What's it worth? - Old Oliver Planer PICS

[Steve Mathews]

I ran across an old Oliver 24" planer (pic below) this afternoon that may be for sale. It's been sitting outside for some time and all of the mechanical controls are frozen solid. It appears to be an interesting restoration project but I would like to get an idea its value before making an offer. The machine looks intact with the exception of the dust hood and sharpening attachment. The motor is 208v, 3-phase. Any idea of its value?

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[Bob Leistner]

I would not offer more than scrap value for your area.

[Peter Christensen]

Scrap iron price, in the neighbourhood of a nickel a pound.

[Patrick Kane]

What compels a person to leave a tool outside? I will never be able to understand what made someone make that decision one day.

That machine has very little value. It deserves to be saved and brought back into action, but that’s going to be a lot of work. I haven’t worked on that model before, but there’s a lot going on with a planer, I wouldnt consider them the simplest of machines.

[Steve Mathews]

Scrap iron price, in the neighbourhood of a nickel a pound.
So, about $150? Is it worth restoring?

[Stephen Rosenthal]

There's a Crescent 24" planer on CL located in Carson City, NV in seemingly better condition than the one pictured but definitely a major restoration project. Asking $950. Been listed for many months. I agree with the other commenters - not worth more than scrap. Why bother unless old iron restoration is your raison d'etre?

[Peter Christensen]

So, about $150? Is it worth restoring?

It is a shame it is in this condition. It would be nice to see it fully restored. It will take a butt load of work. Only you can judge if the work is the worth it. How much will it cost you to buy a new/used 24" machine? If you really want a big planer then this could be the way to get one if you aren't flush with cash and have the abilities to do the work. If you aren't good at this sort of thing or don't have the time then you shouldn't be the one to buy it.

[Richard Coers]

Not worth it. I sold my Yates American 24" in great working order for $1,200 so I didn't have to move it again. You'd need a crane to take it apart and just get the rust off. Let alone pull major parts like the cutting head.

[Steven Wayne]

I bought a Bridgeport mill in similar condition for $80. In the process of complete restoration. It was worth it to me, in this case. My opinion is you'd be better off buying something like the Crescent mentioned, unless you are setup for and enjoy machine restoration.

[Matt Day]

Looks like an Oliver 199. I’d buy it for a couple hundred at most, based on the restoration it would need. I really enjoy restorations though.

You can get a lot of info (and parts) on the machine over at OWWM.

[Jon Grider]

Looks like an Oliver 199. I’d buy it for a couple hundred at most, based on the restoration it would need. I really enjoy restorations though.

You can get a lot of info (and parts) on the machine over at OWWM.

Ditto Matt's post. That would be a labor of love with many many hours of time put into it. However Oliver's are highly regarded "arn'' and the addicts over at OWWM are a great support group.

[David Kumm]

Even if free, you are likely to spend more to rehab than what you can buy a running 299. Planers have lots of small parts that don't fare well when sitting outside. If you really want a 199 brought back from the grave, you have a good candidate there. Dave

[Bill Orbine]

Scrap value.... Except the competition that makes the value higher because it could be a parts machine. Someone out there needs something.

[Dave Cav]

Looks like an Oliver 199. I’d buy it for a couple hundred at most, based on the restoration it would need. I really enjoy restorations though.

You can get a lot of info (and parts) on the machine over at OWWM.

Just don't ask what it's worth over at OWWM.

I agree that it's scrap value is about all it's worth. It would be a huge job to disassemble and restore it, and you would have a lot of money in it when you're finished. If the motor is fried, it will cost quite a bit to have it rewound and since it's direct drive you won't be able to rig up a substitute. It would be a great planer when finished but an awful lot of work.

[Matt Day]

I really don’t think it looks that bad. And it’s sat outside in Arizona, not Ohio.

[Bill Dufour]

I wonder why it was put out back. I assume something expensive is wrong with it. motor or gears maybe cracked casting? If the gearbox filled with water and it froze then the gearbox is cracked.
Bil lD.

[Steve Mathews]

My interest in the planer has almost disappeared based on the comments so far. The seller wants $1000, which is out of the question. I may offer $150 after giving it more thought but after considering the other projects ahead of me may not even do that. It was fun considering replacing my current 16" planer with the Oliver but highly impractical at this time. Thanks for all the input.

