First Auction

[WhoWhatNow]

So I went to my first auction on a few Sunday's ago. It was advertised a woodworkers estate sale. I don't really do a lot of woodworking, but it was 2 miles from my house so I went just for kicks. It was kind of a mess. There were lots of miscellaneous stuff thrown on tables; sandpaper, tubes of brass screws, a few Craftsman hand tools, hand sanders, ect. I really wasn't interested in most of it. There were about 8-10 machines of various age. A 70's Delta wood lathe, two radial arm saws, a Craftsman thickness planer that looked to be from the 50's, ect. What caught my eye was a Buffalo table top drill press. It had a big heavy base, a newer motor, everything worked and it even had the chuck key! I already have a Craftsman 150 floor model with the speed reducing pulleys so I really didn't really need another one. When I saw it I told myself that under no circumstances would I bid on it. The auctioneer started at $50 and no one bid, he kept dropping the bid until he got to $5. I couldn't resist at that point.




I found a Buffalo catalog from 1948 on OWWM. It is a 15" Buffalo production press. 184lbs. The motor is a newer craftsman and it runs perfectly. Looks like there may be a Craftsman 150 for sale soon.

 

[green.bubbly]

I would have considered that drill press for it's looks alone.

 

[Commando]

Good find!

Those old presses are massive, my buddy has a similar stand up one, looks like his has belt guards though, maybe a later safety feature.

 

[magilla]

sweet score!

 

[Boiler]

I see large drills and saws and such go for $10 very often. I don't have the time or room in my jeep to deal with them so I pass them up. About a month ago I watched a very shiny meat cutting vertical bandsaw go for $5. It looked nice to me but weird, and when they said it was a meat saw I could tell everyone lost interest. Almost popped but I just didn't want to get stuck with that heap in my 1-car if nobody came and got it.

 

[rvr6000]

I remember the first auction I went to. Cabinet making shop that was closing up. Nothing there appealed to me and I think it all went for way too much. The very last item was this HUGE old sanding-planing-grinding-time machine looking thing that easily took up 300 square feet of floor space. I forget where the bidding started but it ended with the auctioneer begging someone to take it for free. If I remember right there were six large electric motors (might have even been DC motors) that powered this thing.

I'm pretty sure when this thing was running the magnetic north pole was centered over Stillwater, MN.

That's a good looking drill though....Glad you didn't pass that up.

 

[stevefasano]

removed due to

 

[zoomzoomjeff]

I told myself that under no circumstances would I bid on it. The auctioneer started at $50 and no one bid, he kept dropping the bid until he got to $5. I couldn't resist at that point.

"under no circumstances am I bidding on..................YEEEEPPPPP!" lol I've done that too many times.

 

[digdug18]

And this is the reason I don't go to auctions. They are like casinos to me, I stay out of those as well...

 

[spongerich]

You ****... that's about half of scrap value.

I've passed up a bunch of Buffalo DP's at estate sales.. they look to be really well built and they've got style. I already have a nice old Delta, but I wouldn't mind replacing my 25 year old Taiwanese benchtop DP with some old American iron.

 

[WhoWhatNow]

I would have considered that drill press for it's looks alone.

It was the first thing I saw when I got there. I really like the looks of the old tools.

 

[WhoWhatNow]

Good find!

Those old presses are massive, my buddy has a similar stand up one, looks like his has belt guards though, maybe a later safety feature.

Nice press. That motor mount is interesting. What is the extra arm connected to the pole for?

 

[WhoWhatNow]

I remember the first auction I went to. Cabinet making shop that was closing up. Nothing there appealed to me and I think it all went for way too much. The very last item was this HUGE old sanding-planing-grinding-time machine looking thing that easily took up 300 square feet of floor space. I forget where the bidding started but it ended with the auctioneer begging someone to take it for free. If I remember right there were six large electric motors (might have even been DC motors) that powered this thing.

I'm pretty sure when this thing was running the magnetic north pole was centered over Stillwater, MN.

That's a good looking drill though....Glad you didn't pass that up.

There were a few things the auctioneer was trying to convince people to buy at this auction too. I could have gotten an old Craftsman stick welder for another $5. I was thinking of getting it just to scrap it. Lots of copper in those things I think.

 

[WhoWhatNow]

It looks like a Walker Turner..see below
http://estrategy.net/bill/website/tools/restorations/wtdprestoration/

Those Walkers are really nice too. Cool site. Thanks for the link. I will have to look closer at it and see if there are any good tips on restoration of this one. It is not going to happen anytime soon, but one day for sure.

 

[WhoWhatNow]

"under no circumstances am I bidding on..................YEEEEPPPPP!" lol I've done that too many times.

And this is the reason I don't go to auctions. They are like casinos to me, I stay out of those as well...

I see this as setting a dangerous precedent. I thought ebay and Craigslist were bad for my bank account!

 

[WhoWhatNow]

sweet score!

You ****... that's about half of scrap value.

I've passed up a bunch of Buffalo DP's at estate sales.. they look to be really well built and they've got style. I already have a nice old Delta, but I wouldn't mind replacing my 25 year old Taiwanese benchtop DP with some old American iron.

Thanks! My first "You ****"

 

[WhoWhatNow]

I see large drills and saws and such go for $10 very often. I don't have the time or room in my jeep to deal with them so I pass them up. About a month ago I watched a very shiny meat cutting vertical bandsaw go for $5. It looked nice to me but weird, and when they said it was a meat saw I could tell everyone lost interest. Almost popped but I just didn't want to get stuck with that heap in my 1-car if nobody came and got it.

I have to admit that would make me lose interest as well. Don't really know were that has been!

 

[Commando]

Nice press. That motor mount is interesting. What is the extra arm connected to the pole for?

The one on the top is for the missing shroud to protect you from the belts. The lower one looks like it may be for some attachment maybe a light but I have no idea.