Exhibit 99.1

BRIGGS & STRATTON CORPORATION REPORTS RESULTS FOR THE

FOURTH QUARTER AND TWELVE MONTHS OF FISCAL 2004

Milwaukee, August 5, 2004/PR Newswire/-Briggs & Stratton Corporation (NYSE:BGG)

Briggs & Stratton Corporation today announced fiscal 2004 fourth quarter net sales of $545.3 million and net income of $40.2 million or $1.70 per basic share and $1.61 per diluted share. Net sales were $508.1 million in the same period a year ago and net income was $32.9 million or $1.52 per basic share and $1.39 per diluted share. The majority of the 7% improvement in quarterly net sales was due to unit volume increases in both business segments and an Engines Segment sales mix that favored higher priced product. The net income increase between quarters occurred primarily in the Engines Segment as a result of successful manufacturing cost reduction programs, increased sales volume, increased production volumes and a sales mix that favored higher margined products. The Company experienced higher manufacturing costs in the quarter, primarily for purchases of components and materials, which offset net income gains.

For fiscal 2004, the Company reported net sales of $1.95 billion and net income of $136.1 million or $6.01 per basic share and $5.53 per diluted share. For fiscal 2003, net sales were $1.66 billion and net income was $80.6 million or $3.73 per basic share and $3.49 per diluted share. The 17% improvement in net sales was primarily the result of greater unit sales volume in both business segments. Major factors contributing to the 69% increase in net income between years were greater sales and production volumes in both business segments, Engines Segment manufacturing cost reduction programs and improved margins on export sales due to a stronger Euro. For the year, higher manufacturing and operating expenses were an offset to net income gains.

Engines:

Fiscal 2004 fourth quarter net sales of engines were $443.3 million versus $431.4 million in the prior year. The 3% increase is primarily the result of a 2% increase in engine unit sales volume.

Net sales for fiscal 2004 were $1.62 billion, which was $189.0 million or 13% higher than fiscal 2003. On a year over year basis, engine unit volume accounted for about $163 million of the sales increase.

Income from operations for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2004 was $60.6 million compared to $49.4 million in the fourth quarter last year. This $11.2 million increase was the result of successful manufacturing cost reduction programs, greater sales and production volume and a sales mix that favored higher margined products. Higher manufacturing expenses related to surcharges for raw materials and increased employee benefit costs offset a portion of the favorable operating margin improvement factors.

The fiscal 2004 income from operations was $209.3 million, an increase of $74.6 million or 55% over fiscal 2003 results. Factors contributing to the improvement were essentially the same as described for the quarter but also included improved margins on European sales due to a Euro exchange rate that was more favorable than in the prior year. These gains were partially offset by an increase in manufacturing costs as described for the quarter and operating expenses which included increased employee benefit costs, professional services fees, marketing and international selling expenses.

Power Products:

Net sales were $140.4 million in the fiscal 2004 fourth quarter, up $20.8 million or 17% over the same period a year ago. Unit volume increased 11%. The remainder of the increase was primarily the result of the mix of sales favoring higher priced generator units during the quarter.

Net sales for fiscal 2004 were $489.3 million, increasing $159.8 million or 48% over the fiscal 2003 results. Unit volume increased 50%. The volume increase was the result of fiscal 2004 having more demand creating events for generators than were experienced in fiscal 2003, the introduction of new pressure washer product and increased promotional activity at retail and additional market penetration for both generators and pressure washer product.

Income from operations in the fiscal 2004 fourth quarter was $8.6 million, up $.4 million over the same period a year ago. The relatively flat income between years reflects an improvement in operating income resulting from benefits of slight sales and production increases offset by higher costs for components purchased in Euros from Italy.

Fiscal 2004 income from operations was $30.4 million compared to $17.2 million in fiscal 2003. For the year, the sales and production volume increases were partially offset by the increase in material costs related to the components purchased in Euros.

Outlook For Fiscal 2005:

Our initial estimate for fiscal 2005 anticipates net income in the range of $160 to $165 million. These projections include the forecasts of our recently completed acquisition of Simplicity Manufacturing Inc. (“Simplicity”). Consolidated sales are estimated to increase approximately 20%. Engines Segment net sales are forecasted to grow 4-5% from a combination of price and volume growth. Power Products Segment net sales are forecasted to grow 75-80%. The growth includes a forecast of $360 million of net sales resulting from Simplicity and an estimate of a net 5% growth for the generator and pressure washer products.

