Help Valuing Late fathers workshop equipment

Hi, Sadly I see there are a few posts with this subject at the moment. My father passed away around 5 years ago and we have decided it is time to start clearing out his beloved workshop, we would rather it went to a good home and get used by someone who loves the hobby rather than sitting gathering dust.

Unfortunately, whilst I know what most of the stuff is I have no idea of it’s worth. I don’t want to use a clearance company who will give us almost nothing back and sell it on at a premium and am happy to put a bit of time in to sort stuff out and sell it a few bits at a time, I’m actually quite enjoying slowly sorting through it.

Most of the smaller stuff I can identify and value based on what stuff is selling at on ebay and Facebook market place, it’s the bigger stuff I’m struggling with.

First there is 2 Milling machines, One small one and one with a cabinet underneath. The smaller of the 2 I can’t seem to see any indication of branding on, the larger is a Chester, but I can’t see a model number (it’s positioned awkwardly so it’s possible its in a spot I can’t yet see)

There is a large Warco bench drill Model 2B12

Finally there is a Warco “multi purpose machine” which appears to me as a layman to be a lathe with a milling head attachment. The cabinets under both the Lathe and larger milling machine appear to be full of attachments that go with them, what additional equipment would these have typically come with, or is it all likely extras he bought?

Also, for the larger milling machine and the lathe – can these be easily dismantled into smaller pieces for removal? They are obviously very heavy and I have memories of the lathe being brought in on a pallet truck through the main garage door, unfortunately this is now boarded up so would need to be carried out the side door. It has four holes on the side which look like they could be used for attaching carry handles.

We have made sure to keep the metal surfaces covered and lightly oiled so there is no surface rust on anything

Is anyone able to give me any guide as to worth of these machines please?

Thank you in advance for any help!

Sadly, questions of this genre seem to be raised fairly regularly. I have every regard for the bereaved who have to dispose of a father's, or grandfather's, cherished workshop which must have been as much a part of their lives, when they were growing up, as that of their late relative even though they may never have used it.

I have no idea what this workshop equipment may be worth and wouldn't even hazard a guess except to say that anything, workshop included, is only worth as much as a potential buyer is prepared to offer or as little as the vendor is prepared to accept. That's life, but there will be costs involved whatever the final method of disposal may be, some that will have to paid by the seller and some that will have to be borne by the buyer which will probably be the commission charges of an auctioneer, advertising costs etc., and the transport costs that the buyer will have to pay. Obviously, all these factors will effect the final proceeds of the sale.

A local model engineering club may be willing assist, perhaps the one the deceased relative was once a member, but my own experience of such sales is that the goods are usually sold at a 'discount' or 'priced to sell' shall we say? Not overtly or greedily sought by other members, because there is always a degree of respect shown, but everybody has an eye for a 'bargain'. So, perhaps the best way of determining the 'market price' is by auction, either online or physical, which should be advertised as widely as possible to encourage the greatest number of potential buyers' interest. However, in my own case, when I have sold items they never turn out to be worth as much as I thought or expected and a little preparedness for this possibility may ameliorate any disappointment.

Edited By Chris Crew on 27/07/2023 08:30:40

Sorry for your loss Mat.

As Chris mentions this sort of situation where the model engineer in the family sadly moves to the big workshop in the sky with unlimited workshop space, tools, castings and time, what is left behind for the family to identify and dispose of is getting more frequent.

The problem is putting a value on these items and what you think they are worth compared to what they sell at. Obviously the worst case scenario is where you need to clear out the workshop quickly is to engage one of the specialist firms who advertise in the ME, but they are a business and will be looking to make money on the deal and you will end up disappointed with the offer but at least the space is cleared.

If you have the time then take the route as Chris suggests, maybe a local auction house would be an option to shift some of the bigger machines?

Regards

Derek

Sorry for your loss.

There's a useful & detailed article on this matter from 2014 which may be of help Disposal

regards Mike

Chris Crew's comment about value being what someone is prepared to pay is very true. In my experience eBay attracts good prices for workshop equipment as it puts the advertisement in front of a lot of people and has a bidding system set up to encourage competitive bidding. Yes you have to pay them but the same is true of an auction house. Obviously you want to make it clear in the advert that "buyer collects" for the larger items at least.

Hi Mat, both those mills were sold by Chester UK Ltd., the first one is a Conquest Mill, and in May 2005 had a price tag of £495.00 including VAT and delivery. These were sold for many years before and after 2005 and were available in both metric and imperial.

The second mill is a Champion Mill/Drill and was also sold for many years before and after 2005, but colour changed from green to the one in this scan, from about 2000/2001, the price tag for this in May 2005 was £545.00 including VAT and delivery, and was also available in both metric and imperial.

The stand for this was an optional extra with a price tag of £164.50 including VAT, and probably delivery if it was bought at the same time as the machine.

I'll see if I can find some info later on your Warco machines.

Regards Nick.

Edited By Nicholas Farr on 27/07/2023 12:38:30

I had a now deceased friend who contacted an auction house with a view to selling his workshop contents. The visitors made notes and suggested values, they charged for coming , for valuation, transported to sale room, got the mill accessorise mixed up with the lathes and the VAT at every level. Yes they have to make money but 20 % is a lot plus the VAT. My friend said he wished he had given it away. I agree with Chris contact a local club if possible. John

Hi Mat, the Warco drill is still available, but has changed a little Warco 2B12 Bench Drill the one you have is from around 2005 or before and had a price tag of £190.00 including VAT and delivery back then. The multi-purpose machine is a WMT300/2, with the customer fitting kit for the WMT300/500 inverter drive, and probably the 3ph motor that they sold separately, plus the machine stand for a total cost of £1703.00 including VAT and delivery, back in around 2005.

All the standard accessories that were included with the basic machines are shown.

Of course you will have to judge the price you are willing to accept, bearing in mine their age and condition. Hope this helps.

Regards Nick.

Edited By Nicholas Farr on 27/07/2023 18:45:31

The combined lathe and mill is highly regarded by some people but not everyone - however AFAIK it has recently gone out of production so may have an enhanced value to someone who has been looking for one.

Thank you all for your kind words, and thank you Nick for going the extra mile, it's really helpful to see the original product sheets. He upgraded his workshop over a few years after he retired in around 2000, so it make sense most of it is of the 2002-2006 era.

We are in no rush to get rid of it so will probably start listing it in some free places, and contacting a local club is a good idea, i will look around and see if there are any. An auction company would be a last option, i would much rather meet the people it is all going to, as sentimental as that sounds!

Thanks for all the help and advice

Regards,

Mat