I need your wise counsel on a hay mower

[dbc3]

I drive by a business (old motel) twice a day with what looks like a hay mower sitting out in the weeds. I keep thinking of stopping and just asking what they want for it - or maybe ask what they'll give me to haul it away

I can see the metal seat and the mower arm i- the rest obscured by weeds. But I just found this pic on eBay that looks a WHOLE lot like it:



Anyone have an idea what it might go for? I've been drooling over it from afar for a year or so, and am afraid if I walk in unprepared I'll just cave and give them my car or something.

Thanks in advance.

[Ray Cardoza]

out here I've seen them go any where from 50 to 150. this is based on how complete the unit is and what shape the whole thing is in

[Arlyn White]

Ray,

That is a sickle-bar mower of the horse drawn type. Could be a John Deere,McCormick Deering maybe IHC, but it is a ground driven unit. Here in Nebraska I have seen them go for scrap iron price on up to $250.00 dollars for the working units. They are in about every fence row or tree row out here. My advice if you want it and it is complete, by all means grab it. It would be easy to make a hitch for your little ford tractor and make a nice little unit. I know where a couple are that will be used this spring as soon as the grass is ready to mow and the horses are hooked up. You can still find books for them on ebay, I have seen them.

[Arlyn White]

oops, was talking to the wrong guy sorry about that Ray lol. You do need one for your Ford anyway. If it has a cast iron seat, the seat alone will be worth $100+ at an auction. I have a neighbor that has a couple that he has just painted up and the are sitting by his driveway as well as a couple of other neat pieces.

[2 Belgians]

If you can get a look at the mower it will most likely have the maker stamped on it. I have seen these bring from scrap price to 600.00. They bring around 350.00 at the Kalona sale depending on condition. I seen one on line last week that was priced at 1,700.00 but it was in new condition. It costs a lot to put one right. Good luck

[dbc3]

Well, I called and the woman said it is not for sale. Her husband got it at an antique auction years ago and she wants to keep it. She said she needed to get out there and cut the weeds. I got the impression it is kind of a memorial thing. Too bad; I was getting psyched. I was picturing it in my back yard.