things may be changing here

[Case Nutty 1660]

need some honest answers here from my Case friends, long story short the city/county here are going after places like mine and are attempting to force them to "Clean out the junk" I am sure many people in power consider my collection to be in this category I am considering getting rid of the items I will never get to this would include many non running but very good parts units and or restorable things my question is this if I go to the trouble of putting a sale together would any of you actually come? I hate to see these items I have worked much of my life to gather got for scrap I am not going to part out stuff I do not have time for that and even if I did I would still have left things to haul in to scrap, also I do not want people calling/e-mailing and trying to "put" their name on some thing I will not sell things that way either if I do this it will be all what I do not want to keep on auction be the scrap guy gets it or not also not going will be what I am using or can store inside if you don't mind please tell me your thoughts I know many of you are way to far from me to come to the possible sale but would like to hear thoughts from every one thanks for reading
cnt

 

[casecollectorsc]

Not to steal your thread but most of us have the same problem only different. Got so much stuff at my age what to do with it? Don't have room for all the tractors in a building and don't have the money to build. But every year outside they go to heck. Tires , gauges, etc. But if you auction it off who would save it? 20 combines are hard to store and move. Hate to see them cut up in my life time. Hope you get some insight that will help us both.

 

[d.borcher]

the county leaves most of us alone around here i live in the small town of sterling and my boss calls my place the used case dealer of sterling but i try to "rotate stock" monthly. if you are considering selling stuff let us on this forum know id really like to a 500 diesel but i would be willing to drive out for anything just to see your collection and pick your brain
Dean

 

[1370rod]

Tom, I would be there, few places in the US where there is that much CASE stuff, running or not. However I would rather see you keep or add to what you have. I know there is little chance you would ever need or use all you have, but the fact is its a collection of various stuff and that's whats neat about it. If the need for money arises, OK sell some, but if you would rather keep the stuff, maybe park it closer together in neat rows and put a sigh up calling it a outdoor ag museum, then maybe the county would give it thumbs up. Rod.

 

[mopar66701]

I hate to hear things like this happening. To me, you, probably everyone here your collection of *gasp* "junk" is more pf a museum/historic preserve of agriculture. All that stuff you have piled up is like the smithsonian of wyoming! Personaly i would love to see it but taking any home wouldnt be easy at 900-1000 miles. My brotherinlaw lives up there somewhere around you and from the way he tells it its a wonder they didnt target your treasure sooner. Im sure sorry. I absolutely hate government intrusion into our personal business and lives.

 

[rich10e]

I like Rods museum idea,must be some way to work it out,I consider old machinery to be a part of history,would come to a sale though Rich

 

[GreenEnvy]

Can you have some sort of an online auction? I think that would eliminate the scrappers if you only advertise in the right places.

 

[Ol'TinBender]

Around here it is called a hobby and it is hard for them to make you give up your hobby. if nothing else a few cases have been won on the it is "art" thing and it has been proven they cannot take away your artistic right by law. just find the loop holes, it is like a game you just got find out how to play and win.

 

[Jason Kozlowski]

I'm in an area where they go after things like we have, but here being zoned agricultural pretty much means they can't touch you. They go after residential and commercial properties with great success, they can't even have a car sit in the driveway without current tags. We have plenty that is visible from the road, but there just isn't much they can do. I am sure there is something you can come up with out there, if I can have my stuff sitting in this eastern area. I know the laws here are generally more ridiculous than out west.

 

[Bruce from Can.]

Maybe not a complet answer for you but, if you have your collection in a somewhat remote area, and behind a visablity fence so no one can see from the road. Seems more and more do-gooders complain about what they see, and do not under stand. Livestock farmers are having this problem with folks reporting them to the humane socitey , because they don't think animals are well cared for, when they are but pepole just don't no what they are seeing. Same thing holds for your equipment, just looks like junk to folks that do't Know what they are looking at. Good fence, good neighbours. Drive by any factory, and try to see anything from the road, not much chance. Farmers have to start to think like this,keep out prying eyes. Good luck! Bruce

 

[TimBinWV]

I"d let them know that if they think it"s "junk", that they need to just try and buy some of it. That being said, maybe you could push up a small hill (preferably one in the shape of a middle finger) to park the parts machines behind.

 

[Michael Beeker]

Just a thought Tom, what would it take for you to be classified as a " Salvage Yard ".? Perhaps this could be a way to save what you have, I know I've asked you for items that I need and so have others on this forum. Would this be something you'd consider.? Keep us posted please !

