1970s Antique AC Unit still running

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Komentáře • 286

  • @scottallen5182
    @scottallen5182 Před rokem +586

    New house, new boat and new ac, 74 must have been a great year!

  • @primeministerofredneckistan

    I love how the homeowner (helicopter) was seemingly unphased by your engaging the contactor and drowning his voice out. 😂

  • @kompst_tu
    @kompst_tu Před rokem +80

    Gotta love when vintage technology still holds up to this day.

    • @wandameadows5736
      @wandameadows5736 Před 3 měsíci

      The technology of the AC hasn't changed in 100 years cause there's no better way.

  • @davidgilpin5200
    @davidgilpin5200 Před rokem +149

    Old Westinghouse, from a time when that brand still had value. Squirrel cage condenser blower! Built like a tank. Here in North TX I still see the old GE condensers (became Trane.) "They don't make 'em like that anymore." Ted, looking forward to part 2 - maybe there's a "little jimmy" in the condenser blower :)

    • @dynatrak
      @dynatrak Před rokem +6

      I saw an old GE Standard condenser still running strong in Brownwood, TX yesterday.

    • @wandameadows5736
      @wandameadows5736 Před 3 měsíci

      The EPA doesn't allow them to make em like that anymore. EPA is destroying America.

  • @Stackinginvestments1
    @Stackinginvestments1 Před rokem +71

    About 8 years back, I tested a 1967 Singer system: Condenser, furnace and thermostat. It was running like a champ. The furnace, with belt drive blower, looked like NEW on the inside.

  • @Spinonemaster
    @Spinonemaster Před rokem +64

    Good thing he grabbed that spare for parts when his neighbor updated ... lol ... he was thinking ahead, can't wait for the update ... interesting you have a guy who rebuilds motors/shaft thru motors ... I'm still impressed when I see machinists/craftsmen do that kind of work to save old stuff

  • @6ohTreez
    @6ohTreez Před rokem +12

    I love how the homeowner starts telling a story and the guy turns the contacter on😂

  • @willptech7565
    @willptech7565 Před rokem +24

    Don’t you just love it when the customers are always on top of what your doing 😂

  • @abovegroundgarage
    @abovegroundgarage Před rokem +7

    Imagine how many cycles that unit has seen. All the changes in the world going on around it and it’s still just kicking off and on. When things were built to last a little longer.

  • @Farm_fab
    @Farm_fab Před rokem +145

    Ted, I have a friend that rebuilds motors/starters/alternators/pumps, etc., and he's had some real Lulu's come in his door. He doesn't rewind motors, but has a go to guy that does this. The chances of getting an older motor rewound is better than newer motors as many of them don't have bearings, but have bushings. If you need that motor rebuilt, chances are that it would outlast newer ones as well.

    • @WJCTechyman
      @WJCTechyman Před 6 měsíci

      There weren't ball bearings in that fan motor. I could hear it sounding like dry bronze bushings. Also, the newer motors are probably more efficient than the older ones. Also, rebuilding a motor that age would probably end up costing more than it's really worth vs. installing a new motor, or just replacing the unit altogether with a brand new system that will be guaranteed to run for 10-20 years. That said, we should be having our major appliances like air conditioners and furnaces checked each year both for safety and possible replacement parts. People should also be cleaning and keeping a regular replacement or cleaning maintenance schedule for filters, screens, condenser and evaporator A-frames. This makes them last longer too. I try to do this with my portable and window air conditioners. I take them outside, remove the covers, vacuum clean and spray down the condenser and evaporator coils with the hose, let it dry, button it back up and put it back into service for that season.

  • @Silky_boi
    @Silky_boi Před rokem +8

    Customer starts talking
    Ted - “getting shocked is better than hearing this guy”

  • @isaacmendoza1952
    @isaacmendoza1952 Před rokem +31

    I recently worked on a 1973 Payne. Original BM finally gave out. When you pull out the blower motor and the housing you see the heat exchanger. Not one blemish on the heat exchanger. Amazing how these unit were once built to last.

  • @ShaneL295
    @ShaneL295 Před rokem +56

    Can't wait to see the follow-up. I've seen those through-shaft motors in my old apartment AC system.