[Mike Cutler]

My interest in the planer has almost disappeared based on the comments so far. The seller wants $1000, which is out of the question. I may offer $150 after giving it more thought but after considering the other projects ahead of me may not even do that. It was fun considering replacing my current 16" planer with the Oliver but highly impractical at this time. Thanks for all the input.

That's not a $1000.00 dollar machine.
I'll give it the benefit of the doubt because firstly, It's an Oliver, and secondly, it is out in the dry climate of the southwest, and not the northeast, but that's a "from the ground up" overhaul, and may only be completed if you have another 1940's era machine just like it. It's missing some pieces.

[Steve Mathews]

That's not a $1000.00 dollar machine.
I'll give it the benefit of the doubt because firstly, It's an Oliver, and secondly, it is out in the dry climate of the southwest, and not the northeast, but that's a "from the ground up" overhaul, and will only be completed if you have another 1940's era machine just like it. It's missing some pieces.

What is it missing besides the dust shroud and sharpening attachment?

[David Kumm]

You want to look at the cutter head. The 199 was made from the 1920s to the early 1940s. While this looks to be a later version due to the segmented chipbreaker, you need to verify that the head is a normal gibbed type. Early 199 came with a " Clamshell " head that is too dangerous to run. If that is the case you need to replace the direct drive head which may cost more than a decent 299. If the head is gibbed, look for the onboard knife grinder attachment. I don't see it on the machine but it may be laying around and adds value to the machine. The motors were generally either 5 or 7.5 hp and ran both the rollers and head. The 299 used separate motors so it was capable of a greater depth of cut. Dave

[Dave Cav]

And if it's got an ITCH head you HAVE to have the knife grinder.

[Mike Cutler]

What is it missing besides the dust shroud and sharpening attachment?

Steve
That's what I saw just from the photo. The latter assembly can be expensive to buy, even when found.
It's going to have a value it won't go below simply because it is an Oliver, and the frame castings alone will allow it to keep value regardless of whether it ever runs, or not. It won't sell for pennies per pound
A couple months back there was an Oliver 166, 12" jointer, for sale nearby. It was literally lying in the dirt in pieces, with grass growing up between some of the sections. The seller wanted $900 for that one. I thought about it, but I have a 16" Kane and Roach jointer I have still yet to rebuild.

[David Kumm]

ITCH heads were not developed until late in the 299 cycle-1960s at the earliest. Dave

[Darcy Warner]

You want to look at the cutter head. The 199 was made from the 1920s to the early 1940s. While this looks to be a later version due to the segmented chipbreaker, you need to verify that the head is a normal gibbed type. Early 199 came with a " Clamshell " head that is too dangerous to run. If that is the case you need to replace the direct drive head which may cost more than a decent 299. If the head is gibbed, look for the onboard knife grinder attachment. I don't see it on the machine but it may be laying around and adds value to the machine. The motors were generally either 5 or 7.5 hp and ran both the rollers and head. The 299 used separate motors so it was capable of a greater depth of cut. Dave

Clamshell memshell. I have run one in a Clement jointer. It's all about the condition. I wouldn't even worry about it in a planer.

[Darcy Warner]

ITCH heads were not developed until late in the 299 cycle-1960s at the earliest. Dave

Early 70s. Soon after Newman's.

[David Kumm]

Darcy, you have experience assessing and testing the bolts and threads of a clamshell. The Op doesn't. I've had knives thrown out of planers and it is still shrapnel. Dave

[Geoff Crimmins]

There's one in nice condition for sale near me with an asking price of $1500.

[Bruce McVeety]

There's one in nice condition for sale near me with an asking price of $1500.

OP, maybe a road trip to Idaho is in the cards? ��

[Bruce McVeety]

https://www.proxibid.com/Industrial-Machinery-Equipment/Other-Industrial-Machinery-Equipment/OLIVER-HORIZONTAL-24-IN-PLANER/lotInformation/45379433

sold for $3200 last week at on line auction.

[Darcy Warner]

https://www.proxibid.com/Industrial-Machinery-Equipment/Other-Industrial-Machinery-Equipment/OLIVER-HORIZONTAL-24-IN-PLANER/lotInformation/45379433

sold for $3200 last week at on line auction.

I watched that auction.