Old Barn/1945 Massey Ferguson-value/salvage?

[ustmd]

My in-laws have an inheritance property outside of Memphis TN that they are putting up for sale (we are all in TX). The property belonged to my wife's grandparents and on the property is 100+ year old barn with a 1945 Massey Ferguson tractor inside.

The tractor has not been used in 20-25 years. The property was once a working farm (in the 1930s), so the barn is huge and is constructed out of large timber beams.

As the city of Memphis/suburbs have grown up around this property, when the property does sell it will be converted to McMansions or shopping centers, etc, so the barn will be torn down and the tractor will be hauled off.

My in-laws are wondering if the tractor or lumber from the barn has any value? It is not so much the money they are interested in, but they hate to see anything go to waste if someone could use it/enjoy it.

I should say that the barn area has had forest/brush grown up around it, so there is no longer any easy access.

 

[deezler]

Barn wood definitely has real value. Don't let it get bulldozed!

Not sure on the tractor, 20+ years of sitting means a complete overhaul would be required. If it's a collectors item, might have some value though.

 

[JamesHW]

Get someone knowledgable about barns to give it a good look see. The timbers have value individually, but the entire barn may be salvagable. The nice thing about post and beam timber frames is that they can be dissasembled and reassembled elsewhere. We have an 1840's 3-bay English barn stacked on our property slated to be built for us to live out our old age.

 

[MasseyWV]

when the property does sell it will be converted to McMansions or shopping centers, etc, so the barn will be torn down and the tractor will be hauled off

It's a shame to see good acerage go to waste like this, which is likely why good property is getting more difficult to find. Yes, I am somewhat hostile towards urban sprawl.

You may be surprised at just how much value the barn has, because old-growth wood timbers are getting scarce and the prices have skyrocketed. However, I'm not certain who you could contact about it, perhaps wood dealers might be of some assistance.

The value of the Massey Ferguson tractor depends on it's model and condition. However, I wouldn't be too concerned about it having sat in the barn for so long because machinery of that era was built to last. In fact, I believe that barn finds can be some of the best tractors to own, as long as they were well cared for before being put into stroage.

 

[Jstpssng]

It's a shame to see good acerage go to waste like this, which is likely why good property is getting more difficult to find. Yes, I am somewhat hostile towards urban sprawl.

You may be surprised at just how much value the barn has, because old-growth wood timbers are getting scarce and the prices have skyrocketed. However, I'm not certain who you could contact about it, perhaps wood dealers might be of some assistance.

The value of the Massey Ferguson tractor depends on it's model and condition. However, I wouldn't be too concerned about it having sat in the barn for so long because machinery of that era was built to last. In fact, I believe that barn finds can be some of the best tractors to own, as long as they were well cared for before being put into stroage.

I've had occasion over the past few years to take afew old cars apart which had been abandoed in the woods for 30+ years. What amazed me at first was how easily the old bolts still turned out; they weren't built with recycled steel, and built in rust. :thumbsup:

 

[BillBeyer]

I work in Memphis if you need me to go get that old Massey out of your way:thumbsup: Seriously if I can help you with looking at it let me know. I know how it is to be working on something like this from out of town.

 

[studor]

Picky detail -- there were no 1945 Massey Fergusons, but there were Massey Harris machines then. Massey Ferguson came into being in 1958.. Massey Harris and Ferguson merged in 1953. I attended an auction this past summer that had about 10 Massey Harris machines including several restored and none of them went for more than 3 thousand and most were substantially less. The one that did not run but was complete went for less than a grand.
Barn wood is worth some money after it is taken from the barn. In a lot of cases the guys who take down the barn do it in return for getting the materials. As mentioned previously, some companies will take trhe whole barn down and move it and get paid to re-erect it. I went through this decision process after high winds blew the roof off my old barn last spring. I thought I might get some money for the timbers etc but all those that expressed an interest were not going to pay me anything. In the end we decided to save it and reroof.
Sorry to be be a pessimist and I hope your experience is different