The One that Got Away

I mentioned this the other day in another post. I used to service the previous owners Claas combine every year and this was parked in a shed on the farm. It was imported to England during WW1 complete with Oliver plough. I tried to buy it on a number of occasions but it held sentimental memories for the owner. One year I went as usual and it had gone from its shed, I enquired what had happened and was told the plough went for scrap and the tractor had been given to a local garage owner. He did nothing with it over the years, the customer then stored his combine at the garage, in the same shed, and I got the pleasure of watching it decay more and more each year. Many years later I came across it on the local show circuit, now fitted with a 12 volt battery and an electric starter modification, it is well looked after and a good runner. I am green with envy!!!!!! ;0)
Iron Bull

For years I tried to but an older BSA sitting in a neighbor's garage. He assured me I had first refusal. One day I wnt to help him and noted it was gone. I asked and he said Oh, a guy came by to repair something and bought it. One that got away.

Much later I tried to buy a very early Series 1 LR from a scrapper. Lots of saying he wasn't sure. One day it disappeared and he told me it and other stuff were sold to a crusher. Another one that got away.

Back in the early 70s, a relative had an 820 JD that he wasn't using anymore. I had about 120 hours on it. I asked him about selling it to me. He wasn't ready to sell it yet but it was my tractor when he was ready to let it go. His son knew about the agreement. Well, the owner died and one of the first things his son did was to sell it to someone else.

To buy something like that I always throw a decent dollar$ figure out there I'd be willing to pay so the owner has something to chew on.Many times a machine like that the cheapskates have tried to buy it for next to nothing and the owner gets fed up.I've had success with that method quite a few times.I've even dropped back by and upped the offer a few times.Also letting the wife hear the $$$ offers usually speeds things up(LOL)

I don't mind it I guess, when somebody holds onto something for sentimental or whatever reasons. But I'm like most people, and hate it when it is later liquidated and previous offers/inquiries are forgotten about or just plain out not even considered.

I don't know how many times I've thrown an offer out, was refused, and I just figured 'oh well, I guess I'll just buy it someday at thier auction and not bug em about it anymore'. And then 6 or 8 years later, I learn that they sold it and didn't even have an auction. Or they have an auction, but have already sold what I was wanting.

A has been friend of mine fixed up a really old truck. Was a little pieced together and modified when he got it done. But never the less, it was a neat old truck when he got it done. I stopped in one day to visit not long after he got it together. And he was showing it to me all proud like. Done everything but give me a ride in it. I remember telling him that it was right up my alley, and I always wanted an antique truck like that. A few years later, I seen him and he said he sold it. Didn't have it anymore. Said it went to slow and he wanted a truck from the 60's or 70's. I had no idea that he had gotten rid of it, and some of the older tractors that he had.

I'm 3rd owner of an old tractor. The son of the 2nd owner is still alive but old and now retired. I thought about letting him store it over at his place (he has the shed space now), and let him play around with it in return. But, .... his 2 kids live out of state, and I'm not going to put myself into the mess of dealing with them to get it back when he's gone. I could see how a deal like that could go south.

A friend of mine died in Jan 2022. I asked in May of 22 if I could buy his 8n. It was a really nice original cared for tractor always kept inside new Firestone rear tires.

This April the family called ME and said they were ready to sell and wanted $2000 for the 8n. I told them that was fine. Suddenly they back out and think they better wait. Call me back week later. Now someone else is now interested in the 8n, blade, mower, and sprayer and the price is now $3300.

I thought about it and called back the next day and told her okay. Well now the price is $3650.00. I said no to that and gave up. Funny thing the sprayer and mower were on my friends online estate auction last month. The guy paid $3550 for the 8n with 4ft blade????

That 8n had been in town since it was new. My dad overhauled it for the original owner back in the 60's. It would have been nice to add it to my little collection. I would like to buy a tractor that I can remember dad wrenching on. There are getting fewer and fewer.

It is indeed disheartening when you politely inquire and express your desire to purchase, and are forgotten when the treasure is sold. Life goes on though and another treasure will come along. But the lesson to be learned is to be a persistent pain in the butt. If you really desire the treasure a yearly check is not nearly enough. And always leave something for them to remember you by, a basket of fruit, a bit of firewood, some sweetcorn. some beef. And leave a card with your name and number. If they only remember there was a guy that stopped one time but we can't remember his name or where he lives or his number it will be a case of another one got away. I'm sitting on the sidelines now. Trying not to acquire anymore treasures but if I see something some where, I'll be taking my own advice and be a polite pain in the butt. lol gobble

I have had that happen several times with a neighbor. They ended up selling it for less than I offered. I don't know why people do that.

I agree. Over the years owners of rare or nice machines might receive dozens or even hundreds of verbal offers to buy their stuff. Most of the time those offers are considered a complement and are soon forgotten. It takes something outstanding to be taken seriously without offending, a generous amount of cash in hand carries talks the loudest.

We all forget that until money is actually exchanged as a deposit with a receipt, there is absolutely no obligation to sell in the future or any first refusal rights. Estate heirs are the new owners of any estate, they can do as they please with any inherited items.