Thread: Closing shop down machines for sale

If I was in the position of selling all that stuff a well advertised auction would be my first choice. Why try to sell all of this off through a dealer?

I can't see how the dealer could bring anything to the table for the buyer or seller.

An auction co on the other hand gets the building cleared out and hands you a check.

Would there happen to be a 6 x 18 Pratt&Whitney thread mill in there somewhere? Thanks!!

Some lovely things there and a fair few bits Id bring to the uk but the dealer loading on the price has rendered it unviable.
I wish collector all the best and sincerely hope he’s selling up because he has much better things ahead

Very impressive collection and as my dear departed Mother-in-law used to say, "That was some paint salesman".

Yeah....should put at least a list of what's available, so people have an idea of what to ask about lol

Originally Posted by DaveKamp

Not trying to be rude here, but I think Collector should be actively prevented from selling off all his shop...

...because if he does, BC will wind up floating out into the Pacific Ocean... With this massive regiment of ferrous warriors standing by, he's employing both weight, and magnetism, to keep that entire tectonic plate from becoming unglued from the continent...

OK, can we get everyone in California to sell off all of their machines and move them out of state?

Steve

Originally Posted by Garwood

An auction co on the other hand gets the building cleared out and hands you a check.

The estate sale companies and consignment shops around here take a 40% cut. You might as well just slash the prices on your stuff and move it quicker.

The auction companies have a buyers premium. The company running the auction I just participated in charged 18%.


Steve

Originally Posted by SteveM

The estate sale companies and consignment shops around here take a 40% cut. You might as well just slash the prices on your stuff and move it quicker.

The auction companies have a buyers premium. The company running the auction I just participated in charged 18%.


Steve

What is your point?

What do you think the cost of all those machines is just sitting there? Maybe he's a rich old fart and owns the building outright. There's still some healthy overhead on a building that size. If it's a leased space then it makes zero sense to hang out waiting for top dollar while you're shelling out big bucks every month so it can sit there.

Originally Posted by Garwood

What is your point?

What do you think the cost of all those machines is just sitting there? Maybe he's a rich old fart and owns the building outright. There's still some healthy overhead on a building that size. If it's a leased space then it makes zero sense to hang out waiting for top dollar while you're shelling out big bucks every month so it can sit there.

well, really depends on the local market, and the "nature" of the auctioneers in your area. in some places, the auction companies are the last ones you would involve. (the ones who collude with their "buddies" to sell to them for lowball prices in exchange for kickbacks, not saying anything like that EVER happens.. ) ALSO, if you have read the thread, I think you would surmise the seller is not in a hurry. some pretty awesome iron!

+1 to all the positive comments.
I'm not in the market, but you have quite an impressive collection, collector.

1.31 is the multiplier on American dollars today. You guys down south have a rare opportunity to buy some really nice American iron at a discount due to the exchange rate.

I'll be posting more pics over the next few days.

There is a sweet Monarch EE. Production machine, no threading. Has a variable speed drive for carriage feed.

also a perfect Rockford SA 16 slotter.

Hi guys
just finished the last job/ parts on the slotter today. And end of era.
Soon all these machines will give birth to new Chinese machines.

Originally Posted by collector

Hi guys
just finished the last job/ parts on the slotter today. And end of era.
Soon all these machines will give birth to new Chinese machines.

It looks like you have some really nice machines. I would hope that if you had a picture of the entire shop and a post saying something like "all machines for 2x?, 3x? scrap price, there MIGHT be some tire kickers to waste your time, I mean buy your equipment.
Good luck.

Huge difference between scrap for China and the optimistic prices from linmark.

Whatcha got for keyseaters? I know someone looking.

Originally Posted by Mebfab

Huge difference between scrap for China and the optimistic prices from linmark.

It never ceases to amaze me that people will ask five times what something is worth and when they get no buyers they threaten to scrap everything expecting people to pay way more than something is worth just to keep it from getting scraped.

Originally Posted by SIP6A

It never ceases to amaze me that people will ask five times what something is worth and when they get no buyers they threaten to scrap everything expecting people to pay way more than something is worth just to keep it from getting scraped.

A man has the right to ask whatever price he wants. The market will tell him if it's priced right or not. The "threat" of scrapping the stuff may not be a threat at all. Selling stuff is work and comes with a fair amount of aggravation. Collector may just be sounding the "last call...for alcohol"

Well guys
What ever the price is no one has made offers or they don’t have space can’t pay for shipping its to big to old on an on. As for a action the only people that will show up are scrapers or the 10 to 100 dollar crowd. I have had the pleasure of repairing using and owning these machines over the years. And they never let me down. Now days most are all have never heard of the Monarch Cincinnati’s Rockford or any of the other famous machines made. I have had men come by and say they have never manual machined only C n c. So my shop is a total oddity today.

I can easily understand recycling the whole shop of fine iron that most seem to have been near the top of their class and in great shape on top of that.
Who wants them? I do as much architectural blacksmithing as I can, mixed in with other arch metal work and structural work. Manual machines today seem to following in the footsteps of blacksmiths in the 40's -70's. You could not give the tools away, nobody wanted them. Now there is great demand since there is a resurgence of blacksmith or hand made iron work that people are willing to pay for.
I think about this topic sometimes as all my equipment is manual and in good working order, no clapped out junk pulled off the scrap truck on its way out the gate here. What to do with it in 20-30 years when I wont be able to use it anymore? Hope the blacksmithing is still going strong and that equipment wont be hard to sell. Lathes and mill? I was thinking of selling the bridgeport and the clone to get a little bit heavier mill. I dont "need" a stouter mill and the bridgeport does everything I ask it to, so why should I get a different mill that nobody will want, maybe nobody will want the bridgy.... WW2 16" monarch? Who will want it? Who can move it & power it. It's not a heavy 10 or even made by southbend, that (and bridgeport) is what people know, and "real" machinist friends all curse me for having something with such a small spindle bore, otherwise a good machine they say.
Watching for sale threads on here really can be depressing if you like and use these old tools. Monarchs like mine listed for $800 and nobody can be bothered. I see the potential they have in them and am in a position to utilize them for money, most people see scrap metal...
Sorry for the ramble...

There are still plenty of people who want the classic machines. Most of us just can't pay top dollar.
For instance, there's an American Pacemaker 14"x30" lathe for sale from that collection. It's listed at $10,000. Is it worth that? Maybe to someone... it's certainly a beautiful machine. But at that price it may take forever to sell. On the other hand, at $2000 it should sell quickly, being a rarity on the West Coast (I'd be trying to haul it 250 miles home, myself.) Is it worth selling it for $2K if the alternative is scrapping it? I'd think so. I think the dealer is doing the owner a disservice with the high prices, but what do I know. In fact if I'm being rude in discussing the prices, I don't intend to be.