Consolidated gross profit margin for the year is projected to be in the range of 23% to 24%. The greatest challenge to achieving this gross margin level will be the upward cost pressure we are projecting to continue for manufacturing costs, primarily for purchased components and raw materials. We plan on a combination of price and volume increases to offset a portion of the increasing costs. In addition, our plans for fiscal 2005 include significant reductions in cost from our ongoing focus on manufacturing cost reduction programs.

Consolidated operating expenses are estimated to be approximately $274 million. The projected operating expenses for Simplicity are approximately $63 million. Interest expense is estimated to be $32 million, and other income is projected in the $10-$12 million range. We are assuming an effective tax rate of 36%. The estimates for depreciation and capital expenditures are $68 million and $87 million, respectively.

The Company will host a conference call today at 10:00 AM (EDT) to review this information. A live web cast of the conference call will be available on our corporate website: http://www.briggsandstratton.com/shareholders. Also available is a dial-in number to access the call real-time at (866) 206-7202. A replay will be offered beginning approximately two hours after the call ends and will be available for one week. Dial (888) 266-2081 to access the replay. The pass code will be 520832.

Other Matters:

In June 2004, a lawsuit was filed against the Company and other defendants alleging that horsepower labels on lawnmower products purchased by the plaintiffs were inaccurate. The complaint seeks an injunction, compensatory and punitive damages and attorney’s fees on behalf of persons who bought lawnmowers since June 1999 powered by gasoline engines up to 20 horsepower. No orders have been entered in the case, and there has been no discovery. The Company intends to vigorously defend this case.

This release contains certain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. The words “anticipate”, “believe”, “estimate”, “expect”, “forecast”, “intend”, “may”, “objective”, “plan”, “project”, “seek”, “think”, “will”, and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements are based on the Company’s current views and assumptions and involve risks and uncertainties that include, among other things, the ability to successfully forecast demand for our products and appropriately adjust our manufacturing and inventory levels; changes in our operating expenses; changes in interest rates; the effects of weather on the purchasing patterns of consumers and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs); actions of engine manufacturers and OEMs with whom we compete; the seasonal nature of our business; changes in laws and regulations, including environmental, pension funding and accounting standards; work stoppages or other consequences of any deterioration in our employee relations; work stoppages by other unions that affect the ability of suppliers or customers to manufacture; acts of war or terrorism that may disrupt our business operations or those of our customers and suppliers; changes in customer and OEM demand; changes in prices of raw materials and parts that we purchase; changes in domestic economic conditions, including housing starts and changes in consumer disposable income; changes in foreign economic conditions, including currency rate fluctuations; new facts that come to light in the future course of litigation proceedings which could affect our assessment of those matters; our ability to successfully integrate the Simplicity acquisition; and other factors that may be disclosed from time to time in our SEC filings or otherwise. Some or all of the factors may be beyond our control. We caution you that any forward-looking statement reflects only our belief at the time the statement is made. We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which the statement is made.

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BRIGGS & STRATTON CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Statements of Earnings for the Fiscal Periods Ended June

(In Thousands)

	Fourth Quarter						Twelve Months
	2004			2003			2004			2003
NET SALES	$	545,304		$	508,144		$	1,947,364		$	1,657,633
COST OF GOODS SOLD		424,240			399,718			1,507,492			1,329,554
Gross Profit on Sales		121,064			108,426			439,872			328,079
ENGINEERING, SELLING, GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES		54,330			52,210			205,663			178,157
Income from Operations		66,734			56,216			234,209			149,922
INTEREST EXPENSE		(8,634	)		(10,011	)		(37,665	)		(40,389	)
OTHER INCOME, Net		3,285			2,231			8,460			9,045
Income Before Provision for Income Taxes		61,385			48,436			205,004			118,578
PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES		21,190			15,490			68,890			37,940
Net Income	$	40,195		$	32,946		$	136,114		$	80,638
Average Shares Outstanding		23,634			21,681			22,643			21,639
BASIC EARNINGS PER SHARE	$	1.70		$	1.52		$	6.01		$	3.73
Diluted Average Shares Outstanding		25,312			24,521			25,340			24,480
DILUTED EARNINGS PER SHARE	$	1.61		$	1.39		$	5.53		$	3.49

Segment Information

(In Thousands)

