[Roxy]

I have always enjoyed going to farm sales.  Unfortunately they usually clash with horse shows in the summer months, but today was a free day, and there was a sale, so off we went.  About 30 miles away, but still in Derbyshire.

The world and his brother must have been there.  I have never seen such a well attended sale, but plenty of fields to park in, and no mud, and it stayed dry too.

The same family have farmed there for 130 years, and have just sold the farm by auction last night.  So you can imagine, there was a lot of old stuff to sell.  All the machinery I saw, and the furniture etc was in well looked after condition.  Everything was fetching big money, lots after the older tractors and vintage machinery.....horse drawn implements, which I love seeing.  Had a walk round the field listening to the prices stuff was bringing.

I really enjoy the bygones, and the furniture and things......but a long wait until they were sold, and then every building was packed with buyers.  I did not come away empty handed - got outbid on some things, but was really pleased with myself with my purchase.  An old brass and iron bed for £30 - had a bidding war with a man, but he could see I was not going to back down!!!  A few years ago I bought a restored one and it cost me a fortune, so I am chuffed with my bargain.

[hexhammeasure]

well done on your bidding. Its great going to farm sales and collective sales. you can always tell when the farmers are well respected by the number of people at the sale. Many people just want to buy stuff just to say "nice knowing you, have a happy retirement" I found the hardest part is keeping my hands in my pocket

[Rosemary]

Now I'm retired, I might try going to a few!

[doganjo]

It's tradition in Scotland at least for the incoming owner to attend the outgoing owner's 'roup' and buy something.  It is looked on as a sign of respect, and the roup of a retiring farmer is classed as his retirement fund.  We were welcomed into our community because we did that when we bought our croft in Aberdeenshire.  We went to a few over the years and they are usually very interesting events.  But I don't like the name they are sometimes given of 'displenish sale' - it smacks of bankruptcy somehow to me.

[Fluffywelshsheep]

hehe I love auctions and can pick up bargain / old antiques quite easily for decent prices , lol. I havn't been to one for ages so hope i havn't lots the knack.

I have quite a few anquites in my house but my prized one is my hubby lol



Linz

[Roxy]

I saw the outgoing owner, and the new owners were indeed present at the sale, so maybe they did buy something, which would be nice.

I do think though, that the older people are dying off, and the younger generations probably will not keep bygones, and old furniture etc.....so in a way, the  present day sales will become different.  Over the years I have picked up all sorts of things.

I have to smile because every sale round here starts off with lot 1 ....a pile of scrap.  Every farm has a pile of scrap to sell.  Yesterday, a big pile of hessian sacks caused much excitement in the bidding war.  There were things in every outbuilding, and some of these were not very big, so if you wanted to bid, you had to keep ahead of the auctioneer an get in the appropriate barn before him to get at the front.  He kept laughing when he arrived at the next building to see it was already crammmed full of eager people.