  • @snugglebunnyhaven7258
    @snugglebunnyhaven7258 Před rokem +4

    My neighbor used to have an old 1960s Lennox condensing unit that had the slow running compressor. WHen I was a kid in the mid 80s or so i replaced his fan motor as it started over heating and would shut down causing the head pressure to go up and the high pressure cutout would shut things down. It continued to run up into the 90s when the new owner finally upgraded the entire system.

  • @soleadoc
    @soleadoc Před rokem +4

    Took out a 69 Westinghouse two years ago that was still running. The compressor was changed once in 91. I was born in 71, and frikkin amazes me how those old units were built.

  • @chuckquinn8026
    @chuckquinn8026 Před rokem +13

    Fascinating outdoor twin blowers 😳😳😳

  • @blake8297
    @blake8297 Před rokem +5

    Haha the helicopter was cracking me up, he was really wanting to give you an update on the situation

  • @jackl9922
    @jackl9922 Před rokem +5

    Fun to see old stuff. You might make Steve jealous. Always nice when it makes sense to fix old stuff.

  • @Mercmad
    @Mercmad Před rokem +2

    I bet the neighborhood just loves listening to that thing rattling away at night. 😁😁

  • @larryd9068
    @larryd9068 Před rokem +1

    I have a 1976 Rudd AC at my house! It still is running effectively. All it ever needed is contactor, condenser fan/capacitor. The compressor run capacitor was still good but I replaced it a few years ago as a precaution. Its never needed a refrigerant charge and the delta t, sub cooling/superheat are in acceptable range. I keep the evaporator, condenser and electrical system clean anually and it works every season. Also I shut off power and cover the outdoor unit during the cold season. It owes me nothing and the day it needs replacing it will be like losing a friend!

  • @rdeanhanson
    @rdeanhanson Před rokem +24

    Helicopter…. I can’t hear ya! lol

    • @drumhd1
      @drumhd1 Před rokem

      🚁

    • @JesusTeodoro12
      @JesusTeodoro12 Před rokem

      😂

    • @stazeII
      @stazeII Před rokem

      He just kept talkin too. Like my son when I’m like “I’m doing something else. I can’t hear you”. Yak yak yak.

  • @williamserver4332
    @williamserver4332 Před rokem +18

    Wow. I've seen those old green York units with two fan blade motor shafts but not that type with squirrel cage wheels. Great video. Part 2 should be interesting

  • @Luckingsworth
    @Luckingsworth Před rokem +1

    I have this and and the heater in the house I bought too! Simple and reliable, cant beat it.

  • @Robert-S-
    @Robert-S- Před rokem +16

    Very neat to see that it still works. I had to laugh, he just keeps talking to you as you are trying to do your inspection, and its obviously raining as you just jam your finger into the contactor to force it on. It just seemed a little bit like you were mildly frustrated and tempting fate....then the text popped up on the screen and I bout fell out of my chair.
    I understand that fixing it _might_ be cheaper than replacing it....but for something that old, the efficiency of a newer unit has to have some value. I also admire the fact he had the presence of mind to salvage the neighbors old unit. Society as a whole has moved from a concept of making things that last to everything is consumable. Who knows, maybe the spare parts will be exactly what you need to get things back running right.
    Looking forward to part 2.
    Thanks for the entertainment.

    • @DandyDon1
      @DandyDon1 Před rokem

      This might be too old to actually have a SEER rating. I looked it up, according to Wikipedia 1987 was the first year units were required to have at least a 10 SEER rating. " It is rare to see systems rated below SEER 9 in the United States because aging, existing units are being replaced with new, higher efficiency units."
      He could repair it from the other condenser unit's parts, he could probably also purchase a new dual shaft condenser fan with run capacitor. The problem is does anyone in their right mind want to get "married" to a unit this old, which will probably turn into a huge headache? What will be next, the compressor fails, condenser springs a leak, evaporator springs a leak, etc....
      I believe this unit is operating on borrowed time.

