Looking for a pressure cooker:
Try if you can to find one in Made In America or at least a very well known company. I bought one at Meijers for $75.00, it's a double pressure canner or you can put 7 quarts in it. I like it but was leery after buying it and finding it was made overseas as well as replacement parts. So far it's held up but if the rubber gasket goes, I will have to probably buy a whole new canner as it would be too much of a hassle to order from overseas.
I've never heard of one with hoses running in and out of it, sounds like it might be something really old.
Here are some links of pressure canners on ebay right now, the first is one I would use as a sample of what not to buy. These are the kind that gets too much pressure in them and the lid blows sky high.
http://cgi.msn.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI...323950072&rd=1
This next one would be my recommendation, boy these items are selling hot on ebay today.. lot's of bidding going on for them.
http://cgi.msn.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI...324302185&rd=1
Anna