Probably not a real word but all I could think of for this anecdote; actually happened earlier this week. I won a table covered with lathe tooling at a machine shop auction in PA. One of the items there that I knew was worth about $1K, for which I had no use except maybe to sell or trade, was a heavy circular accessory called a “steady rest.” These are made to fit specific lathes and this one was from a 17” Colchester-Clausing lathe, a separate item in the auction. The lathe buyer wanted me to sell him the item but I refused with a snarl because I’d caught him taking valuable items off my table when I walked in on “pickup day.” The lathe he bought sold for about $3500. Next morning I’m back home reading emails and found one from a local machine shop owner, offering to sell a 17” Colchester-Clausing lathe for $500., including more accessories than had been with the auction lathe. Same model of lathe too. A quick reply requested photos, and on seeing that it appeared to be in excellent condition, I agreed to buy it. It was missing a steady rest, but of course I’d gotten one for it the day before. I hope “luck” isn’t a zero-sum game; if it is I gotta be real careful crossing streets, being outside in thunderstorms, etc.
Left end of the 5400-lb., 17” x 80” bed Colchester lathe I got for $500. Now I’ll look for riggers to move it and another trinket across town.
The table of lathe stuff I bought at the auction. Steady rest is tall black thing on left. The black toolholders at upper right are what he was pilfering, he had moved 6 of the 8 into the grey locker he bought when I walked in.
The owner said the digital readout (black box on top) isn’t working, but it was a customer add-on anyway and not at all essential to using the lathe.
You DID have a picture of what you'd bought at the auction, didn't you, so the guy could put back what he was pilfering?????????????
Yes that’s this one that I took on inspection day when I decided I’d bid “high” on that lot. The online auction catalog had 10 photos of that lot, Tried to post some but just repeats the one photo for unknown reasons. Seems the thief had only taken 6 of the 8 holders, which is more stupid. Taking them all would give him a better chance of remaining undetected if the real winner didn’t have pictures or a good memory.
The thief said he didn’t think he’d won that lot but needed those items so he took them. I was speechless and in disbelief, the thief must have some serious “issues” I thought, and having a lot of other loose stuff to gather up in two buildings separated by a couple of blocks, I just kept scurrying. Auctioneer rep was right there as that happened and took no action.
Yes, I just took them out of his cabinet and had my helper guard the stuff until we could box it up and take it to the truck. I’m glad I decided to take one of my regular helpers along on the trip that day. I hired someone from near the auction via Craigslist and talked to them on the phone, they agreed to help for $10./hr., then never showed up nor explained their absence. Good thing I had the regular helper there, took both of us all day to collect the small items.