    • @Joseph-yh3uv
      @Joseph-yh3uv Před rokem +1

      a newer unit ant gona last 20 years

    • @YukonHawk1
      @YukonHawk1 Před rokem

      Well said😀😀

  • @gdessario5014
    @gdessario5014 Před rokem +19

    Hi Ted, watching from Windsor Ontario Canada, we had a unit just like that and it was a Chrysler Air Temp and interestingly enough, they had their own type of fittings (patented) for the condenser and the A coil. That old girl worked for about 25 years! Two Ton unit

  • @kg4muc
    @kg4muc Před rokem +15

    Wow. Nobody around here touches small motors anymore Some of the larger Sears window units used that dual shaft motor

    • @DandyDon1
      @DandyDon1 Před rokem

      Early Frigidaire window units when it was a GM company. The blower motor's windings mounted in the center and the outer housing was the armature which spun with the blades.
      I know Carrier window units also had a dual shaft condenser/evaporator motor. Many were manufactured that way.

  • @AL666MAGGOT
    @AL666MAGGOT Před rokem +2

    Old stuff just works and you can repair it while new stuff break easily and most of the times you won't be able to repair it ...

  • @talk2azs
    @talk2azs Před rokem +19

    What a beautiful antiquated system. They really don't build them like they use to! Thanks so much for sharing this historic event!

  • @JeffreyJakucyk
    @JeffreyJakucyk Před rokem +10

    House I grew up in had a SpacePak (or some other brand of high-velocity A/C) installed sometime in the '70s and it had this exact sort of condenser unit. Neat thing is it was nearly silent from the back side. That'd keep sound from projecting back into the house. It also had a small push-button reset switch on the rear near the bottom, probably a high-pressure control. I didn't see one here, but who knows if it was standard equipment to begin with? Either way my parents replaced that thing in the early 1990s with a Trane. Amazing to see one still kicking around 30 years later.

  • @ronkemperful
    @ronkemperful Před rokem +4

    Very interesting. I had a 1964 American Standard AC that was still running in 2000, that only required an outside blower motor replacement in 1975 which I did myself. Still was working strong with just an occasional cleaning when I sold the house.

  • @Channel-cm7yc
    @Channel-cm7yc Před rokem +9

    My word these old Westinghouse units were a kinda scarce in my part of the world. But we’d get them occasionally usually on a church or some kind of public hall and even a gas station or 2.
    But occasionally we’d get one exactly like this where blower motor is as we heard, typically shot! Wasn’t easy to get a replacement motor back in the late 80’s for them either.
    But you could get them motors rebuilt though. Most folks just opted for an updated system if it was in their budgets.
    The old Fedders side discharged units were another one we’d get every now an again running well beyond it’s time lol lol… these old units just didn’t see the hours get racked up on them and that’s why you see them around still, because people just didn’t run them until they absolutely had to back in the day.

  • @DJdoppIer
    @DJdoppIer Před rokem +1

    This is peak "they don't make them like they used to" right here!!! What a majestic beast!!!
    Sort of unrelated, but I bought a Philips 2GB mp3 player back in 2001 for $40 (with one of the first color screens) and it's been through literal hell and back, and aside from needing to reset it 3 three times over the years it still works amazing. Even the lithium ion pack battery still held a charge up until this year, but it started ballooning out and I had to remove it from the case. It still works fine plugged in and I use it in my car for the daily commute to and from work. Best $40 piece of electronics I've ever had.

  • @jeffclark5024
    @jeffclark5024 Před rokem +30

    That’s awesome, I’ve got a Westing house window A/C unit that was built into the wall of my house when I bought the house. I later found the manual for it and it’s a 1986 model. I’ve been using it the last 6 years, still works beautifully.

  • @georgieippolito9924
    @georgieippolito9924 Před rokem +2

    i had a auntique carrier ac unit with the original logo on it. the ac guy called it a dinosaur lol. the compressor died and we got a new carrier unit

  • @yz250a
    @yz250a Před rokem +15

    It's a treat to see antiques like that. Nikola Tesla probably designed that one!

  • @justinstuart3674
    @justinstuart3674 Před rokem +5

    I don’t know why, but when you took off the top and that back panel fell off. I started laughing hysterically. Love your videos!

  • @1Himiko7Toga
    @1Himiko7Toga Před rokem +2

    bro restoring that thing would be a nice video to watch ngl

  • @nb7466
    @nb7466 Před rokem +1

    I have pulled out ones from the 70s. One I'll always remember. It was round and green with woodgrain around the outside

  • @gvtdawg
    @gvtdawg Před rokem +5

    Would be nice if the units made today were HALF as good as the old ones.

