Hot Tub Forum
Original => Hot Tub Forum => Topic started by: Styx555 on January 12, 2007, 08:55:54 am
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Our yard backs onto a field and thus we get little privacy when in the tub. Aside from putting up bushes or shrubs, anyone have ideas on how to enhance our privacy. Things I'm considering include fencing, privacy gates (that don't blow down) or a gazebo. Any ideas, pictures would be welcome.
Thanks
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I am putting up panes of tinted glass that I can open when privacy is not needed. But the project is still in development stage and I probably will not have it completed until spring.
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Our tub is in plain view from the street. We put up a bamboo fence with just 2x2's. Its not meant to be permanent and we will probably eventually replace it with white vinyl fencing when replace the fence on that side of the house. But for now it works and it cost about $30.
(http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c288/imnosupermom/P1010041.jpg)
(http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c288/imnosupermom/P1010050.jpg)
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Latley I've been seeing a lot of open pergola's that have curtains on them.
Something like this, but with a less translucent material for the curtain;
(http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j61/GodlikeMoron/pandw.jpg)
This would allow you to have privacy when you needed/wanted it, as well as keep it open if prefered. When you're done, tie back the curtain panels and you shouldn't have a wind damage problem.
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Drews post reminded me of my favorite pergola I found when I first got my tub.
(http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c288/imnosupermom/pergola-lg.jpg)
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You could create a very simple version of these pergolas with four posts and four top rails. Corner bracing and detailing could be added to enhace the look of the thing, but once the basic frame is in place, a roll-up screen on the appropriate side would do the trick. If you want to leave the shade in place, you could fasten it in place all the way around, perhaps even put a 2x2 brace across the middle.
I have built a few of them, but I have no photos! Some of the simplest ones had 6' posts set in concrete. The posts ended up with only four feet above the ground or slab. Then by using 2x6 and 2x8 lumber to 'box' the posts, they were run up to whatever height I needed. This also gave the look of a larger post, which greatly enhances the look. Then the top rails can be simple 2x8, 2x10 or what have you. They can be boxed to match the posts, but simply putting two - one on the inside of the posts and one on the outside with a few inches of space between them - fools the eye and makes a little lumber look like large (expensive) timbers.
Here is a real fancy version from - of all places - Readers Digest, in which they have gone to the extra expense of using columns and putting on a rather ornate roof treatment. Keep in mind that if your goal is pricacy, you really only need the posts and a simple perimeter. Keep the top open. Instead of the columns - quoted at $200 each - you could use the same 4x4 posts but box them as I mentioned above.
I have built these with three posts and two top rails, or four posts with only three top rails leaving one side open. It doesn't look like a patio cover, really, but if you do it right it also doesn't look out of place. In fact it sort of 'frames' the tub, without drawing attention to itself. However, you can add some lighting for a touch of sparkle when you're not in the tub, and they make a great place to mount outdoor speakers...
(http://www.rd.com/images/tfhimport/2002/Jun02_Classic_Pergola/20020601_Classic_Pergola_page001img001.jpg)
http://www.rd.com/content/openContent.do?contentId=17835
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and another style....
I swiped this from the Caldera web site:
(http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j61/GodlikeMoron/vinyl_gazebo_capistrano.gif)
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My neighbors live right on top of my tub. I put up a ceder pergola for about $600. It took about 5 hours with 2 people. I have some sun shades on right now, but I'll be moving to some more opaque shade soon.
Actually, I may go to the drapes. I really like the look of those. Outdoor fabric?
(http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q131/gcbrowni/CIMG3315.jpg)
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...Actually, I may go to the drapes. I really like the look of those. Outdoor fabric?
I love the internet.
http://outdoorfabrics.com/
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I suspect if you look you can find fabric like the "sunbrella" material used on outdoor umbrellas that at least in theory should hold up to outdoor usage.
http://www.sunbrella.com/
Don't know if you can buy it in bolts of material but might be possible.
