Inherited Lathes and Milling Machines

[Shaun HicksParticipant @shaunhicks34885]

Machine Removal

[Shaun HicksParticipant @shaunhicks34885]

Hi, can anyone offer any advice on selling and the removal of a large lathe / milling machines that I have inherited after the death of my father.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks Shaun.

[Pete RimmerParticipant @peterimmer30576]

Hi Shaun,

Sorry to hear about your father. I had to do the same when my dad died 10yrs ago. A difficult time.

As for moving advice – much depends on the size of the machinery, the location and most importantly the access. If you can manage to give some idea about the above – perhaps some pictures – then advice will follow I'm sure. Your location would help too, it could be that there are some used machinery dealers local who could offer you a job-lot clearance service.

Advice I will give right away:

Small items have value too, especially if they are good quality. Many people will sell a machine and every tool that goes with it, not realising that often the tooling is worth more than the machine.

Get valuation advice from more than one source. Right here is a good place.

Workshop clearance specialists – proper ones – will get rid of everything for little hassle but also offer the least – they have overheads and need to make a profit plus they'll have to dispose of the 'rubbish'. Back-street ones will offer little more and might leave you the mess to clear up.

A very small amount of cleaning will increase the interest significantly. No-one wants to pay good money for a dirty, rusty, neglected machine covered in junk.

Pete.

[Howard LewisParticipant @howardlewis46836]

Hi Shaun,

Yes, you have a sad task.

But, as Peter says, accessories can be very valuable.

A complete set of changewheels will enhance the value of the lathe , so try to find them and keep them with the machine.

A Taper Turning Attachment, being fairly rare could be worth almost as much as the lathe.

Steadies may generate more as separate items that if sold with the machine.

A collet chuck and its collets can be a valuable item

Ditto for extra lathe chucks, especially if they have the internal and external jaws and the chuck key

Milling cutters may not add too much to the machine, but may be worth more as a separate lot..

Hope that this may be of some help

Howard

[SteviegtrParticipant @steviegtr]

You could try advertise it on this site. Items for sale. With Make, description & photo.

Your hardest job is pricing them. Look around for same makes on ebay etc to get an idea of best asking price.

Steve.

[Dave HalfordParticipant @davehalford22513]

Use the advanced search on ebay and set it for sold items (the prices come up green)

[SteviegtrParticipant @steviegtr]

Posted by Dave Halford on 28/06/2020 19:15:11:

Use the advanced search on ebay and set it for sold items (the prices come up green)

MMn you just taught me something.

Steve.

[Peter HallParticipant @peterhall61789]

I'm sorry to hear about your father. If he wasn't already a visitor to this forum, I'm sure he would have found many kindred spirits here. You may find this link useful.

Disposal of a workshop

Pete

[Nigel Graham 2Participant @nigelgraham2]

Was your father in a model-engineering (or related-interest) society?

If so, from experience in my own society, I would also approach them for advice and they may even be able to find good homes for the machines and tools.

[not done it yetParticipant @notdoneityet]

2 used chuck backplates – one original and one likely in steel – just made over £100 pounds each on ebay. Amazing prices for just a screwed backplate!

[Robin GrahamParticipant @robingraham42208]

Shaun, have a look at lathes.co.uk – the guy who runs it (Tony Griffiths) is very helpful as about identification/ value of older machines. Ads on his site are paid for, but get a wide audience,

Rob.

[Pete RimmerParticipant @peterimmer30576]

Posted by not done it yet on 28/06/2020 22:06:36:

2 used chuck backplates – one original and one likely in steel – just made over £100 pounds each on ebay. Amazing prices for just a screwed backplate!

Raglan backplates, not common, square thread and both handy sizes. You could understand the NOS one going for that amount but the other one did very well for what it was.

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