150.000 Case steam engine

[robertmn]

Hey Guys; This was or still is on fleabay with a buy it now button. It was on a few weeks ago and the top bid was aroud 30.000. I seen the seller at the Tularie tractor show. He said it was hauled out to Lompoc Ca 35yrs ago from the midwest. Sat outside for..who knows. Then this time out here I see it's still outside....but redone. Looks good from outside the fence. But the boiler has never been inspected. Been around these for yrs... but NOT on the buying end! I see he turned down two offers this time also. Does anyone have any ideas on what the going price for this 1916 Case? How much to redo a boiler like this? Thanks Bobmn

 

[RobMD]

My Great Grandfather threshed with one of those in the 1920's. He paid $1000 for it in 1920.

He would be rolling over in his grave if he saw the prices of those things today.

 

[Greenehillbilly]

Its now $150.000

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=130218245740

 

[Coloken]

I've gotten use to people calling any single cyl engine a "hit and miss" but to call a steam engine that--whats the world coming too? Maybe it time to explain that at one time they regulated the speed by "not fireing" Thus "hit and miss"

 

[John S-B]

It does'nt really show any wear, it must not have had much use. Maybe the boiler is okay, but only an inspecion can tell. Even if it's ready to go, $150,000?? Maybe if I hit the Mega Millions, maybe.

 

[Steven f/AZ]

It's worth nothing more than spare parts price without a boiler inspection.

No inspection, no fire, no steam = worthless as a working machine.

 

[greygoat]

A friend paid $18,000 for a 75 HP Case,in 1974.
I saw a 75 HP Avery go fo $60,000 in 1986.

 

[Mike M]

They are going to gain in popularity and may just start makeing them again with these high gas and diesel prices.

 

[Steven f/AZ]

(quoted from post at 06:37:43 05/08/08) They are going to gain in popularity and may just start makeing them again with these high gas and diesel prices.

One person cannot run a steam engine properly, and with the higher labor costs it will NOT be cost effective to run a steam engine.

A person would still be using gasoline to cut, gather, and deliver wood to the engine - same thing with coal, a gas/diesel truck would be used to deliver the coal.

There is a reason the world went away from steam - it is very INefficient, external combustion does not provide a cost effective or resource effective source of power.

 

[Anonymous-0]

Not really that inefficient, almost all our electricity comes from
steam turbines if there was a more efficient way the power
companies would use it. Probably charge us the same though.

 

[Mike M]

I was thinking it was more from being dirty and slow ? Water is free you can fire them with waste straw if thrashing. Today I was thinking one could use junk mail to fire a boiler ?

 

[Steven f/AZ]

I believe steam turbines are more efficient than a reciprocating steam engine... Turbine would be a little fast for a tractor without extensive reduction gearing.

 

[Anonymous-0]

Lot of gear reduction on those old steamers you sure it wouldn't
work.

 

[Steven f/AZ]

(quoted from post at 10:28:10 05/08/08) Lot of gear reduction on those old steamers you sure it wouldn't
work.

It would be interesting to see if it can be made to work... Recently there was a discussion on another site about the same thing, general consensus was that it just isn't feasible due to the requirements of a hydraulic system, operator comfort, speed, etc. that everyone is used to.

Of course, it is always possible to go back to the old methods, but one person just won't handle a 5,000 acre farm.

 

[Anonymous-0]

More jobs for more people????

 

[Eric SEI]

The reason the railroads first started using diesels was time. A
couple of hours before you can use a steam engine you have to
start the fire. When it was ready the steam engine was better
than the diesels for serious power. Then when you are done the
engine has to be cooled down properly.

With a diesel switch engine you could start it, shift some cars,
turn it off.

The same is true for farming. The time required before and after
using a steam engine make them impractical for any task that
that isn't going to last all day.