My first experience was when I was 8 yrs old. I came across and almost new reel push mower (no engine) in the rich folks trash and used it to cut lawns all summer and saved up. Bought a pair of grass Trimmers/hand shears (kinda like scissors with a spring return, remember string trimmers are years away yet) that really upped my game. Usually made a dollar for a yard and sometimes with great satisfaction they occasionally they gave me a cold Bottle of Pepsi or even a 25 Cent Tip! :drink: :2cents:
Luckily I had a couple neighbors guys that were willing to help teach me to sharpen blades and fix what broke (no dad in the picture). Never thought about how hard it was top push the mower, just slow compared to the rich folks and their gas propelled rotary's. Bought 2 slightly broken Gas Mowers that winter and worked on them. These were the old type, where you wrapped the rope around each time (no spring return). Following summer more than tripled customers, which allowed me to buy a used 3 speed bicycle, add baskets and set me on a path of a massive Newspaper route.
Man I can still strongly recall how INCREDIBLE that rare ice cold 16oz bottled Pepsi was, while sitting under a shade tree in August, after hours of pushing that mower. :cool2:
