As a retired GI I can explain a few things about Govn't Surplus Items. Many machines spent useful lives in nice buildings. With downsizing and modern CNC equipment available, a lot of extremely nice old iron is hitting the block (Sounds just like a lot of commercial businesses). Strapping to pallets with steel strapping Why Not? the machines move every 20 years or so and it is excess equipment that must be out of the area soon. The people strapping it down usually do not have anything better, and are moving it only a few miles (warehouse types , again not riggers) Sitting outside can be something else though. My mill was inside but had been dropped (No strapping I bet
breaking horzontal overarm dovetail so it will probably never see full Horizontal use again. It had a condition code of H,
http://www.mvn.usace.army.mil/lmo/FEDERAL_CONDITION_CODES.pdf Which means just slightly worth more than scrap and will not get cushy heated dry storage. I had an old IBM Card Sorter (Paper Computer Punch Card) I put out behind the building in the snow and rain (light shrink wrap) Penny pinchers with an axe to grind looked up the stock number and told my Commander I was abusing Govn't Property storing it like that... After a talk to CDR and Senior Beancounter, Junior went away with tail between his legs, 15,000.00 Excess to unit 1962 IBM card sorter is not worth as much as it cost new, now for some reason
As a small shop it is no problem to track down used parts.As for the military tring to keep Van Normans and other old, out of business equipment running, after so long (we turned in our old VN after a measly 40 years of service), it is time to get something newer that has new parts available (Like collets). My mill was rusty looking
a couple hours with fine steel wool and oil, than a thorough cleaning to remove steel wool/rust residue and it looks/works just fine. A few weeks in non salt air did'nt pit anything. The natural oil leaks inherent to this old thing did not hurt any either