New to forum, retiring from engineering.

[Dave ParkParticipant @davepark56918]

Hi Dabbled in making model steam locos years ago, got overtaken by events and ended up restoring, firing and driving full-sized locos as a volunteer on the Bluebell.

Have retired from that, and main interest at age 81 is steam loco history. Still have the equipment and one loco (Rob Roy) and a half-built Maisie, but haven't touched them for years, as hand and eye co-ordination is not really up to precision work (had to give up fishing-rod making and fly-tying for the same reasons)

Need ideas on disposal of equipment , as I would like it to go to an enthusiast rather than enrich a dealer. I'll haunt the forums for a bit to get some ideas,

[Dave ParkParticipant @davepark56918]

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Welcome to the Forum, have a read of this by clicking the bold text, it's an article about disposal of workshop contents.

J

[Dave ParkParticipant @davepark56918]

Thanks Jason,B, that is a good starting point.

[AjohnwParticipant @ajohnw51620]

Some one mentioned a company that will buy or sell loco's on commission who reckoned that they were fair. That may be a more sensible method than a private sale. Not my field but given the prices of completed ones and even castings these days they can be worth a lot of money.

It's usually possible to get some idea of the value of equipment by searching for it on ebay and also by using the completed listing option. That will show items that have actually sold. Lots of equipment is sold on homeworkshop.org. Model Engineer seems to vary, some items go quickly. My impression is that some dealers use it. They also use all of the other usual places to advertise as well. Some people have bought the wrong thing and expect near new prices too. Many people expect a decent saving even if the equipment has hardly been used. I also think about what I would get for it if at some point I wanted to sell it. I mostly buy used equipment sometimes just to try it out and if not what I want sell it again.

There are also several companies around that mostly sell used items to private buyers. One thing I think is missing on this site is a page of links but I can understand why they use companies that pay for advertising. Some model engineering clubs around the country may have links but of late for instance the one local to me in B'ham has none at all. It did have lots of useful ones.

One thing I have noticed, to my own benefit actually is that when something like a fully kitted out lathe is sold on ebay people may bid a bit more than the usual prices for the lathe but not enough really to cover what is being sold. My current lathe was bought like this. The seller listed it with bids and a reserve price. I was the only person that placed a bid over the reserve price. The others were well short. He would have done better if he had just stated a price as I would have paid more. If I had thought that price was too much I would have contacted him to negotiate.

Dealers will buy private sales if the price is right. They generally have to be more expensive than private sellers due to VAT and the fact that the equipment may hang around for a long time. When they are offered items to buy the prices they offer are usually extremely low. Some of my equipment came of some one who had tried that. At the time the local Bargain Pages was a good place to advertise. He did and sold the items for similar prices to what the dealer offered him – these were way too low really but the dealer had annoyed him. The dealers mark up would have been amazingly high on some items because they might take a long time to sell. Couple of hundred % at least on some.

John

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[Russell EberhardtParticipant @russelleberhardt48058]

Sorry to hear that you have to dispose of your workshop equipment after all this time. It must be a difficult decision after all that time.

I remember the Bluebell line well. As a lad I was lucky enough to be given a ride on the footplate from East Grinstead to Lewis shortly before Beeching axed the line.

Russell.

[Another JohnSParticipant @anotherjohns]

Hi Dave – I have sent you a private message, with a possible contact email for you.

When you log in, on this web forum, near the top, in the green banner, you should have a message in your inbox.

(I hope!)

John A. Stewart.

[Speedy Builder5Participant @speedybuilder5]

If money is not the object of disposal, It would be good to give a younger person a step up into our amazing hobby. Perhaps invite (Via this web site) young members to apply. If you didn't want to do this yourself, perhaps a moderator would take this on for you. All too often we say "wouldn't it be good if young people ….. etc" but it is an expensive hobby to start off in. What is the basic cost of a workshop ??? Many of us have built it up over the years, but we had to be given a start somewhere.
best of luck with your dilemma.
BobH

[Dave ParkParticipant @davepark56918]

Thanks everyone for your ideas.

I propose to follow good advice to have a look at e-bay to ascertain what sort of prices things are fetching.

