EPISODE 812 RANDOM PICTURES FROM THE KILNER FARM SALE , APRIL 29,2023

alan skeoch

april 29, 2023

AN AUCTION SALE IS A GAMBLE

Auction sales are a gamble for the seller. Particularly farm sales.  The sun could shine or rain could fall.

On April 29 there was no sun….some rain….lots of mud.   But there were also plenty of bidders who

came hell or high water.  On sunny days a goodly part of the crowd have not come to bid but rather they

have assembled for the sun and the entertainment.  So what you see in these pictures are the real hard

core bidders.  Of which I am a member.

Doug Donaldson was the auctioneer and one of his daughters caught the bidder numbers. Bill Brooks 

acted as helper and motor mechanic.   No animals left on the farm except for a couple of cats one

of which was pregnant.  Ian Kilner had a mystery sign nailed to his farm wagon….”Don’t 

criticize farmers with your mouth open.”  (open to interpretation)

The saddest part of the sale was the arrival of a large scrap iron truck.  Some of these things…these gems… will

not be seen again.  I was tempted to buy the Massey Harris combine just for old times sake but curbed

my enthusiasm.  It sold for $800…I fear it was destined for the scrap truck.

What did we buy?  Perhaps I should not say ‘we’….it was me.  Pile of lumber with planks 16 feet long, a wood mounted drill 

press, a pile of chisels, a ladder, two old toolboxes (one filled with used screws and washers rather than the treasures

expected), a fogging machine (for what purpose?), a rake for Marjorie, 2 jacks, 2 large wide flat boards redolent of manure

and time (for future wooden quilts), a 1963 Farmall row crop tractor in running condition  and other things best forgotten.

If you are about to say something negative about my bidding save your breath.  It is an addiction.

Marjorie arrived with Woody our dog just as Doug Donaldson said “Sold” and accepted my bid for the

Farmall tractor.   No hostile comment from her, she is familiar with idiosyncratic bidding. Tractor was purring like

the cats hidden away in the barn.  I will not reveal the price.

Here are some faces and a random collection of what could be purchased.