Grumpy old men

Ok, how many of you have had this experience?

You find an engine or tractor or some old iron peice that you want and the old man who owns it wont give or sell it to you for a millon bucks, even though it is sitting out in the junk pile, (he probably forgot it was even there.) He says he'll get it running or restore it someday but you go by the place 5, 10, 15 years later and it is still in the same place, 5 inches deeper in the mud, the old man passed away and the estate is split up between the 10 kids which makes it impossible to get.

I understand that the guy wants to keep it because it is his dad's or something but why let good iron go to waste if your never going to touch it and someone else wants it?? I guess I'll probably be the same way when I am 80.

does this mean that I can come over to your house, and pick out any thing I want, and pay you what I feel is a reasonal amount, and you cannot say no? because if that is the way you feel, I will be right over to pick up a truck load.

Well if I had an engine that was outside rusting and I was never going to do anything with it then yes Bill you could have it. That's what I mean if some of you got it wrong.

that ticks me off some people are stupid and will never do ANYTHING with it. my 2 cents

i have a few engines that ido not show, and are not on my websites. one is an salesman model.yes it runs,,, this is an 1/4 scale of there 1 hp. an some others are some scarse or rare engines, yes they sit on my shelf in my garage covered up with a old t shirt,,,,i also have a 1929 harley-davison, it also runs. i got it running after 12 years.. this was converted to a stationary engine. i have some guys that want to buys these engnes. i keep saying, no i do not want to sell, but they keep on bugging,,, over and over and over they keep asking,he evan had his wife ask me to sell it,, it is getting to the point that i am getting peed off, i do not evan want to go to the shows that these guys go to... when i see them i walk the other way. i had a guy offer me a maytag for my 29 harley-davison,,, hahahahhehehehe get alife,, NO GODAMNIT I DO NOT WANT TO SELL THEM

Hi enginenut, I agree with you 100%, but you gotta admit, the guy who offered you the Maytag for a '29 Harley sure had a lot of brass .

like i say stupid people. i have engines i dont want to get rid of and they sit in the corner of the barn but that doesnt mean that i wont do anything with them. that guy must have been on drugs or drunk when he asked you to trade him for a maytag, id tradfe him a plastic toy but not an actual cycle.

Tanner, I have acquired engines, tractors, and cars from situations like you described. Most of the people you described have had that peice of iron for a long time, are used to seeing it and they don't like change. Visit them a few times over the course of a year, talk to them. If after this they seem friendly visit with them more offen. Take pictures of your other engines to show them what you intend to do if you were to acquire their engine. Be honest. I have acquired many items this way and a few lasting friendships with some very interesting "Grumpy Old Men".

Hey Patrick I like your idea! I meet a man who has a small tractor made for cultivating between the rows. Its powered by a single cylinder Wisconsin, has a steering box like a John Deere A and a Chrysler rear axle and wheels.Really cool and been setting outside for years.He told me it was no account and I didn't want it.Before I could open my mouth he again repeated YOU DON"T WANT IT.I bid him goodday and left. Think I should try again another day? Whats buck shot feel like? Jeff

Tanner, There's a guy that lives in my area that has gas engines, steam engines & lots of other old stuff just rusting away in his yard. There's even a Russel Steamer with a tree growing through the boiler. I've known his family since I was a kid & he won't even let me look at the stuff. He explained the personal reasons for it to me. He's also been bothered by people that think money talks & will buy anything & that REALLY makes him mad! I hate to see the stuff rot away, too, but I also respect his reasons. MAYBE some day the "Grumpy Old Men" will give in...they have their reasons...just be patient...remember: there's "Good ol' boys" out there, too!

I have had my experiences too. A guy with a F/M 6hp tank cooled and a few other one's, Just will not sell. Ive'd try to trade some thing's and I have become a good friend with him ( I think it is because of my age and interest in the hobby). But still he wont sell he had a few others he said but got rid of them. Why not these one's. 1 item inpaticular that in sitting out side is a Jaeger 2hp Enging and mixer that I want. But every thing else is inside to my knowage. But still their sunk in 5 inches. GGRRRR Maby some day I'll get them or not. I look at it that way. I have enouf time ahead of me to find more treasures. ( about 65 years) or so. My 2 cents Chase

If you want to see iron rusting away you should see the 52 steam traction engines in a field by Montgomery, MN. The father of the fellow who owns them drove them in there many years ago and there they sit. The owner will not sell them or sell parts off them. Every year I go to the swap meet at LeSeurer I go by them.

David

NO SHIT !!!!!!!!! AND BIG ONES !!!! We just picked up a 1928 JD, Harley 74. (Sunday) I think we payed to much for it. $500.00 wHAT A STELL. 99 percent complete. Missing just a few minor parts. Nothing major.

I will post some photos of it when I get my camera back.

Jim

Hey enginenut I would give you 2 Maytags for that old scooter-motor, But I don't want to get rid of anymore of those damn stupid 2 cycle crappy motors. I got about 30 of them, and they all have names. Several of the names are listed above. When my wife asks why I want all those old motors, I just revert back to the teenage years and reply. I don't know? Then I get this blank look. Al

It feels like a swarm of bees have hit you all at once, unlike the dull pain followed by anger after finding out the engine in question was sold for less than you offered to another stranger.. 10hp F/M screen cooled / oct 12th 1981 about 3:30 pm.. No I'm not bitter

I quess some peolpe just get attached to things and donot want to get rid of them. Another angle is these guys went through a depression most of us YOUNGER (70 and under) people donot have any idea what it is like to have to do without something. My Grandparents use to save newspapers, sheets of aluminum foil. for fear someday they would have to do without something again. My Grandfather used to talk about those days and I would imagine these guys would just like to be secure in knowing even if they never need it. Its there if they do! But In support of you younger folks, IT NEVER HURTS TO ASK!

Every thing I own with a couple exceptions has been for sale at one time or another and probably will be again. But right now nothing I have is for sale. Of corse Im not stupid the right outragious offer will buy most anything I have at most any time. The only engines I will never sell are my 1st hit & miss and my Triumph motorcycle that I have owned over 25 years. And I am getting grumpier as I age so fast that even I notice it happening

Pick out one that can be easily restored, and offer to restore it for him. If it's all there, unstuck, and the mag still works, your costs would be minimal, sweat equity, if you will. This should get him interested. Who knows? He might feel obligated, and sell you one.

Hal,

That approach has worked for me in the past. The only thing is that I ran into alot more cost than expected, but in all it worked out for the best. The love of the iron.

Tom Winland Ohio

Tanner..living out in the country, I know what you are talking about. I just stop and think, what part of no don't I understand? But, I don't give up either. I can understand the depression generation as to possesions, but what I find hard to take is a younger local engine collector who will buy every engine in sight, and then let them set out in the weather until they freeeze and break or rust to junk. This guy would not sell them or touch, just lets them rot! Good luck. Carl