Mike

 

[McKerrow630]

Tom, I read all of the thoughts on this. Here's mine. Rod's idea seems to be one to consider, I know you can't always "fight city hall" but maybe if you feed them "sugar"(town board) you'll catch more flies" with that said. Case Historal Socity,,,,,,,,,,hell we got en-danger bugs that have stopped growth in this country!!! So I'ain't know lawyer but maybe your place is just like that...endanger Case's!! I'am serious. Yeah Yeah I see your side of it you gota deal with the folks there. My question is "IF" things at your place was moved around would they leave ya along? Tom, could I come up there for ah while? I got ah sleeping bag I could sleep under the 700 and look at the stars and remember case history. So guys we have "plow days" "IF" Tom finds away to presever are history maybe "WE" could plan a "Case Days" in Wyoming. Tom if you think I'am nuts please feel free to de-fuse this idea. Ok ok I'am off my soapbox hee hee, keep us posted

 

[Vito]

What is your zoning? Looks to me it should be residential/agricultural with the subdivision,across the street, from your pictures.I live in CT in this zone and they can't complain about the 5 tractors and some equipment I have here.I keep them clustered together,instead of spread out, so it doesn't look like a salvage yard.

If you use the majority of the equipment for farming and maintaing what you are running how can they take it away from you?

Vito

 

[jon f mn]

If your place is and always has been a farm they will have a tough time. Don't panic til they knock. I would start by cleaning and mowing as much as you can to make it look nice. If it's all in rows and mowed around it they may well leave you alone. If you do have a sale I will be there.

 

[Nedd]

If you do have a sale, have it when I have money. So give us plenty of warning. But I agree with the other threads. Move things a little, mow and keep it as neat as you can. You have a definite passion for case things, more so than many of us.

 

[Anonymous-0]

tom ,,. lots of good advice comin thru ,, don't give in you werethere 1st ,RITE ?,, call me ,,, 812-596-4605, by serving some 10 yrs in Harrison Co Gov/mit,,and the county zoninbd ,, ihave learned a little that mite help ,,, what you should do now is plant pine trees in a diagonal grid spaced 12 ft apart to blok the view from rd and others ,, keep the receipt to show the bd if it come to that ,, in 10 yrs the trees will be a nicewindbreak

 

[jmandrze]

Not sure what state you are in, thought I saw somewhere Michigan. I am from Michigan and there is a program through the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) where farms of any size can be verified as following the Michigan Accepted Practices, it's called the Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program (MAEAP www.maeap.org) this along with the Michigan Right to Farm Act may provide you with a strong base in which to keep the items you have purchased and keep on private property.


Jason

 

[Jeremy McNary]

I would be there if you had a sale however as everyone else has said we would rather see you be able to keep what you have. Don't give up yet, keep us informed. Jeremy

 

[McKerrow630]

Jason, I wish he was in MI. He is in wy. but if he did "I'd take one of his 700's off his hands. Hee hee, Jason what part of mi. you from?

 

[jmandrze]

I am in between St. Clair and Richmond.

Jason

 

[Anonymous-0]

Put up a couple more car ports. Just a dirt or gravel floor. In my area they are considered temp. structures and no taxed. I know you have lots of things but the out of sight out of mind thing might be the way to go.

 

[oldmisterbill]

I remember a few situations like yours. One was a family whose grandfather & father had scrapped cars for years. In the end it wound up "grandfathered" because they proved it by digging up old small pieces of metal buried by time. Another was a farm like yours - they went after him - he proved that for generations parts and such had been kept there for the farm ,it too wound up "grandfathered" a grandfather clause is hard to beat if you can get one.

 

[VAC400]

Tom, in our county the township made the people with cars buy plates or store the cars inside, they could not do anything about the farm equipment. Keep me posted as I do make the trips west to Colorado
Jerry from Ohio

 

[Ande]

Tom,this might be in weather terms,just a black cloud,and nothing comes out of it.
But,maybe its time to update,I know myself as I mentioned this morning,I"m not going too look as seriously at the ones that don"t run or tires are horrible,and my friend where I store alot of equipment is getting full too so,I"m going to "thin the herd"

 

[Don L.]

You farm ! And you don't resell. Get a hold of county commissioner and ask questions in private.
Ag "JUNK" is a very very grey area.
Stand straight, ans spit on the ground,on this one, no one else can but you.
Tidy it up in a smaller place, I have heard works well. Neighboring county here did the ordiance, and a lot of ag stuff was lost. But the fire fight was severe, very very nasty it was, for some.
Don L.

 

[Brokengun]

Needless to say this as struck a nerve with me.

It’s my understanding that if a combine is setting on the place it can not be considered a junk yard.

The most you may have to do is build a fence toward the road and relocate some of your treasure.

 

[brentb]

Like Don said I would tidy it up best that you can and see where it goes from there. I am too far to make any kind of sale.

 

[Don Rudolph]

Tom,

You have an interesting problem to solve. May I suggest you ask why you are collecting all the Case stuff in the 1st place. Are you going to sell it in the future as a retirement income? Are you passing it to the next generation, Are you just trying to hold onto a piece of your past? Every time I read Antique Power magazine there are at least 1/2 dozen estate sales of collectors with fantastic collections of tractors
going under the auction block. Their heirs are probably ecstatic for the cash windfall, but I feel for the owner who invested all that time, effort, and money in those collections, only to have them scattered into the wind.