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(http://www.flexfence.com/images/hot_tub_spa3_s.jpg)
(http://www.tandtwoodworks.com/psperg03.jpg)
(http://www.borrowedspaces.com/assets/MSP/showimage.php?id=54)
(http://www.flexfence.com/images/hotTubSpa5cs.jpg)
(http://)
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and another style....
I swiped this from the Caldera web site:
(http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j61/GodlikeMoron/vinyl_gazebo_capistrano.gif)
(http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j61/GodlikeMoron/vinyl_gazebo_capistrano.gif)
I have one of those on my showroom floor. They are not cheap - they will last forever, of course. "Wood is good but Vinyl is final."
If you get one of these, be sure you anchor it well. They will topple in a stong wind. They come with metal plates to put in the post bottoms - they are hidden from view inside the post. They are built well, and it may not hurt the gazebo to fall over, but whatever it lands on will be a different story.
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Hey Chas - I like that - about how much does that retail for and do you know how wide those posts are?
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I have them priced at $2995 delivered and set up in our local area - but I have sold about none of them.
The posts are about 8 feet apart.
They can be ordered in all white, white and gray, and white and tan.
8-)
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Chas - what color is the one in your showroom? I'm just curious how the white and grey combo looks. I hate buying things sight unseen. I just called the local HS dealer and they don't have any set up in their showroom. My husband wants to know what the actual diameter of the posts are, not how far apart they are.....the dealer by me doesn't know. They just gave me a price of $2900 but I don't know if that includes set up and delivery.
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The posts are 4x4" up top, and 5x5" below the trim piece.
The one I have is gray and white.
My price is plus tax, delivered and assembled in our local area. If you are nearby, come see it, or I would be glad to send/post some pics.
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Here are some pics of my privacy fence.
(http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r165/tileman_photos/IMG_0022-2.jpg)
(http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r165/tileman_photos/IMG_0014.jpg)
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Chas - unfortunately I'm in NJ. Is there anyway you can take a picture of the one in your showroom and post it for me?? PLEASE? I would really appreciate it. I bet their price of $2900 didn't include tax, delivery or set up.
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WHYNOT.....you appear to have a very nice set up.
I normally do not like traditional hot tub
side panels buts yours looks really nice.
Lots of foot-room too!
Thanks for posting.
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Agreed, looks nice Why Not.
Mine is pretty similar, but I have 2 6' fall, 8' long shadowbox wood panels instead. I used 3 4x4 posts and put them in with Quickcrete. Total project cost was just under $130, and affords a good deal of privacy from the neighbors while leaving the view of the stars unobstructed. And between 20" holes and the concrete, there's no way they're blowing down ;)
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This thread really makes me appreciate my private back yard, even if it is small. It was weird to me visiting Tennessee and Kansas and parts of Florida that most people do not have fenced yards. I guess this is pretty common elsewhere? Here is CA, we close up our little bits of property fairly tightly. Good and bad.
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WHYNOT.....you appear to have a very nice set up.
I normally do not like traditional hot tub
side panels buts yours looks really nice.
Lots of foot-room too!
Thanks for posting.
Agreed, looks nice Why Not.
Thanks guys :D
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Chas - unfortunately I'm in NJ. Is there anyway you can take a picture of the one in your showroom and post it for me?? PLEASE? I would really appreciate it. I bet their price of $2900 didn't include tax, delivery or set up.
Your wish is my command - let me know if you would like some more. This is one I already have on file, but I could take the camera with me to work and snap a few more if you would like.
(http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r105/Chaswolf/Gazebo.jpg?t=1168671092)
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Thanks Chas. $2900 is a lot of money. I sent the website picture to my brother b/c that is exactly what I want and he said he can build it for us (he used to be a carpenter). Now it's just a matter of him getting to our house....probably won't be until the spring. I appreciate you posting the picture, I really like the way it looks.
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(http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r105/Chaswolf/Gazebo.jpg?t=1168671092)
I bet that tub was a pain to get level on that Mexican Saltillo tile.
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I bet that tub was a pain to get level on that Mexican Saltillo tile.
