Been thinking about this alot the last few weeks as I once again prepare my tractors for show season , Looking through the old brochures to make signage and gathering the retail prices written down by dealers back in the 60's and 70's , $800 for an Estate Keeper , $512 for a Husky 600 in 1962 , $1009 for a Bolens 1220 , $1400 for a Bolens 1476 , all with inflation would be well over $5,000+ on average for each and really these tractors were right at the top of the pricing scale comparing other brands , Factor in 2-3 attachments your at an $8000 machine with todays money.
Having been active buying/ collecting in the Bolens world for over 14 years now theres no question the market has shifted and values of most Bolens items have dipped significantly , what used to sell for $500 in the early -mid 2000's has dropped about 35% . I'm not sure what it is or how it happened , the economy has always had ups and downs since these tractors were made and values always stayed pretty much the same but thats not the case over the last 5-7 years or so. Looking at other brands like JD, Wheel Horse and cub cadet the market is still strong as can be there , and I cant say its from lack of parts support, Bolens parts are now more plentiful than ever with guys making reproductions and new dealers coming into the fold. If you look at all these online groups theres more guys selling than buying , maybe thats where the true issue lies are we losing collectors? Are the older guys leaving us and not many new people know or want to know how to work on these? .
Have the influx of the online groups made once non accessible parts & Tractors that once were "rare" now a common everyday item with less desire to own ?
Are we undervaluing our machines into obsolescence? These were the best tractors ever built !
I know everyone likes a deal and there will always be steals to be had buying these but the puzzling thing is a clean unmolested original tractor is listing for less than a chopped up mess today? !!!
My fear is if the values go lower whats the incentive for most to even drag one of these out of the woods and save it from the scrap man knowing they will only get $150 if they ever have to sell it down the road, Potentially theres alot of machines that could die sooner than later.
I know personally I just collect for enjoyment and have no intentions of ever selling my stuff but often worry about the hobby as a whole because once these hit the scrapyard for china they are not coming back
Thoughts?
Having been active buying/ collecting in the Bolens world for over 14 years now theres no question the market has shifted and values of most Bolens items have dipped significantly , what used to sell for $500 in the early -mid 2000's has dropped about 35% . I'm not sure what it is or how it happened , the economy has always had ups and downs since these tractors were made and values always stayed pretty much the same but thats not the case over the last 5-7 years or so. Looking at other brands like JD, Wheel Horse and cub cadet the market is still strong as can be there , and I cant say its from lack of parts support, Bolens parts are now more plentiful than ever with guys making reproductions and new dealers coming into the fold. If you look at all these online groups theres more guys selling than buying , maybe thats where the true issue lies are we losing collectors? Are the older guys leaving us and not many new people know or want to know how to work on these? .
Have the influx of the online groups made once non accessible parts & Tractors that once were "rare" now a common everyday item with less desire to own ?
Are we undervaluing our machines into obsolescence? These were the best tractors ever built !
I know everyone likes a deal and there will always be steals to be had buying these but the puzzling thing is a clean unmolested original tractor is listing for less than a chopped up mess today? !!!
My fear is if the values go lower whats the incentive for most to even drag one of these out of the woods and save it from the scrap man knowing they will only get $150 if they ever have to sell it down the road, Potentially theres alot of machines that could die sooner than later.
I know personally I just collect for enjoyment and have no intentions of ever selling my stuff but often worry about the hobby as a whole because once these hit the scrapyard for china they are not coming back
Thoughts?
