[SEL] A blow to the Old Machinery Movement in Australia

Rob Skinner rskinner at rustyiron.com
Thu May 12 23:34:24 PDT 2005


> When i first posted to the list on the above subject i felt 
> very despondent about the future of our hobby. 

Peter, 
While I've not been to Oz and my perspective is clouded by my limited American
experience, I'm still very sceptical of your media's reporting.  Do you REALLY
have three billion pounds of collectible iron ready to go to the smelter?  We
have junk yards with who-knows-how-many-tons of old equipment, but most of it
you'd not haul away if it was given to you for free.  

If in fact there are 3,000,000,000 pounds of old sideshaft engines ready to get
melted down, please set aside a few dozen tons for me.  I'll gladly pay double
the scrap price and will toss in a case of California style ale.   

>,just look around you and see how many things are 
> now made in China. The cheap labour costs 
> and their demand as a consumer is frightening!

Come join us on the Slick Willy List, where we love to toss around ideas like
these.  If you're the sensitive sort who gets mopey over the exchange of diverse
ideas, it might not be for you.   

>  The value of engines will rise ,nothing will be given away 

Should collectors get valuable engines for free?  Is that not taking advantage
of the ignorant seller?  I'm sure there are theologians among us who can offer
council on whether to offer a poor widow a fair price, or to offer a
ridiculously low price in an attempt to decieve the seller.  

Good luck saving all the good stuff.
Rob




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