So, the point of this longwinded post is, What are you trying to accomplish? The answer to that question may tell you how hard you want to fight this government intrusion into your personal business. Next thing you know they'll be spotting your hidden equipment with drones.

Good Luck,

Don

 

[Case Nutty 1660]

thanks guys for all the comments and advise I will take more time tonight and post a few more things thanks again
cnt

 

[John Saeli]

Sounds like all the commies are not here in NY. Stand your ground Tom.

 

[PaulD]

I'd stand your ground, mow around the stuff if it helps take the heat off ya. If the city or county get to vicious about it then have a sale of a few items that you fell could go and take that money and put up a lean to or shed for the rest. If you do have a sale I would try to make it there. I do think the outdoor museum is by far the best idea.

 

[1030 TOM]

neighbor hood association . drove a man crazy in louisville over a. fence he finally went to a meeting and killed 2 men. , of course he is in jail , i have had a few issues with some neighbors over the yrs . thank god they moved , at a county zoning meeting the paper labeled me the irritated contractor. i got a little loud , dont get me started on politics dont give up with out a fight wish i was out there to help. tom.

 

[wvcasedbman]

Im certainly willing to donate some money to legal fees if you need some help all of us have to stick tougther and fight for what we love and believe in collecting these case tractors and implements is what we take pride in and farming with these antiques makes us who we are so dont part with anything and know that we are all with you in your fight

 

[tractorkrum]

I was just reading about this in our ordinances tonight (I'm a Town Chair) In our county these tractors and equipment would be allowed as they would be used for replacement parts as that is the way the ordinances reads. Personally I think we should host a CASE reunion on your farm and hold a fund raiser to build a giant building to house your collection. Then we could come back each year and play with some of your toys. Then I suppose they would require all kinds of permits for having a big party. Just can't win on this one!!

 

[71ford100]

I'm sure you saw it advertised, but I went to to the auction last Friday in Boyes, MT that had all of the horse drawn equipment. A good share of that didn't go to collectors but went to scrap; I did manage to save a Case no 5 horse drawn mower. As far as we are from the rest of the world the cold reality that scrap buyers would get a lot of your items. I went to an auction a year ago by Hudson, Colorado that had 50 non running tractors most were fairly complete. I bet 80 percent of them went to a scrap buyer. I would advertise your stuff to people you know will appreciate it even if you sell it for less than scrap price. On a side note has the council looked at all the oil and coal places in town and all the crap they have sitting around?

 

[Don Rudolph]

John,

It wasn"t the "commies" that passed the junk ordinance in this township, it was the good ol" conservatives 6-1. Now every spring they get in one of their SUV"s and pound the roads looking for violators and send them nastygrams in the mail with a notice of violations, fines and additional actions. Fascist pigs. Don

 

[george md]

Tom,

I don't know how long you have been there,

but if you were there before they wrote the rules,

tell them to go pound salt. I've been here longer

than planning and zoning, got a lawyer out of Pa

to impress that on their minds and have been

left alone for 8 or 10 years.

george

 

[Alan K]

Just my opinion mind you but to me unless it is in the middle of town what business is it of anyone? You have a right to own what you own. We have had a couple of places like that here that have been questioned about clean-up. I once had a couple of policemen show up at my place, came to the door and asked if the MM tractors out back were mine...I thought...??????..so I said....yesss....and one of them said "Ok Im looking for parts for a model R, do you have anything like that?" Had to chuckle after that. I have some tractors behind an old barn. The weeds are grown up around them so they arent always visible. In a way it is kind of like a tourist spot...but in a good way...

 

[dbb62]

Funny, the folks who live in town have always looked down on country folks. Dirty, sometimes talk funny, don't have manicured lawns like the ones in town that owners pay someone else to take care of, etc.

But, they damn sure want their fresh milk, eggs, bread, etc. right now...

Our economy is holding on by a thread, and most of those people are in debt up to their eyeballs and value a shiny new car (bought on credit) more than their own relatives. A time will come when lots of those people will be flocking out of the city begging for food, a place to sleep, etc. Then maybe they will see the beauty in the things Americans used to engineer, build, and use to feed the world.

At best it will take them several months to make you change anything, but this is not a fight I would encourage. Talk to your local commissioner over a cup of coffee and work with them to make some changes - my guess is they will move on. The pics of your spread I've seen look like a treasure chest or a playground, not a bunch of junk. The grass/weeds can be mowed, weed whacked, or otherwise tamed, and maybe moving stuff once every couple of years (with pictures to document, even if you are just moving them from one end of the line to the other) will prove that stuff is being used and not just idle junk.

Damn politicians and nosy neighbors...Good luck, keep us posted.

 

[oldmisterbill]

"It wasn"t the "commies" that passed the junk ordinance in this township, it was the good ol" conservatives 6-1"

We call them "yuppies" back in MA where I lived. They don't want to be friendly - just control what their neghbors do. Tea party type narrow minded people .whu drive SUVs BMW . Mercedes, prius and the like. They don't own -they owe. Nasty selfish people. Don't give in to them.

I guess I better calm down. I made part of my point.