy. But then again not all anvil secateurs and pruners are equal. Some do not cut clean enough.

Many an older groundsman or gardener will remember, fondly I should think, a brand called ROLCUT which were, in fact, Original Löwe anvil pruners, made under license in Britain and I still have a small old one of that brand and have refurbished it, in fact, after seeing Original Löwe at the recent IOG Saltex 2012.

Original Löwe tools are 100% “Made in Germany” and not a single part is outsourced abroad; not even the steel for the blades. The steel is made for Original Löwe in Germany and the products are then made, in their entirety, in their factory in Kiel.

The review sample was supplied by Dominic Elson of Quality Garden Tools, the sole distributor in the UK for Original Löwe, during my visit to IOG Saltex 2012.

All parts of the Original Löwe secateurs are replaceable and the blades can be changed for replacement with just a spanner in a few seconds, literally.

This is a very sturdy, as all of them appear to be, pair of secateurs that feels good in the hand simply because of its weight which speaks of being a solid product and outperforms the competition by miles.

The Original Löwe 8.104 looks to all intents and purposes like a pair of bypass secateurs but does, in fact, have an anvil. The blade, however, has the curvature of the bypass.

There are many who prefer to use bypass secateurs when pruning trees and such as they have the habit of cutting a branch flush with the trunk. This, however, is very bad practice and should not be done, except, may be, in viticulture.

I have put this pair of secateurs now through its paces and aside from the fact that they have a very reassuring weight speaking of strength and quality of workmanship they work a treat indeed with everything that I have thrown at it, from cutting very thin stems in harvesting beans to about 1inch thick branches of apple. The trees of mine are in need of a haircut.

The lock is the most positive kind of lock imaginable of one that is intended to be opened one-handed and when the lock, though a simple one, is in place you know that your secateurs are securely locked and should not open accidentally in your pocket or holster. And this lock can also be adjusted should you wish to do so.

Despite the fact that the majority of Original Löwe secateurs use the old style caterpillar spring, which many manufacturers have now dropped as they tend to drop out it would appear that this is not going to be the case here. Also, a little TLC on the side of the user can, in fact, prevent the spring from coming out (even if it is gay) and a little oil goes a very long way.

Being someone who appreciates good tools and someone who was very partial to the old ROLCUT brand I may be a little predisposed towards the products by the company which is, after all, ROLCUT's parent but I think most of my readers will know that I call a spade a spade and would mention if there was something that I did not like to well.

Those secateurs are a real serious piece of kit and made with the professional in mind and at around £46 retail in the UK certainly come cheaper than does the nearest competition.

I would definitely rate the Original Löwe 8.104 secateurs with a six out of five, if that would be possible and thus, I guess, we will have to settle for five stars.

© 2012