I would be interested to know what he has left and what he wants for all of it. I am coming over to the coast for Christmas. What's his name if you know it and his address?
I am going to an estate auction tomorrow that includes a garage full of machine and woodworking tools. Atlas 12" Lathe, Jet mill/drill, bandsaws, Jet planer, Jet table saw and who knows what else. I am not interested in any of the big stuff. There is a wooden machinist tool box that caught my eye. No mention as to what it contains. It could be a treasure chest or full of worthless junk. Things that I am looking for are a rotary table, maybe a dividing head, boring head, taper attachment, drill press and machinist vices, gauge blocks, parallels, etc. The little things that cumulatively cost a small fortune to acquire. The pictures also showed what looked to be a rack of steel and aluminum stock. Never hurts to to have a stock of raw material on hand.
We sometimes get some real deals here in the valley. A while back I picked up two really nice Wilton drill presses along with a third one for parts for $30. I saw another auction where older 6" kurt style vises sold for $30 to $50 each, a south bend 16" lathe for $100 and a mill for $300.
Because I come over to the coast about once a month I am always scanning CL for stuff that is along my route.