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Don Young Don Young is offline
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Default Childhood lawn mower memories...


"ChrisCoaster" wrote in message
...
When I was between the ages of 3 and 9, I recall my Dad using a lawn
mower that you had to "wind" to start. It was a typical-looking push
gasoline mower, but it had this wind-up handle that you (1)unfolded
from the top of the engine, then (2) wound up several times clockwise
and folded up again, and finally (3) threw a pair of levers up ontop
near the handle you pushed the mower with.

1. Who made these mowers and
2. Any photos?

I vividly recall to this day the language that came from the back yard
as Dad tried to get that thing to start and run for at least 3 minutes
between "winding". The winding sound is actually similar to rapidly
passing a stick across a picket fence or the clickety clack sound some
bicycles made because their owners put a stick in the spokes that made
the sound as they rode down the street.

Thanks for helping to revive these memories!

-ChrisCoaster

I do not remember the brand but I narrowly escaped serious injury from one
like that. It was given to me and seemed to have a siezed engine. I was
shaking the blade back and forth trying to free it when it came loose and
the blade spun around and struck the back of my hand really hard. Since the
blade was extremely dull, the damage was not severe but it taught me a
lesson I never forgot. Wound-up springs are kinda like wound-up
rattlesnakes; they can hurt you when you least expect it!

Don Young