	Fourth Quarter						Twelve Months
	2004			2003			2004			2003
NET SALES:
Engines	$	443,298		$	431,431		$	1,617,409		$	1,428,411
Power Products		140,450			119,649			489,250			329,488
Inter-Segment Eliminations		(38,444	)		(42,936	)		(159,295	)		(100,266	)
Total*	$	545,304		$	508,144		$	1,947,364		$	1,657,633
*International Sales (included in the above)	$	83,858		$	101,161		$	375,335		$	400,119
GROSS PROFIT ON SALES:
Engines	$	107,759		$	95,414		$	387,582		$	291,937
Power Products		15,739			14,388			57,846			38,233
Inter-Segment Eliminations		(2,434	)		(1,376	)		(5,556	)		(2,091	)
Total	$	121,064		$	108,426		$	439,872		$	328,079
INCOME FROM OPERATIONS:
Engines	$	60,606		$	49,403		$	209,337		$	134,775
Power Products		8,562			8,189			30,428			17,238
Inter-Segment Eliminations		(2,434	)		(1,376	)		(5,556	)		(2,091	)
Total	$	66,734		$	56,216		$	234,209		$	149,922

BRIGGS & STRATTON CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Balance Sheets as of the End of Fiscal June 2004 and 2003

(In Thousands)

	2004			2003
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and Cash Equivalents	$	341,187		$	324,815
Accounts Receivable, Net		230,510			201,948
Inventories		337,731			209,138
Deferred Income Tax Asset		47,623			48,674
Other		23,735			22,572
Total Current Assets		980,786			807,147
OTHER ASSETS:
Goodwill		151,991			159,756
Investments		49,259			44,175
Prepaid Pension		81,730			74,005
Deferred Loan Costs, Net		6,325			8,314
Other Long-Term Assets		9,313			11,012
Total Other Assets		298,618			297,262
PLANT AND EQUIPMENT:
At Cost		867,987			876,664
Less - Accumulated Depreciation		511,445			505,880
Plant and Equipment, Net		356,542			370,784
	$	1,635,946		$	1,475,193
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Accounts Payable	$	120,141		$	134,441
Domestic Notes Payable		1,220			2,075
Foreign Loans		700			865
Accrued Liabilities		177,025			164,014
Total Current Liabilities		299,086			301,395
OTHER LIABILITIES:
Deferred Revenue on Sale of Plant & Equipment		14,929			15,163
Deferred Income Tax Liability		70,454			57,917
Accrued Pension Liability		20,871			20,368
Accrued Employee Benefits		14,201			13,901
Accrued Postretirement Health Care Obligation		38,248			48,065
Long-Term Debt		360,562			503,397
Total Other Liabilities		519,265			658,811
SHAREHOLDERS’ INVESTMENT:
Common Stock and Additional Paid-in Capital		48,946			35,363
Retained Earnings		927,766			822,060
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)		4,028			(734	)
Unearned Compensation on Restricted Stock		(1,490	)		(287	)
Treasury Stock, at Cost		(161,655	)		(341,415	)
Total Shareholders’ Investment		817,595			514,987
	$	1,635,946		$	1,475,193

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(In Thousands)

	Twelve Months Ended Fiscal June
	2004			2003
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net Income	$	136,114		$	80,638
Depreciation and Amortization		66,898			63,526
Equity in Earnings of Unconsolidated Affiliates		(8,126	)		(5,224	)
Loss on Disposition of Plant and Equipment, Net		7,390			3,850
Provision for Deferred Income Taxes		12,800			24,278
Increase in Accounts Receivable		(28,588	)		(5,958	)
Increase in Inventories		(128,594	)		(11,932	)
Decrease (Increase) in Other Current Assets		2,017			(4,663	)
Increase in Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities		4,468			44,321
Increase in Prepaid Pension, Net		(5,802	)		(13,566	)
Other, Net		(13,023	)		(7,875	)
Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities		45,554			167,395
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Additions to Plant and Equipment		(52,962	)		(40,154	)
Proceeds Received on Disposition of Plant and Equipment		720			3,464
Refund of Cash Paid for Acquisition		5,686			—
Other, Net		4,642			9,861
Net Cash Used in Investing Activities		(41,914	)		(26,829	)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Net Repayments on Debt		(1,042	)		(14,955	)
Dividends		(30,448	)		(27,709	)
Debt Issuance Cost		(1,789	)		—
Proceeds from Exercise of Stock Options		45,314			5,490
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities		12,035			(37,174	)
EFFECT OF EXCHANGE RATE CHANGES		697			5,478
NET INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS		16,372			108,870
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, Beginning		324,815			215,945
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, Ending	$	341,187		$	324,815