  • @JoeL-re1dc
    @JoeL-re1dc Před 21 dnem

    I replaced the complete HVAC system on a rental of mine. When the furnace failed, I said replace it all. My HVAC guy asked me if the a/c still worked. I said yep, I just put about a half pound of 22 in each each season and it still gets the job done. He laughed and called his boss and told him "you won't believe it.... he's got an old "toaster, and it's still working. I think it was a York. Some guys call them tombstones. I kept it clean, and charged, and it was a good unit. I bet the replacement won't last 25% as long........

  • @obc1500
    @obc1500 Před rokem

    My parents had a 1970 Westinghouse unit, much larger than that, that was fully operational when removed 5 years ago.

  • @5metalacid1
    @5metalacid1 Před rokem +23

    Loving the increase in uploads Ted! Especially these vids featuring old antique units

  • @pstiegman
    @pstiegman Před rokem +1

    Can't wait to see what's in the attic! Holey Smokes!
    I bet he's got a 1974 stove and a 1974 refrigerator too.

  • @vladekvladinov5753
    @vladekvladinov5753 Před rokem +17

    I removed the same unit 2 years ago. With the coil and the furnace. There was nothing wrong with the system. The new homeowner just bought the house and they wanted a new system.
    I wish I filmed it by now.
    It was in Kansas City MO

    • @richardc8333
      @richardc8333 Před rokem +4

      Yes I remember the exact same model/brand from my best friend down the street growing up…in Blue Springs. We used it for base when we played tag

  • @QSSCEO
    @QSSCEO Před 9 měsíci

    When capacitors lasted forever. Original CFM... wow
    I had one of these trough the wall in my old house and it ran 42 years until the aluminum condenser coil failed...still had all original parts

  • @brnmcc01
    @brnmcc01 Před rokem +2

    I replaced a TXV in a 5 ton horizontal cased coil today at a restaurant so the condenser was up on top of a 22' high roof. Got it all done just in time, started to sprinkle a little bit so I got my SMAN360 off the unit, and dragged the can of R22 to the edge of the roof, and by the time I went back to the ladder, man it just started pouring, like stepping into a cold shower. I had got everything put up except that jug of freon... No damage, just the cardboard box got pretty soaked. Thought about climbing up the ladder to grab it, but I was like NOPE. The jug is watertight, the box wasn't worth getting that soaked... Of course 2 hours later when I was back at the house at 7pm, the sun came back out and shining brightly! Gotta love the weather....

  • @josericardogs1435
    @josericardogs1435 Před rokem +1

    "You can be sure if it's Westinghouse". Well I think that is true.

  • @darylwhite2526
    @darylwhite2526 Před rokem +1

    I work in hvac sales and when you hear the phrase “they don’t make em like they used to” it is really true. You will do good to get 15 years out of the units you buy nowadays.

  • @JesusTeodoro12
    @JesusTeodoro12 Před rokem +1

    That thing must be in a museum!

  • @ed6837
    @ed6837 Před rokem +4

    Old Westinghouse. Everything they built back then was bullet proof. Built like a tank

  • @RSxxx877
    @RSxxx877 Před rokem

    I was at my sister home which was built in 1971 for a family reunion & noticed their old AC which was running like a charm. Turn out it is original to their home & they have only had to have it repaired twice in 51 years. The brand in Singer.

  • @Kyle-sv2zu
    @Kyle-sv2zu Před rokem +6

    One of many things this channel has taught me, let the tech do his job without my input or "help".

  • @ezduzit24
    @ezduzit24 Před rokem +1

    Wow that’s an oldie! Built like a tank I bet

  • @MrC9Oh3
    @MrC9Oh3 Před rokem +1

    Back when things were built to last. We live in a throw away world now.

  • @uxwbill
    @uxwbill Před rokem +15

    There are still a few similar condensing units in service around here. I'd always wondered how the air flowed through them.
    That outdoor unit fan motor was probably made to be oiled every six months to a year. I'd be surprised if it had ever been oiled!

    • @arealmaintenanceandrepairl1103
      @arealmaintenanceandrepairl1103 Před rokem

      Same as new style blows out the top/side upper vents lowered over vents is the coil and that’s here it’s sucking in the air but it would seem it’s crossing over

  • @jcraigshelton
    @jcraigshelton Před rokem

    Man that’s an old horse. My grandparents had that same Westinghouse unit when i was a kid. Had the twin horizontally oriented fans in the front. Hope he had you repair it instead of replace.

