Rick Rowlands
Titanium
- Joined
- Jan 8, 2005
- Location
- Youngstown, Ohio
Actually I have the crane. Its a 5 ton Wallace gantry crane that I bought at an auction a couple of months ago. $2,500 for that. It has a 35 foot span and is adjustable in height up to 19' under the girder. Thats a $25,000 crane new!
Found a P&H Zip II 3 ton electric hoist at a local steel plant that was thrown out but only needs a wheel. A Forum member is making it up for me for $150. Also have a chain hoist for making up to 5 ton lifts which would be the low pressure cylinder head and piston/rod. Anything heavier is already in place and won't ever move again!
As for being wealthy I don't think so. I have a $12 an hour job at a machine shop but do sell a selection of items targeted mainly toward steel industry modelers, historians and enthusiasts which also helps to bring in money. I also do sell some items on ebay which helps as well. The Tod family has been quite generous to us over the years.
I also have an ability to find stuff for low cost or free. For instance I need 14 three inch diameter pieces of round bar for new foundation bolts. These will be various lengths from 34" to 96" long threaded both ends. I found the bar for free, all I have to do is cut it down out of a factory building. I've also learned how to thread the rods on our Skoda lathe, thanks to another member of the forum, so that phase of the project will cost me very little.
There are still BIG costs ahead which can't be divided into smaller chunks. Mainly I am talking about the engine foundation which Joe Michaels recently designed. It will cost about $15,000 just for the concrete. I don't know where that money will come from yet but it will come somehow. It always does.
I have made arrangements for the future stewardship of the site after I am no longer to care for it. That shouldn't happen for several decades but when the time comes I plan to be able to pass on the site to those who will care for it into the future. The engine is an important piece of our local industrial history and deserves to be preserved and exhibited for future generations to see and enjoy.
Found a P&H Zip II 3 ton electric hoist at a local steel plant that was thrown out but only needs a wheel. A Forum member is making it up for me for $150. Also have a chain hoist for making up to 5 ton lifts which would be the low pressure cylinder head and piston/rod. Anything heavier is already in place and won't ever move again!
As for being wealthy I don't think so. I have a $12 an hour job at a machine shop but do sell a selection of items targeted mainly toward steel industry modelers, historians and enthusiasts which also helps to bring in money. I also do sell some items on ebay which helps as well. The Tod family has been quite generous to us over the years.
I also have an ability to find stuff for low cost or free. For instance I need 14 three inch diameter pieces of round bar for new foundation bolts. These will be various lengths from 34" to 96" long threaded both ends. I found the bar for free, all I have to do is cut it down out of a factory building. I've also learned how to thread the rods on our Skoda lathe, thanks to another member of the forum, so that phase of the project will cost me very little.
There are still BIG costs ahead which can't be divided into smaller chunks. Mainly I am talking about the engine foundation which Joe Michaels recently designed. It will cost about $15,000 just for the concrete. I don't know where that money will come from yet but it will come somehow. It always does.
I have made arrangements for the future stewardship of the site after I am no longer to care for it. That shouldn't happen for several decades but when the time comes I plan to be able to pass on the site to those who will care for it into the future. The engine is an important piece of our local industrial history and deserves to be preserved and exhibited for future generations to see and enjoy.