All the talk about Snomagedon got me to thinking about the Yooper Scoopers. I don't know when they were invented, I remember when I was a kid we had a homemade one. It was made from wooden boards with a sheetmetal bottom. When I was in high school we had a store bought one made from galvanized sheetmetal with a handle bent out of conduit.
Last Summer I went to visit my brother, but nobody was home. Then I noticed the Yooper Scooper hanging on the garage wall. I made this for him over 40 years ago and I was surprised to see it was still around. I made the bottom and sides from 1/8th inch aluminum that I riveted together. Brought the bottom and pieces for the handle to my brother and he welded the handle together and attached the handle.
I took a couple of pictures of it because I had my camera with me. I think I wanted to record the fact that it was still around after all these years. It's a little worse for wear, but all in all it has held up pretty well over the years. I was going to do a link to a company that makes Yooper Scoopers, but if anyone is interested, all they have to do is Google "Yooper Scooper".
Out our way we call them the "Poor Man's Fisher Plow". I wear one out about every third or fourth year. They are great for the snow fall that doesn't hit more than a couple of inches. Don't have to feed them gas or change the belts. And the side benefit is they work the body hard.
ReplyDeleteYou have a real classic there. All metal construction. The new ones are made of lightweight plastic, so I do like that part. But I almost cried when I couldn't patch the old metal one my dad and I used for years.
The damn things will move the snow if you plan the attack with some intelligence.
You can still get ones that are metal. The plastic ones are light and great for things like removing snow from the roof but don't hold up so well in heavy use. Try that's one website that makes and sells metal ones.
ReplyDeleteThe website disappeared. It's silverbear.biz
ReplyDeleteI just had the pleasure of using my Scooper yesterday. I cleared out 4 parking spots as fast as you could with a snow blower.
ReplyDeleteOf course, I blew out the 400 foot driveway. I'm not that stupid.
Yooper Scooper, I've seen a few 'modern' ones but wasn't interested in one. When a kid I saw some stronger ones that was used to scoop dirt with, behind horses or a tractor.
ReplyDeleteDon't think that I would want one for snow, I like my pusher plow on wheels that I made last year better. And before that, one without wheels.
But you did a nice job of making that.
For walks and paths I often use what I think is called a roof rake, made to clear snow off of roofs. You just walk beside the walk and rake the snow to the side.
ReplyDeleteThat way you are not picking up heavy shovel loads of snow and the older you get the more of a chore that becomes.
Well, you know how it is, give a job to a lazy man and he'll figure out an easier way to do it, ha ha ha ha
ReplyDelete