I bet it wasn't....or why would they have put that particular tile down?
Chas.....where did you get that rosebush? I assume it's not real? Oh wait....your in Calif, right? So it probably is real.....Looks nice!
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I bet it wasn't....or why would they have put that particular tile down?
:-? :-/ :-? :-/ :-?
You must not know too much about that particular tile.
Leave the tile queries to me. :D Afterall, it is what I do for a living. 8-)
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:-? :-/ :-? :-/ :-?
You must not know too much about that particular tile.
Leave the tile queries to me. :D
ok ...forgot who I was talking to ....so sorry :P
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ok "Oh wise one"
I have been sensing a little hostility from you lately. What gives?
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I have been sensing a little hostility from you lately. What gives?
Nothing gives...I just forgot that you are the expert.... sorry I said anything about the tile. I just couldn't imagine a hot tub dealer putting down tile on their floor that would make it hard to level their spas, that's all. But I guess they must have.
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Nothing gives
That's music to my ears. :)
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hey WHYNOT....I was not aware you are a tile expert.
although it's not tile....I am about to have my garage floor "redone"
they are coming to give me an estimate for my 2 car garage
tomorrow....
a friend had it done and it was like $1100.
I know you can buy the garage floor paint at Lowes/Home Depot
but I am lazy and not very handy....plus thats what is on my garage
floor now from the previous owner and its peeling and chipping.
do you have any advice about this....pros/cons?
Here is the company I am considering using....
http://www.premiergarage.com/httpdocs/gallery/
(http://www.premiergarage.com/httpdocs/gallery/gallery/images/LoadGolfClubs_P.jpg)
(http://www.premiergarage.com/httpdocs/gallery/gallery/images/CampingFamily_P.jpg)
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I'm not an expert in that particular feild but I can shed a little light.
I noticed that Premiere Garage doesn't use an epoxy in their applications. In my experience with epoxy grout, I would highly reccommend using a coating that has epoxy in it. Epoxy grout is virtually indestructable.
That Home Depot stuff has epoxy in it and if done right you should get many years of use out of it. The most important steps are the preperation ones. The surface must be adequately preped to ensure proper bondage. I just bought my Dad some of it. We're going to install it this Spring. I got the 2-car garage kit for $100. It's a very simple application and I think you would not have a problem doing it yourself.
Here's a link on how to remove your old garage floor coating
http://www.rentalhq.com/article.asp?artid=66&cat=con
Here's another idea for garage flooring
http://www.swisstrax.com/garagefloors.htm
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I just couldn't imagine a hot tub dealer putting down tile on their floor that would make it hard to level their spas, that's all. But I guess they must have.
Actually, the joint used to be a tile store. The center of the main showroom is great - a very nice pattern of high-end tile. But the rest of the place is very tough to work with. If we actully have a good year or two, I plan on ripping it all out.
The mexican tiles are so soft that I can't slide spas around on them without cutting and/or gouging them. I took out some walls as we were moving in, and I couldn't find any tiles the same size - so we had to cut each and every tile to match. That, of course, leaves a raised edge - what a total pain.
I'm thinking acid etched or stained concrete after the tile comes out.
The roses - my wife gets all that stuff at some wholesale house down in Los Angeles. We own/operate several businesses - one of which is her being a wedding coordinator - so she has connections, and good taste.
8-)
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re: I'm thinking acid etched or stained concrete after the tile comes out.
I love that acid/stained concrete that is so popular right now.
Yep Chas I bet that would be great for moving tubs around
and in and out of your store.
(http://www.odanielinc.com/images/con_stained_001.jpg)
(http://www.constructiondeal.com/blog/uploaded_images/StainedByDesign-700428.jpg)
(http://www.scofield.com/images/stepguide_chemstain2.jpg)
ps: Thanks for the advice WHYNOT...
I'll see what the guy says that is coming out to give estimate.
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Speaking of a privacy fence.......
(http://images.stltoday.com/stltoday/images/nav/top/stltodaylogo.gif)
If neighbors are bare, just grin and bear it
By Amy Dickinson
TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES
01/14/2007
Dear Amy: I'm a 70-year-old man, and I live alone.
