Trying to get some ballpark value on an NH baler and rake.

dusty3030 · Nov 21, 2011

Backstory. Got a call yesterday afternoon from on old widow lady down the road. 73, lives by herself, has a broken back and is house ridden. She has a daughter in law (also widow) down the road that checks in on her, but she lives by herself and works full time so can't be there 24 / 7.

Me and another neighbor that check in on her rode down to see what she wanted. She is basically desperate for money. Black sheep son just got out of prison is hanging around and bleeding her out, he's hauling off stuff when daugher in law is at work and old lady can't / won't stop him.

She is a hoarder, figured that out when me and said neighbor put in her hospital bed several months ago. Had to dig in to get it in and dig our way out. She wouldn't let home medical folks in the door. Appears daughter in law has helped her clean up and place was a lot nicer yesterday.

She asked us to go through her barns and sheds and help her find things of value she could sell. You can imagine someone that hasn't throw away anything since Nixon was president what we waded through. Enough scrap iron in the woods and weeds to probably set her up nice for awhile.

Anyway, we found a NH 276 baler, looks complete, stored in a barn. Also found a NH 57 side delivery rake also looked complete, paint still fair, belt and covers and all on it. There was another rake that is so wrapped up in vines couldn't tall much on it but was a 3pt rotary rake about 10 ft wide.

Everything was supposedly in use up until her husband died about 5 years ago. Found some spare parts (new pick up teeth, etc.) here and there. Baler is rusty, but not rusted out. Looked on line and I figured maybe $1,000 on the low end to maybe $2,000 tops on it.

NH 57, if it's complete and works what should it bring? Prices looked pretty high on line so would $750 to $1,000 seem right?

If the other rake isn't broken up maybe $500?

Let me know if I'm in the ballpark.

Martian · Nov 21, 2011

Few years back my father in law was looking to get a new valet for his farm. May not even consider it it's only 20 acres but he baled the land all up till a couple years ago. He bought a brand new case baler from a dealer who's owner is a good family friend back closes to 2000-2001. Had nothing but problems. Said that he needed to do something with it or get me something else. The dealer said call me crazy but go out and buy yourself a 1950s to 60s new holland baler. Didn't have a problem since. They were just built tougher and to last longer. I think you could have a nice baler there. Assuming everything works and functions. I think you could expect at least a couple grand out of her. Probably 2500 for both.

dmay · Nov 22, 2011

I'd pull them out and take them over to your place before the son notices them.

When you have time clean, lightly service (grease and check oil levels) and see if they work. If they do a field ready working rake and small square baler should be easy to sell and fetch the top dollars you are suggesting. If the baler is working well refresh the paint and it should fetch $2500 alone.

flusher · Nov 23, 2011

That baler looks like crap--not worth much more than salvage. Several years ago I bought an MF124 baler that's equivalent to that NH and paid $2K. It had been used the day before I bought it to bale about 30 acres. Here's what a $2K baler looks like. Paint is faded, but everything on the inside is in good shape and working OK. That 124 has always been shedded. Buying a baler that's sat out in the rain is asking for trouble.

Side delivery rake: here's my JD350 that hooks to the 3pt hitch and is pto driven. Cost $800

Hope this helps.

blueriver · Nov 23, 2011

As they sit $650 for the baler and $300 for the rake ... pull them out from the weeds and the value goes up ... grease em up, pump up the tires and again the value goes up. Then hook them up and run them and again the value goes up. AND if you could actually bale a few bales ... well again the value goes up.