What Is A Shoe Shop Worth?

[begrate]

A local shoe repair man called me the other day and offered me his shoe repair equipment, and I have no idea what the stuff is worth, hopefully there is someone on here who can help me out. He told me he paid $6000 for the equipment, and wants me to make an offer, he tried giving it to the local museum, but they didn't have room, so I think he'd be pretty flexible on price.

Included in the equipment is a Landis outsole stitcher, I believe a 12? and a spare one of the same model for parts, also a Landis "finisher" I don't remember a model number but it is an enormous chunck of cast iron, and I do not at the moment have a place to put it, but he turned it on and seemed to work fine. It had at least two brushes, two strops, four or five various sanding wheels, and extra sand paper for each, and a cutting head with a good selection of cutting blades for it. There is also a Landis cutting/skiving machine, with a few extra blades, and several shoe last stands, and what looked to me like a large selection of lasts. He had quite a few hand tools, new heels, soles (leather, and several thicknesses of rubber, and maybe some crepe material?)along with a lot of nails, screws, rivets, sewing string, needles, waxes, some leather (mostly scraps of maybe 4 to 5 ounce stuff, mayble for boot tops?). The guy also had an older machine he said he never uses, but it drives small wire brads, maybe for attaching heels or soles? He said something about some types of dress shoes, but I don't remember a model or maker on it. There was also a an older Singer leather machine, don't remember the model number, but it is a lighter machine, maybe for upholstery leather, or canvas, but it would not handle saddle skirting, which is a little more my interest.

Like I said, I have no idea what the stuff is worth, but I don't have room for the big finishing machine, and it all has to go together (He wants rid of it) so I'm thinking of maybe trying to buy the whole lot, and resell some of it, but I'm not going to dive in unless I know I can come out with at least a cheap set of tools that I can use, but I'd prefer to be able to make a little money on the deal.

Thanks for any help ,

Reid G.

[SkullCanyon]

Hey Reid,

I made this mistake 2 years ago. I bought out a complete shoe repair shop in Maryland and hauled it all back home to AZ. This included all of the equipment and extras you mentioned and more.

Hard to re-sell this type of thing. Parts are pricey, equipment is back breaker heavy and the market is tiny. I wound up selling the 2 working Landis 12L's for a song to Panhandle Leather in Texas, delivered.

I kept the finisher and Adler patcher. Still have the autonailer and heel grinder in storage, not much of a market for them. Boxes of tools came in handy for some things.

All said and done I paid $2000.00 for the lot. If I had it to do over I would pass on the deal. Nearly gave myself a hernia moving this stuff and I am not weak.

I had misplaced the bobbin cases for the Landis 12's and they priced out at $500. each............... Luckily I found them eventually and was able to move the machines.

Good luck and I hope this helps.

Kenny Hopkins

[electrathon]

If you are in on the deal, I am interested in the lasts.

Aaron

[Glendon]

You beat me to it Aaron. Shoe lasts are hard to come by. A set of common sizes I would love to have on hand.

[Adam Jimenez]

I would offer $500.00 The reason being is that it will take a long time to sell. you might end up with boat anchors. $500 is more than he will get for scrap. start at 5 and go from there.

[begrate]

Thanks for the input, I'm glad I asked instead of diving in. My wife has been after me to find something more useful to spend her hard earned money on, maybe I should just take her advice.

Reid G.