My neighbors are a middle-age couple. I don't really know
them except to say "Hi" to, but we get along just fine. A fence
encloses their yard, and I cannot see into their yard. The only
exception to this is when they step up to get in or out of their hot tub.
Amy, it is obvious that neither of them owns a swimsuit. This doesn't
bother me, but I'm not sure if I should tell them that I can see them.
What do you think?
REPLY: There is a likelihood that your neighbors do own swimsuits but
choose not to wear them when they're using their hot tub.
It seems as if your neighbors have taken measures to try to ensure their
privacy; if there is a way for you to further block your own view, then you
could try to do so.
However, any naked person stepping in and out of a hot tub in their yard
or on their back deck must realize that they run some risk of being seen
in the altogether. If this doesn't bother you, then let it go.
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That could very easily be me neighbor! I live in St. Louis and have a 70 yr old neighbor who lives right next to me. Wow, wouldn't that be funny if he's talkin' about me. :D
Thanks for the heads up Zep. I'll keep an eye out for him the next time I'm in the tub.
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Hmmm, that's odd. I didn't realize that you (yourself) were a middle-aged couple? In fact, you don't look to be in your fourties at all but rather mid-to-low thirties (remember that the original author was a 70-year old guy. Middle aged to him is probably 40 or 50. Of course, this post is all in good humor so don't take it the wrong way... ;D
Here's my recomendation for the Garage Flooring...
(http://img440.imageshack.us/img440/7870/mygaragefs6.jpg)
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The owner of that garage must sell spas for living. ;) .........In the bunker, that's not your garage is it? :o
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How old are you?
How old is the oldest person you know?
Between your age and their age is middle aged.
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Hey, Zep. You posted a picture of one of our installations. ;D
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I don't sell spa's and I think I'll plead the 5th on this one. Here's another with a slightly different car on the far side...
(http://img411.imageshack.us/img411/1754/mygarageinyellowmd2.jpg)
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I don't sell spa's and I think I'll plead the 5th on this one. Here's another with a slightly different car on the far side...
(http://img411.imageshack.us/img411/1754/mygarageinyellowmd2.jpg)
Wow, ndabunka. I would never leave your garage....
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I hope he's jokin'..... cuz that aint right. :o :o :o
Mercedes-Benz CLS(not sure if it's the 550, 550 AMG, 63, OR 63 AMG)
MSRP - $66,900 - $92,200
Porsche 911 (not sure of the model, it's got an aftermarket bodykit I think)
MSRP - $72,400 - $122,900
Lamborghini Gallardo
MSRP - $175,000 - $195,000
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ndabunka, is that YOUR garage? Holy moly! I'm a big "fast car" fan -- what else do you have?
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The Porche is a REAL 997 turbo (around $150K). The CLS was a CLS55 and may even have possibly also been either a Brabus or Kleeman mod (~$130K car). The Lambo was around $150 as well so yep, a little shy of 1/2 a mil in "toys" in those pics!
When I said... "I plead the 5th" I meant that I didn't want to confess that it wasn't mine I guess I had a few of you going for a little while there (I even titled the pics "My garage" in the event that someone wanted to dive a little deeper into investigation). I did have a fairly high performance Benz a little while back (CLK55) when they were a good bit more rare than they are today. Only 800 were produced and shipped to America in 2001. At the time it was the fastest production car you could get and came stock with 349HP. Ran a 4.9 second Zero to sixty and could turn a Quarter mile in under 13 seconds. I bought it off a pilot who had his route cut and simply needed out of it. That allowed me to drive it for about 20 months before selling it for within $1,500 of what I had paid him for it. It was a blast! Those pics are from one of the other forums I visit and is not unusual to find a dozen or so guys with those kinds of toys. This particular guy had just replaced his Porche with the Lambo and wanted to show us his change. I kept the pick because I do plan on doing that to my current 3-car garage (as a summertime project). COst is about $1,400 if I do the work myself. It's actually peices that fit together and has insulation underneath to keep the garage quiet. It was very nicely done. I curently drive a loaded Acura TL with a few mods and had a Lexus GX470 for my business and wife drives a Highlander Hybrid. We sold the Lexus (and miss it) but didn't need it for the business any longer and it was a little rough on fuel (17MPG). I had a convertable Corvette in the not to distant past and am currently looking for a 2000 or 2001 Lotus Esprit or a early-mid 60's corvette convert. Drooling over the Barrett-Jackson cars show right now...But, nope, not mine...
