The windmill auction...

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I went to a big farm consignment auction Saturday and saw the windmill about which I'd written on here earlier. The sale was about 100 miles away and I took my 10 mpg Tahoe and pulled a 26' trailer over there while burning $1.459/gallon gas. The best thing I can say is my trailer pulled very nicely and it was a lovely day for a drive. ;o)

The windmill was down and partially disassembled and I had no way of knowing the functioning condition. The framing was 3/4" angle iron with 3/4" flat stock for cross bracing. The cross braces on the bottom were buckled slightly and I could move them fairly readily by hand. The combination of those things and the general condition caused me to pass on bidding for it. The winning bid was $750.

Had it been a little heavier or looked a little sturdier or been known to be functional I'd have gladly paid more for it. I guess I'd rather pay more for better. I'd have been afraid to climb that one to tie it off for winter. I think I'd have been a little afraid to even lean a good ladder on it to climb to the top.

I think maybe I'll be happier if I pay more for better (and safer). In any event, I wanted to update you on my Quixotic quest (pun intended). ;o)

-- Gary in Indiana (gk6854@aol.com), April 07, 2002

Answers

Smart thinking, Gary. We lost an uncle on one of those things, it was hideous what happened to him.

Windmills are like any other piece of farm equipment - one nanosecond of inattention and death or dismemberment is only a breath away. Purchasing someone else's problem could be more expensive than buying new or reconditioned by knowledgeable people in the field.

Good job!

-- Michaela (flhomestead@hotmail.com), April 08, 2002.


Gary, to me AUCTIONS = THERAPY anyway! Glad you were wise about this purchase! Bet you can find something else to spend the $750.00 on....eh?

-- Harmony (harmonyfarm57@hotmail.com), April 09, 2002.

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