The windmill auction...greenspun.com : LUSENET : Countryside : One Thread |
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
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.