What I did today and saw some stuff

I took a couple of worn out washing machines to the scrap yard today-
got $32 for the pair didn't think that was to bad. While I was there
I saw a few things that made me wonder. 3 Claas 108 combines setting
there waiting to be scrapped. I guess I'm behind the times to think
they're to new to be broken for scrap. What puzzles me is how three
of them came to be in the metal yard of our small city. I'm also
wondering why they didn't get parked somewhere and robbed of parts
for a few years before they went to the breakers. I always figured
Claas parts would be expensive and hard to get so I assumed they'd be
can birds for a few years before they got scrapped. They also had a
big pile of scrap that was mostly farm equipment (one of the Claases
was at the bottom of the pile) about 1/2 way up on one side there was
a green and yellow small square baler sticking out, I assumed John
Deere, but the more I looked at it the more something didn't seem
right. Got to wondering why someone would paint a New Holland baler
green & yellow? Packer thing maybe? Did John Deere ever make a small
square baler with the flywheel on the front at the end of the PTO
shaft like about everyone else did? It appears our small local scrap
yard has been sold to a company with 4 or 5 of them yet we seem to be
getting more for the scrap metal, better management? More price
pressure?

I haven't sold any scrap for a couple of years so haven't paid much attention to prices.
Any idea what the price was per ton? $32 sounds pretty good.
Also, I find it interesting to see you speak of those combines going to the breakers. As if they were old ships which is where you usually see the term used.
Must be an influence from your Navy days or reading some maritime/naval history?
I like it.

Ultradog, you talk about tractor wreckers over there we talk about tractor breakers....Most of our farmers can do the wrecking themselves so as the tractors are only fit for breaking!!!
Sam

reasonably good machines going for scrap instead of to salvage yards is sometimes a sign of theft. Meth heads just want to turn a quick buck. as for a new holland baler painted green, I would think that was to disguise a stolen machine. as in someone stole it to use it. then scraped it when it wore out.

JD did make one baler with the flywheel on the front, #10 high density baler. Made smaller square bale. Hard to find. Worth some $$$.

Baler might have been an Oliver...

Where in WI is this? Almost never see a Claas around here...and hardly any Ford (built by Claas) combines any more.
Claas is good for parts support, but pricey. But they are all pricey now. Too bad they didn't go for parts first.

Was a little over 400 pounds on the washers. It was at Marinette Iron & Metal in Marinette Wisconsin, which is about a hour and a half north of Green Bay on US 41, just this side of the river before Michigan. Yes I live an hour NORTH of the frozen Tundra. I don't know if I got a better rate on the washers because of the motors(copper)and the stainless steel tubs, I was happy I was expecting a couple of dollars for sheet steel.

Breakers is also an Air Force term- I spent six years in a Blue suit working Bombs & Airplanes, six months of that was in the Navy's EOD school.