Office of Steam Forum for Model & Toy Steam Gas & Hot Air Engines

... since I actually bought a steam engine on eBay, but I just did.

Looks to be a low mileage, early 1950's Jensen #25 that appears to be in rather good shape. Classic cast iron base with the desirable heavy flywheel, and though originally listed at $275, I offered $225 and the seller countered with $250, so I took it. He did pad his BIN with a shipping cost that might be considered a little high at $75, but considering it has to come clear across the country to get here, that isn't an unreasonable price for shipping these days, provided he does pack it very well according to the instructions that I provided.

Oh yeah .... I forgot to mention that it comes with a minty looking Jensen #100 "Blue Base" workshop!!!

Will be interesting to see how well he follows packing instructions, and what condition it all arrives here in, but my fingers are crossed hoping for the best!!!!

Thanks Bruce

Yep, I figured that at that price I was getting either the engine or the workshop at about the right price, and the other for free.

Seller didn't have many photos, but those he did have made both units look nearly new, and he did include a short video of the engine running the workshop, so it does actually work. I gave him my regular shipping advice, along with some extra for the workshop, like perhaps taking the drill press and line-shaft uprights off of the board and wrapping them separately.

In a BIN situation like this, one must decide yes or no and bite the bullet when the chance comes, as a good BIN deal often disappears within hours of being listed. Thought I'd take the chance on an offer to save a little bit on the shipping, so feel I did reasonable on the deal, depending on how it all is when it actually shows up.

Thanks Rog

Don't think I quite really "Killed" it, but hope that I did score a couple of extra good condition classics for a fair bit less than normal pricing. When you add in shipping and tax the total gets them each for about $170, and deals like that can be found if you wait for them long enough. Did manage to snag a little price reduction by working a best offer discount with the seller, so that helped some too.

Certainly not the deal of the century, nor even of the year, not by a long shot, but if they make it through shipping in good shape, think I'll be getting a pretty good deal at least!?!?