 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: Eoin
Date: 2000-03-23 08:31
I have an old lawnmower that I picked up in a garage sale. I've been told you guys know the value of all sorts of old equipment, so maybe you can think about this:
It is a very peculiar all metal construction, with a bell mounted on top. Engraved on the bell is "Smorgasbord Piton ADE in France" with a picture of Jim Carrey (Liar).
There are three settings on the mower:
Shallow mow
Carry On
All tizzy mow
It doesn't seem to work too well in the All-tizzy-mow setting, particularly when it encountered my garden's number 3 weeds.
At the very top of the shallow mow setting, it produces a very strange noise. My repairman pointed to a dint in the exhaust and said something like "the throat be flat!".
I'd appreciate some advice on this.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Dave Spiegelthal
Date: 2000-03-23 14:13
Eoin,
What you've found is a very rare 1930's vintage Lawn-Boy Turbo Encabulator, which was an exceptionally powerful (and expensive at the time) garden tool, later withdrawn from the market for safety reasons (it tended to mulch small children and animals, for instance). Please be careful with it, but treasure it! It's worth anywhere from $1750.99, to actually being a $4500 liability (because of liability litigation concerns), depending on who you ask. Good luck!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Donn
Date: 2000-03-23 14:29
Be sure to discombobulate the clatophreme, as it interferes with the remophrame, and the mome raths outgrabe.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Lelia
Date: 2000-03-23 15:01
Donn wrote:
-------------------------------
Be sure to discombobulate the clatophreme, as it interferes with the remophrame, and the mome raths outgrabe.
----------
Oh, yes, avoid interfering with the remophrame at all costs, because when the mome raths outgrabe, the sound of the machine strongly resembles the mating call of the female Jabberwock. Trust me, this is not a good thing.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Pam
Date: 2000-03-23 16:49
Bwhahahahaha! I hope some of you guys and girls ARE kidding.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Ken Shaw
Date: 2000-03-23 17:14
Pam wrote:
-------------------------------
Bwhahahahaha! I hope some of you guys and girls ARE kidding.
Pam -
How could we be kidding. It's not April 1 ... yet.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: John Scorgie
Date: 2000-03-23 18:08
Eoin -
I am responding now because I will be unavailable April 1.
The "throat be flat" problem you encountered is unfortunately characteristic of this model. Although the manufacturer, in the best Gallic tradition, refused to acknowledge the problem, an ingenious aftermarket solution was developed by legendary lawn guru Hans Mownig. Hans did his apprenticeship at Grasslitz in the Czech Republic. He later emigrated to the US and set up shop at Greenville, S.C. He was hounded out of town for refusing to display a Confederate flag in front of his shop, and resumed operations in the New York area somewhere out on Lawn Island. His solution was the development of the "Mownig exhaust", which in the grass trade is sometimes familiarly called the "Mownig barrel". The Mownig exhaust is superficially similar to the stock item but has a slight but distinct reverse hourglass contour. This not only clears up the throat be flat problem, but is reputed to even out the cutting action at the various settings.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Justin Silber
Date: 2000-03-23 19:45
Two things to say.
The first thing, at first glance, I believe the phrase that will usually first come into the mind of readers is :
"What the $@#& was that?"
Upon closer inspection, one then thinks :
"Cute, but I still think your nuts"
My remark: Nice play on words Eoin!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: paul
Date: 2000-03-23 21:09
Gotta agree with the folks above, this should have been posted April 1st.
Then there's the plastic nonturbocharged model that's safe for kids to use. It works great with the shallow mow and carry on, but the altissy mow range is too high for many kids. I've seen plenty of kids stomping around with this model, trampling down the sod and raising the dust on some of the most valuable turf in town. Why folks call that turf the gridiron puzzles me. Just beware of the kids who said they used this model following horses and other livestock in close order drill formation. I've heard the results can really stink!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: michael
Date: 2000-03-23 23:34
John Scorgie wrote:
The "throat be flat" problem you encountered is unfortunately characteristic of this model.
----------------------------------------------------------
Also,
Whatever you do, check the fladderap on the housing. If you have any leaks you'll never get the thing to mulch. Call
your tech or just use more grease (that's what I do when I have a leak.) Sincerely, Michael
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Fred
Date: 2000-03-24 00:42
What we need is mower posts like this one! Clarinet craftsman and craftswomen appreciate cutting edge humor. Thanks a lot (60' X 120').
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Eric
Date: 2000-03-24 04:12
I hope you didn't pay too dearly for the thing. At any one time on e-bay you can find 5-10 for sale. Prices vary from 10-20 for the common 'mulching band' models on up to 1000+ for the rarer types. As Dee would say "just don't turn it into a lamp" :-)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Lelia
Date: 2000-03-24 12:50
paul wrote:
-------------------------------
Gotta agree with the folks above, this should have been posted April 1st.
----------
Oh, but we couldn't wait for April 1st and then *sight read* it! Gotta practice!!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: HTW
Date: 2000-03-25 20:49
Well, if you're having trouble with the all tizzy mow, I reccomend changing the weeds, and using a little extra arm support, but be careful it doesn't jump when you do that. About that throat be flat, you should find a mechanism on the side of the handle marked syd qee. Activate it and you'll notice a big improvement. Another alternative is to contact A. Gaulpur, who produces an attachment to fix that specific problem.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: William
Date: 2001-11-12 12:33
Just as I suspected--we all have a lig screw loose, but we sure are fun!!!!! Perhaps with some work on the vibrato..................................................
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