  • @Cheva-Pate
    @Cheva-Pate Před rokem +1

    I would believe there is a Timken or SKF bearings in that fan!
    The old indoor units with fake wood, we call them woodie’s are so cool!

  • @Thomas-yr9ln
    @Thomas-yr9ln Před 14 dny

    I would have it fixed. If could transport me back in time when I was a teenager.

  • @EnchantedSmellyWolf
    @EnchantedSmellyWolf Před rokem

    So archaic and beautiful!

  • @garbleduser
    @garbleduser Před rokem +1

    I can't wait for part 2!

  • @randykroells8049
    @randykroells8049 Před rokem

    My dad's house has a 73 Lennox, atta boy Dave.

  • @negan454ss
    @negan454ss Před rokem +1

    Keep the old ones going . Man almost 50 years old. My Lennox has done me well 22 years in Arizona. I have taken meticulous care of it though

  • @joeshearer1247
    @joeshearer1247 Před rokem +7

    Looked like original parts too

  • @tedsmith5058
    @tedsmith5058 Před rokem

    Hello from the great state of Michigan

  • @gregorylincoln4328
    @gregorylincoln4328 Před rokem

    My parents had one just like this installed in 1969. It finally died in 2008.

  • @sparkyobrian6417
    @sparkyobrian6417 Před 8 měsíci

    man he was right in the way , you have great patience!!!

  • @CarFailsAndCrazyVids
    @CarFailsAndCrazyVids Před rokem +1

    30 years older than me, crazy

  • @98grand5point9
    @98grand5point9 Před rokem

    My dad's old house had one of those, ran from 1971 till 2000. Replaced the fan motor once.

  • @brnmcc01
    @brnmcc01 Před rokem +3

    Never seen squirrel cage motors for a condenser. I've run into a few ceiling mounted air handlers that had a twin small squirel cage blower setup like that with a double shafted motor in the middle like that, replaced a few heat sequencers, and heating elements, and blower relays on those. Every time I had to take down that ceiling panel, I was always thinking, please don't be a blower motor! But those were GE motors, made in Fort Wayne, IN, and I never did have to replace one, thank god. Those things were tanks. But a nightmare to change out I bet.

  • @bennyt83
    @bennyt83 Před rokem +1

    i love how you cranked it up to drown the ol fella out. I hate customers standing there just harping on. hahaha

  • @bradgeary3467
    @bradgeary3467 Před rokem +2

    We see those through shaft style motors here in southern california regularly in fan soffit coils. come do think of it though i’ve only ever had to replaced one in a slim duct mini split though. got lucky in that the unit was hung high in a large attic (not as common here). Served a residential AV/server room. it’s the only ducted residential AV room unit i’ve run into.

  • @Ted_E_Bear
    @Ted_E_Bear Před rokem +1

    Thanks Ted !

  • @Manospondylus
    @Manospondylus Před rokem +5

    I wonder how long an AC could last before replacement if the engineers really designed it to last.

  • @chadhartsees
    @chadhartsees Před rokem

    The was one of my favorites because the layout is just so unique/different than what we see in residential nowadays.

  • @WeatherNut27
    @WeatherNut27 Před rokem

    Awesome! In 1974 Westinghouse said "Lets make something so the future folks in 50 yrs will be impressed by".
    'Made In USA'

  • @anthonygonzalez7488
    @anthonygonzalez7488 Před rokem +2

    That a/c with the double squirrel cage blower wheels is very similar to a Champion WCM 28 evaporative cooler. The interesting thing is how the motor/fan will still be working long after the cooler rusts out.

  • @havox112
    @havox112 Před rokem +1

    amazing he has a backup identical unit

  • @jimbo5728
    @jimbo5728 Před 13 dny

    What is wrong with people standing between you and what you need to work on?!?! LOVED how you hit the contactor when he started rambling 😂😂😂😂😂

  • @bryco32
    @bryco32 Před rokem

    HA! My Dad had the same one in our house when we were kids in the 80's He had it serviced every year religiously. It met his demise after he decided to take up archery. LOL! I still like to give him crap a little bit over it. I was riding around in the backyard on a old mininbike and saw him nail it with a bent arrow he pulled out of the ground after lawndarting it. I did the "Whaaaat did you do??" after seeing it blow up! "Keep riding that bike pal and don't say a friggen thing to yer maw!" LOL! Maybe I'll call him and remind him about it again!! HA!

