"shade-tree mechanic", not in (some) dictionaries

[Paul]

I'm 74 and have heard this most of my life, I always thought it was a
standard description of a poor person, no garage, (why they're under the
shade tree) and in addition the shade tree would have a big enough
branch you could sling a rope over it and pull the engine.
This came from back when it was standard engine repair to do a valve job
or replace engine bearings.


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