Then I will make a list of my equipment, work out what I might expect from disposal via e-bay (including the 10% each that e-bay and paypal would deduct, and factor in the hassle of joining both organisations and complying with their "rules" on photos, descriptions etc) and put that list on this forum's "for sale" thread. Hopefully at a price that all concerned will regard as reasonable.

That may take a day or so, but If I haven't done it by next week, I'm sure someone will remind me !

Ideally , I would like the items to go to a model engineering club for further distribution amongst their membership. I quite like Builder5's suggestion, but how does one differentiate between the genuine enthusiast and the chancer trying to make a fast buck ? Hence my thoughts re a club.

[AjohnwParticipant @ajohnw51620]

There seems to be a manshed building up in B'ham. Not sure what they have or do but they have placed an add in homeworkshop to dispose of a few things.

A mans shed seems to be the equivalent of a club where things are actually made now.

John

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[Philip RoweParticipant @philiprowe13116]

Slightly O/T but many years ago, I was sent to work in the Middle East for a few years and I was in a similar position, although I didn't want to dispose of my workshop, I did at least want to see the lathe and mill in use whilst I was away.

I thought about lending them to aspiring model engineers who were without such facilities in my club, but choosing the right recipients was a daunting prospect to say the least. Eventually I gave the task to the club committee and let them choose and administer the loans whilst I was away.

I did have certain reservations as to whether I had made a foolish mistake, but I was very gratified on my return to find that both machines had been very well looked after and in fact the lathe (an old ML2) had been upgraded from flat to V – belt drive.

Phil

[Dave ParkParticipant @davepark56918]

Just a progress report to confirm above thread.

Have spent time in unsheathing the lathe, making sure it is well lubricated and in working order. Also searching for all the bits and pieces that go with it. Got to do the same for the jig borer. Tools are turning up in all sorts of half-forgotten drawers ! Watch this space !

[dave george 1Participant @davegeorge1]

Hi dave if you got any surplus tooling and stuff subtitle for small type lathe like for myford 7 size. I could be intrested in anything that you have,im currently restoring a vintage grayson lathe and i need a few things as this lathe came with nothing, no dead centres, no toolpost or holders, no tooling etc

[Dave ParkParticipant @davepark56918]

Right, I have now made a list of what is for sale and taken a number of pictures. Before trying to upload onto the "for sale" section, can I ask a quick question – is there a limit on the number of pictures I can upload? I have 16 pics available, but if there is a smaller limit, will upload those that seem most relevant, Advice from a mod please,

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

One picture per ad, I'm afraid.

I suggest a separate ad for each item, you can copy and paste in the same contact details to make life a little easier.

Neil

[Dave ParkParticipant @davepark56918]

Oh dear ! Well, I will split the ad up as best I can, to get in four pictures. Interested parties wanting further pictures could send me their email address…

[BazyleParticipant @bazyle]

put some of them in an album on the main site. Probably some instructions around somewhere.

[Dave ParkParticipant @davepark56918]

Good idea – is it possible to edit the main advert to advise readers thus ?

[Dave ParkParticipant @davepark56918]

Hi, just an update for those trying to contact me.

Two small problems. I am deaf (VERY deaf) and my wife has to phone for me – which means if she is out shopping etc I cannot even hear the phone ring !

Email is best – I can read and write ! So please leave email address rather than phone number – but even that is being scuppered this afternoon and tomorrow. Electrical works and "planned" power cuts. Should be OK by weekend and I will catch up with enquirers.

[MWParticipant @mw27036]

What a lovely sentiment, i'm young and probably poorly equipped but very enthusiastic about hobby engineering, So i'd be more than happy to check out what you've got!

But anyway, good on you mate.

Michael W

[Dave ParkParticipant @davepark56918]

Update

The workshop contents have now been sold to a model engineering club. Several offers were received, but I am sure all concerned will be pleased that the items went (at a discount) to a club, where hopefully, my former tools will complement the skills of a younger generation.

Model engineering has been good to me and it is money well spent to pass on these items to those who will make good use of them., rather than maximising returns.

If there is a mechanism to indicate this offer has been sold, some mod please implement, and I offer many thanks to the forum for facilitating this transaction.

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Thank you Dave, it sounds a good outcome for everyone involved.

I have deleted the ad for you.

Neil

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