  • @jazeenharal6013
    @jazeenharal6013 Před rokem

    Lol love how the guy is just rambling on and you keep it running

  • @kg4muc
    @kg4muc Před rokem +1

    Bout time for some drag car pictures 😉

  • @WalterKnox
    @WalterKnox Před rokem +5

    I would say it is worth it. Especially since he has an extra one that could be used as a parts donor. I could not see closely enough, but a lot of older fan motors had oil ports, if it is the original, it may have them. There is no reason not to preserve that unit.

  • @bryansimon4072
    @bryansimon4072 Před rokem

    Can’t wait. Thanks for sharing

  • @hariranormal5584
    @hariranormal5584 Před rokem

    beautiful

  • @suezq74
    @suezq74 Před 10 měsíci

    Hey that’s a reciprocating compressor at 2:33! Westinghouse must’ve had those compressor types back those days

  • @cliffcorbitt9494
    @cliffcorbitt9494 Před rokem

    i got a coleman setup here from the 80s still running!!! in a house built in 52

  • @tronixfix
    @tronixfix Před rokem +1

    New blower fan and capacitors and it's good to go another 50 years

  • @RUMBALman4downunder
    @RUMBALman4downunder Před rokem

    I have a mid 1970s fijitsu window unit Reverse cycle air-conditioned (heat pump) and it still works amazing. Use it to heat and cool my shed

  • @russiaprivjet
    @russiaprivjet Před rokem +2

    Hate it when they hover like that

  • @travisc3571
    @travisc3571 Před rokem

    My friends just died and it was a 1974 GE. He had a pair of them one died last year and the other died three months ago.

  • @YukonHawk1
    @YukonHawk1 Před rokem

    Got to love the dual squirrel cage fans. Can't wait for the follow up.

  • @Eddy63
    @Eddy63 Před rokem

    Good vid and will await the follow up ... Thx for posting ...

  • @jenson3810
    @jenson3810 Před rokem +1

    I used to charge an extra $10.00 for the added advice.

  • @RedArwBus
    @RedArwBus Před rokem +1

    "YOU CAN BE SURE IF IT"S WESTINGHOUSE"

  • @thenightstalker745
    @thenightstalker745 Před rokem

    damn wish they still made those the one we have has problems every couple months.

  • @nbarrager
    @nbarrager Před rokem

    I just had an interview for a rotary equipment tech at my local university. One of the old heads there took one look at me (6'7", hair tied back going down below my shoulders) and said "we don't usually hire people with long hair and pony tails" then he turned around and he had one too. He reminded me of you.

  • @HVACGUY
    @HVACGUY Před rokem

    Interesting. Thanks for posting

  • @derpydog1008
    @derpydog1008 Před rokem

    Cool can't wait for part 2.

  • @scotts4125
    @scotts4125 Před rokem +1

    My GF had a condo built in the 70's that had a double S.C blower like that in the air handler. It was horizontal in the space between the floor above and her ceiling. There was very little room. The A/C guy also had trouble finding a motor. I think he found a used one, had it rebuilt and it ran OK. So glad we sold that place.
    New house 2 years old gated community on the water. One of my Carrier X13's bit the dust. Wouldn't shut off. I put a U.S. Motor rescue motor in it this weekend using Ted's no fan puller. Came out great. Thanks for all your videos. I actually tried to order the Jack Of All Sprays on Amazon but they cancelled the order.
    I have a theory why the motor failed after watching a tech talk from a motor guy on the HVAC School site. They installed both units on vertical stands each in their own closet. I have to admit it was months before I caught it but the installers put the filters in the stands not in the units. The filters had gaps on two sides. After I caught it one of the units had some black kaka. I bought evap cleaner and put UV lights in them. It cleaned up fine. The tech guy said on an ECM blower if they have to much free air (less static pressure) they will use less amps and actually fail. I think that's what happened in my case. The module was as much as new motor so I just bought the motor.

    • @yz250a
      @yz250a Před rokem

      Makes no sense. High static pressure is what kills motors.

  • @yamohvac3181
    @yamohvac3181 Před rokem +6

    Part 2 is going to be interesting