showing off my TV

[jshorva65]

Originally posted by Charlie
Trying to invision The Kubota Dirt Devil

More precisely, it looked something like an oversized golf cart with a vertical-axis rotating brush on each side and a wide horizontal-axis brush underneath. The vacuum system caught whatever the brooms kicked up and deposited the debris in a big black plastic container at the rear of the machine. The controls included a steering wheel, throttle and brake pedals, FWD-N-REV automatic transaxle selector lever and electric start. There were also levers labeled BROOM CLUTCH and VAC CLUTCH. I vaguely remember its engine being 2-cylinder air-cooled 4-stroke. Based on my limited small-engine experience, it was probably 16-20 HP ... probably an 18 HP Wisconsin or similar. Usually, it was parked in a pole building behind my uncle's place next door. It also came in handy back behind Uncle Mike's picnic pavilion and swimming pool around the 4th of July ... lots of spent fireworks shells to sweep up after the annual bash. I guess the term "upper middle-class rednecks" sort of fits my background. Most everyone either worked at or was retired from some sort of manufacturing job or owned a small business. Back in the 70's, we had access to some pretty impressive fireworks, too, thanks to a few independent "owner/operator" truck drivers among us who drove over-the-road across the "lower 48" states. The "half sticks" they'd bring back from a run would blow a 2- to 3-foot diameter crater in loose dirt.