Cast iron radiator prices

Bill NTSG

.......bit less $ than the local salvage yard?

Dave Stroman

Cast iron radiator prices.

I love cast iron and have recently desided to save as many of these old beauties from the dump as I can. The local salvage yards charge obscenely high prices. Any suggestions as how I should price them?

Mad Dog

This is a very quirky and subjective thing

...what to charge for the old gems. My advice: don't hang on to the non-ornate ones - they are all too common and in the minds of most have nothing redeeming about them, therefore you ain't gonna get squat for 'em. I've been following this end of the business for quite a few years now. I have a healthy collection (about 14 or 15) ornate and special ones stacked like cordwood in the barn. They are patiently waiting for a home. This is the problem: they take up aLOT OF ROOM until you use them and everyone has wildly different ideas of what they can buy them and sell them for. I get General contractors calling me every few months looking to unload them. Because of the recent insurgence of interest in them, they think they can big numbers for them. They want $500-800 for a medium sized one and want us to pick them up. They soon realize that it is a real hit and miss situation, and that in most cases they don't have anything really special and if they do, they are not going to get rich on them. The place I've picked up alot over the years, George Christ Plumbing & Heating supplies in Long Island are not even taking them anymore and the ones they are getting rid of are 10 -15 dollars a section: not a lot of bread for humping these things to and fro. THe best selection I've ever seen is at A-1 in Massachucetss - they've got 'em all, but there prices are brutal. They are restored beautifully, but there cheapest ones start at $200 bucks a section. And they ain't gonna pay you jack for what you bring to them - thats how they make money - GOD bless 'em. On the user end, you have to have a customer that really loves these gems and will pay for the rehab and installation. Brother...you get what yopu can get for them. Mad Dog

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Dave Stroman

Thanks, I know what you mean, these radiators are worth a lot to someone who needs them and likes them. Otherwise they are not even worth the trip to take them to the salvage for $.02 a pound. Luckly, I do not have a huge investment in them. Some I got for free, some I paid about $5 per radiator, but they are filling up my valuable storage space. I have about 75 of them. Will probably cull out the plane jane ones and save the decorative and and unusual ones. I have an electric stair climber so I can move them around with no problem and without ant damage to stairs or floors. Thanks for the input.

Bill NTSG

But the thing is......

the minute you get rid of them , somebody wants them. Like Mad Dog said, it is a real hit and miss thing. New Burnham [ not the classic] are about $26-30 pr section. I actually paid a contractor $25 pr radiator once just because I needed one of them.
So all that said I have about 30 radaiators in two different garages. I just sold one for $25. So $25-50 for good solid plain janes unless some one really really needs one and then I guess it is a matter of supply and demand.

Dave Stroman

I think I will make up a little flyer and pass it around to my suppliers. Maybe they will put it on their bb. I just removed 8 big plan jane radiators from a house where they are putting in baseboards! He gave them to me for free. But when you factor in the time I spent and the $ I paid my plumber to help me, you wonder if it is really worth it. Wish I had a big outside yard where I could just stock pile them and let them sit until needed. I also have 2 big beauties that a lady powder coated. Now they leak. I am going to try some sort of stop leak to see if I can get them to work.

tombig

Used Radiators

There's an outfit in Chicago that has an outside yard with 500 or so rads of all shapes, sizes, and degree of beauty. He gives $1 per section and sells for $12 regardless of design. I've sold and bought there. He pressure tests all outgoing.

Have you considered dissassembling those "beautiful leakers" and reassembling with silicone or epoxy at the push nipples?

kevin_5

Like they say

One mans Junk... Could someday be our junk! (or something like that) My brother just bought a couple radiators at an auction for a few dollars. Our area doesn't have very many, and noone wants them. My brother drug it into his basement for decoration- And he has a "furnasty"!
I can appreciate that because I love the ornateness of all old castings, but especially agricultural related. The fusion of craftsmanship and art is a thing of beauty. I'm just glad I wasn't around to help him lug it in the house. And it's amazing that a few years ago, people couldn't wait to get rid of them, and now they want them sitting around inside UNHOOKED no less. If he had the thing operating, then he'd really have something! Kevin

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