RichZ
Veteran Member
- Joined
- Apr 4, 2001
- Messages
- 1,858
- Tractor
- Kubota 4630 with cab and loader
Having owned an antique shop, my wife and I have been going to auctions for many years. Now that we're into farming, we go to more farm auctions than antique auctions. This past weekend we had a chance to go to both types at once.
A farmer near us was retiring and moving to an apartment. He had also been an antique collector. He and his wife were selling off at auction everything they couldn't fit in the apartment, plus the few pices of farm equipment they hadn't already sold. Karen and I figured this would be a good chance to possibly pick up some farm equipment cheap, and maybe find a few inexpensive collectibles. We figured that farmers wouldn't be interested in an auction that was 90% antiques, and antiquers wouldn't be interested in farm equipment. So off we went.
Right off, I spotted just what I was looking for. An old brush hog that was so cobbed up that you could no longer tell its manufacturer. But I turned the pto shaft, and the blades turned. This would be perfect for me to turn into a small hay cutter. And it had to go for a song...right?
Then I spotted another possible find! We really need a new riding lawn mower. And there amid the farming equipment was a red lawn tractor. All the decals were off, but it looked to be in good shape. I looked under the hood, and discovered it was a Honda Harmony lawn tractor. The engine had a sticker that said it met 1995 emission standards. So it had to be from 1996 or newer. I started it up, and it roared into life. All the gears worked, and the mower deck worked great. It hummed!!! Another viewer looked at it, and said "Boy that mower's an old antique!" I agreed and told him that it was probably no good. He said only a sucker would buy it.
Well the auction was about to start. I figured that I'd get the brush hog for under $100, but others had to recognize the Honda Harmony. Happily they didn't get to the farm equipment until two hours into the auction. ANy farmers must have left by then, I thought. By then we had already bought many bargins. Several mint condition rugs for our new edition to our house for between $20 -$80. A great antique cupboard for our new mud room for $90. A small oak dresser for storage in our laundry room for $70. And a huge lot of horse tack, all very usuable for $60.
Then the brush hog came up. The autioneer even said it had seen better days. I opened the bidding at $20. Some of the audience laughed, and there was silence. Could I have gotten it for that??? Awww, nope!! The bidding suddenly shot up to $250. I was shocked. I wouldn't go over $100. I'll have to find my old brush hog elsewhere!! They sold a bunch of broken plows, a bunch of Farmall Fast Hitch equipment, and suddenly the mower. I figured I'd bid, but people had to recognize the fairly new Honda, and it would go for big bucks. Well the auctioneer described it as an "old riding mower". Surprise of surprises, I got it for $400!!! And I spotted the farmer who was selling the stuff, and walked over to him. I know him slightly. "Well", he said, "you got yourself a bargin there. That's a mighty fine mower. I bought it new in 1996. And it even has a brand new engine in it! Last year I forgot to tighten the drain plug after I changed the oil. I seized the engine. But I liked that mower so much, I brought it back to Honda and got a brand new engine for it. Ain't but a few hours on the new one."
Well...I guess I lucked out on that one. My search for a new riding mower is over. But my search for a beat up old brush hog, to convert to a hay cutter continues!!! That's OK, we love going to auctions!!
A farmer near us was retiring and moving to an apartment. He had also been an antique collector. He and his wife were selling off at auction everything they couldn't fit in the apartment, plus the few pices of farm equipment they hadn't already sold. Karen and I figured this would be a good chance to possibly pick up some farm equipment cheap, and maybe find a few inexpensive collectibles. We figured that farmers wouldn't be interested in an auction that was 90% antiques, and antiquers wouldn't be interested in farm equipment. So off we went.
Right off, I spotted just what I was looking for. An old brush hog that was so cobbed up that you could no longer tell its manufacturer. But I turned the pto shaft, and the blades turned. This would be perfect for me to turn into a small hay cutter. And it had to go for a song...right?
Then I spotted another possible find! We really need a new riding lawn mower. And there amid the farming equipment was a red lawn tractor. All the decals were off, but it looked to be in good shape. I looked under the hood, and discovered it was a Honda Harmony lawn tractor. The engine had a sticker that said it met 1995 emission standards. So it had to be from 1996 or newer. I started it up, and it roared into life. All the gears worked, and the mower deck worked great. It hummed!!! Another viewer looked at it, and said "Boy that mower's an old antique!" I agreed and told him that it was probably no good. He said only a sucker would buy it.
Well the auction was about to start. I figured that I'd get the brush hog for under $100, but others had to recognize the Honda Harmony. Happily they didn't get to the farm equipment until two hours into the auction. ANy farmers must have left by then, I thought. By then we had already bought many bargins. Several mint condition rugs for our new edition to our house for between $20 -$80. A great antique cupboard for our new mud room for $90. A small oak dresser for storage in our laundry room for $70. And a huge lot of horse tack, all very usuable for $60.
Then the brush hog came up. The autioneer even said it had seen better days. I opened the bidding at $20. Some of the audience laughed, and there was silence. Could I have gotten it for that??? Awww, nope!! The bidding suddenly shot up to $250. I was shocked. I wouldn't go over $100. I'll have to find my old brush hog elsewhere!! They sold a bunch of broken plows, a bunch of Farmall Fast Hitch equipment, and suddenly the mower. I figured I'd bid, but people had to recognize the fairly new Honda, and it would go for big bucks. Well the auctioneer described it as an "old riding mower". Surprise of surprises, I got it for $400!!! And I spotted the farmer who was selling the stuff, and walked over to him. I know him slightly. "Well", he said, "you got yourself a bargin there. That's a mighty fine mower. I bought it new in 1996. And it even has a brand new engine in it! Last year I forgot to tighten the drain plug after I changed the oil. I seized the engine. But I liked that mower so much, I brought it back to Honda and got a brand new engine for it. Ain't but a few hours on the new one."
Well...I guess I lucked out on that one. My search for a new riding mower is over. But my search for a beat up old brush hog, to convert to a hay cutter continues!!! That's OK, we love going to auctions!!