BTW - I have a VERY hard time putting any more than $50K into ANY one car myself
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The Porche is a REAL 997 turbo (around $150K).
You don't see to many of those around. He had me fooled.
At the time it was the fastest production car
Are you sure? :-/ http://www.autofacts.ca/classics/fast.htm
I curently drive a loaded Acura TL with a few mods and had a Lexus GX470 .
I like your taste in cars. What mods did you do to your TL?
I am currently looking for a 2000 or 2001 Lotus Esprit
I looked into buying a Lotus Elise. I test drove one and it was nice and very fast but way to impractical. It's basically just you and two seats. It's fine for the track but way to stiff for everyday driving. I opted for a 350Z instead. I've done a few bolt on mods myself but no turbos or anything like that. You might as well just by a faster car imo, as the turbo system I wanted was around $7000 w/ installation and to keep this legit, That's about how much my spa, patio, and privacy fence was. I think I made the more practical desicion. :D
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"WHY NOT", how tall is your privacy fence? I noticed yours has no lattice, would you have gone for the top foot being lattice or do you prefer the way it is?
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You don't see to many of those around. He had me fooled.
Are you sure? :-/ http://www.autofacts.ca/classics/fast.htm
I didn't see the McClaren on that list. ???
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You don't see to many of those around. He had me fooled.
Are you sure? :-/ http://www.autofacts.ca/classics/fast.htm
I didn't see the McClaren on that list. ???
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re: a Lexus GX470 for my business
ndabunka.....you sold it?
Shame on you!
I love mine!
(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y273/ItsZep/Hooters069.jpg)
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"WHY NOT", how tall is your privacy fence? I noticed yours has no lattice, would you have gone for the top foot being lattice or do you prefer the way it is?
The panels are 6' x 6' and the posts are 6'' x 6''. I kept the panels about 4 inches above my patio for a total height of 76''. I thought about going the lattice route b/c imo they look a little nicer but I opted for the full privacy ones as I needed the maximum amount to block the veiw from my neighbors who are practically "on top" of me. I'm very happy that I went the route I did. :D
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Not certain why they would have the 2003 and 2004 CLK55's in there but not the 2001 CLK55 as it was "slightly" quicker (It weighs less than the newer ones). I think the fastest (normally aspirated) production car was from zero to 60 in Benz's marketing materials. It came in @ 4.9. I see there was a porche turbo in 2001 (turbo removes it from consideration) and a Lamborgini (enough said). The corvette may also have been quicker but that also may have been a limited production run. I think my best 1/4 mile was around 13.2 (but I do kno that others who did minor mods were getting down into the 12.5 range. As many of you know also know, that 55 engine is the same one that they put into the E55 but they Super charged it. A few guys S/C'd the CLK55's and get 11 second runs upwards or 125MPH (of course, S/Cing them also gives them another 100HP as well)
TL only has 19" wheels and the Fujita CAI so far. S/C for it only adds 40HP or so and cost like $2,800. Considering the Benz S/C is $8K, that could be considered cheap... LOL!
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Well, I collect old Fords. Here's my latest addition to the collection:
(http://s142.photobucket.com/albums/r105/Chaswolf/th_NewWheel.jpg)
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Well, I collect old Fords. Here's my latest addition to the collection:
(http://s142.photobucket.com/albums/r105/Chaswolf/th_NewWheel.jpg)
My grandpa has one like that that he has to jimmy rig with a screwdriver to start. ;) Still works and he uses it regularly.