American motor pricing is crazy!

oceanrider

oceanrider

Gold Member
Joined
Aug 8, 2020
Messages
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What is up with the current pricing of Leeson and Baldor? You can buy mega horsepower American made motors somewhat reasonably, but 2hp motors are in the $1000+ range.

I don't know but I get the feeling that these makers have stopped production of lower horsepower motors all together.

I should note that only 4 years ago I bought two 1hp Leeson motors for under $300 each from surpluscenter. And that same motor now is $847

On a side note, maybe in some ways related...
"Why America’s Largest Tool Company Couldn’t Make a Wrench in America
A highly automated Texas factory was supposed to bring the manufacturing of Craftsman mechanics’ tools back to American shores. The $90 million project was doomed by equipment problems and slow production."
www.wsj.com

Why America’s Largest Tool Company Couldn’t Make a Wrench in America

A highly automated Texas factory was supposed to bring the manufacturing of Craftsman mechanics’ tools back to American shores. The $90 million project was doomed by equipment problems and slow production.
www.wsj.com www.wsj.com
 
This is what happens when you combine globalized supply chains with an unstable economy that has leveraged by abusive monetary policies by fed.gov. Symptoms of a diseased & declining empire. Prices will not likely recover as the US dollar continues to be debased by unchecked gov’t borrowing & spending. Sorry, man.
 
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Bühlmann said:
This is what happens when you combine globalized supply chains with an unstable economy that has leveraged by abusive monetary policies by fed.gov. Symptoms of a diseased & declining empire. Prices will not likely recover as the US dollar continues to be debased by unchecked gov’t borrowing & spending. Sorry, man.
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C'Mon Man.................. Everything is going to plan, Everything is Wonderful..... Build Back Better!!!


*I'm more worried about FOOD.
 
I reached out to Greg Reeder about not being able to find an American motor. He said the two Leeson's he used to order have been discontinued and have since been replaced with Mexico made Marathon's. Buhlmann is 100% spot on regrettably. Baldor and Leeson are not making the motors knife makers prefer. So pricing has increased on existing stock. I think Marathon is a division of Leeson. Maybe better than buying the Chinese ones that the housemade guys are linking to.
 
I agree that pricing is crazy. I was looking up some of the motors in my stash and was shocked. One motor was a 1hp Leeson It lists at $1095 on one website. The same motor lists at $595 on another site. I found it listed as NIB for $300 on eBay. I used to buy these for between $10 and $50 NIB surplus. The Baldor motors were a tad lower, but pretty much the same spread in pricing.
 
Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith said:
I agree that pricing is crazy. I was looking up some of the motors in my stash and was shocked. One motor was a 1hp Leeson It lists at $1095 on one website. The same motor lists at $595 on another site. I found it listed as NIB for $300 on eBay. I used to buy these for between $10 and $50 NIB surplus. The Baldor motors were a tad lower, but pretty much the same spread in pricing.
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Yeah maybe I should look more on eBay. It worries me about getting a motor that maybe was dropped on the shaft or some other issues. Maybe if it’s in the OEM box bolted to a piece of wood.
 
Yes, check around. I got all the 3phase motors on these photos, NIB and NOS, for less than $50 each. Prices on eBay started going up as people started discovering how cheap you can find a motor on an auction site.


All those large motors came from HGR Industrial Surplus. Check their site out. I just looked and a 1HP 3Ph is $32. A Baldor 3Hp 3Ph is $145.
 
I attended the ABB Baldor auction and picked up a surface grinder there. Cool facility. Sad to see it close.
 
It used to pay for me to buy used motors from USA on ebay and get them shipped to Canada,

$50/ motor and $50 for shipping + fees and taxes

I think part of that is the increase in popularity of DIY grinders, too many folks doing that.
Plus inflation
Plus stupid high shipping cost increases.
 
oceanrider said:
stuff happens, sorry it looks like you have a bit of frustration there. What is that tool that looks like you are staring at the bottom of it?
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That's the surface grinder from the Baldor auction.

When it saw the shop it was going to be stuck into, it just fell over and died.




That's not me, by the way. I'm much better looking. That's Rasmus Quantavius, my evil minion.
 
I'm still looking for a motor, taking a bit of time to search everyday. Seems everyone on eBay and elsewhere knows that Baldor and Leeson are no longer being made, as prices are through the roof :-(
 
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