wow! i can only dream,,like new hardinge HLV

[DR]

Hey, would you guys stop this nonsense about not wanting to be wealthy.

And why is it you only hear that from people who aren't wealthy?

[BobWarfield]

And why is it you only hear that from people who aren't wealthy?

Because unless you are really wealthy, you never believe you are wealthy, while everyone around you always assumes you are. All those numbers the government uses to determine who falls in which class are ridiculously low if you are living somewhere with a high cost of living. Truth is, wealth is a relative measure that is largely a state of mind and a degree of freedom. If you have to work hard to maintain your lifestyle, you aren't really wealthy. So, you either have to make a lot more or learn to live with a lot less. Either one works, BTW.

Now did anyone notice what the Hardinge lathe and Deckel mill finally sold for? Over $25K for the lathe?!??

It was a real beauty, but man was it expensive in the end. I think the Deckel mill, by comparison only, was a bargain, having sold for $8200. Whatever we may think of those prices, this JPL Engineer knew how to set up a nice shop. I wonder if he ever got to play with it much?

I've read stories of similar shops in people's garages that are filled with modern Haas VMC's and other goodies. Also quite interesting. Sometimes these guys are building really cool stuff and other times you just wonder. Personally, I just have to play with the toys, so they tend to show wear pretty quickly around my place.

Best,

BW

[thistle]

25k

i wonder if they gave a free scotchbright treatment for that ?

[HWooldridge]

Good article from "Live Steam" - thanks, 'thistle'. Makes me feel better about my 1946 Sheldon.

I worked for a billionaire - close beside him, every day for two years - before he sold the company and retired at 80. He might still be alive but I don't know. At any rate, he was not happier than anyone else. He was secure from the standpoint of being able to acquire almost any material thing but he still contracted skin cancer. The difference was that treatment wasn't an issue since he could go to MD Anderson or the Mayo without regard for the money.

He paid all his employees quite well but demanded a lot - both in time and dedication. I could tell a lot of stories but one that has stuck with me was when our quality manager wanted to take a weekend (that's right - Saturday and Sunday) to see his daughter get married. The company owner told him that he needed to get his priorities straight and work came before personal life. Needless to say, the QA guy went to the wedding, but he was "tainted" from then on and left a few months thereafter.

The boss didn't have a personal life and had essentially divorced himself from three grown children and his ex-wife. At 75, he got a 28 year old woman pregnant and then paid her $300K to abort the baby. I could tell more but won't waste the band width. After I had worked for him a few months, I lost the desire to make a lot of money. I don't put Bill Gates in the same classification but it occurs to me that big money seems to warp people to a degree.

[Evan]

I have as customers more than a few people that are very well off. One couple have bought 3 or 4 expensive computer systems from me over the years and have become good friends. They are from Switzerland and own a good sized ranch well out of town here. Thier daughter is still in Switzerland and manages their properties there, especially the riding stables. Here they have a beautiful large log ranch house including a full size pool that they keep heated all winter long even at -40.

They are very nice people, becoming somewhat elderly but still very sharp. They seem just as careful with their money as anyone else and aren't wastefully extravagant. Neither of them has anything resembling a stuck up attitude and they drive a 4x4 Suburban. They do however buy the best and don't waste time trying to save nickels and dimes.

I have a lot of german immigrants as customers here because I am the only computer geek in town that can speak german and find my way around a german copy of Windows. Many of these customers are wealthy and I haven't seen one that I would classify as obnoxious or who flaunts their money. They are generally nice people. I suspect this is the case with most wealthy people. I know that if I had more money I wouldn't change much of what I do. I would still come to work but I might lower my prices a bit more.

[BillH]

...No sir,I would not want to be rich,or if I ever was I wouldn't tell anybody or show it off...

I can agree on not telling anyone else, as the people around you change, just ask Dave Chapelle. However Suit yourself on the other half. I wish I was rich, then I wouldnt have to go back to school to get a job and suck up all my free time where I could be in the workshop building live steam locomotives and go kayaking everyday and own my own airplane and fly somewhere anytime I felt like it.
I suppose I could also buy my steam locomotives but bahhhhh, I want to build em!

[Mcgyver]

HW, too bad the guy's an SOB, but that anecdote doesn't make there a correlation between being rich and being unhappy - imagine what prick he'd have been if he was poor!

I've done deals with several billionaires (and alot of ____hundredmillionaires, not much practical difference), and would argue the other way. (that line sounded arrogant, wasn't meant to, it was just the nature of the work at the time) the ones i know are gentlemen, treat everyone with dignity and live large with big smiles on their faces. They generally have to be because to get to a B you need a lot of people around you & supporting you, customers, employees, managers, investors, advisor's etc. Complete arseholes can't do that - of course there are exceptions, these guys usually show a level of charisma, integrity and fair play. On the other had I've see lack of money make people bitter, scornful and jealous.

The may be lots of miserable rich people around, but there's miserable poor as well, there isn't a correlation, except with an extreme lack of money a whole new set of stresses. Me, I the unhappy poor working to to be one of the happy rich, not quite there but working at it every day i guess the real trick though is to be happy in your own skill

[DR]

........

The boss didn't have a personal life and had essentially divorced himself from three grown children and his ex-wife. At 75, he got a 28 year old woman pregnant and then paid her $300K to abort the baby. I could tell more but won't waste the band width. After I had worked for him a few months, I lost the desire to make a lot of money. I don't put Bill Gates in the same classification but it occurs to me that big money seems to warp people to a degree.

Interesting story, but my guess is the guy was a wacko before he had money.

I have a wacko brother who has a number of anti-social tendencies and having a bunch of money is about the only thing that makes him happy. He's worth around 20 million, but he's still the same wacko he was before he earned the money.

[DR]

Speaking of wealth....I admit it I'm a millionaire.

But, so are all our neighbors. In my neighborhood our paid for $20K home purchased 30 years ago is now worth $600K. Both my wife and I have worked and put the max amount in our retirement programs. Real estate and retirement savings makes us millionaires.

The catch is, as J Paul Getty used to say, "a million dollars isn't what it used to be".

I never would have dreamed 30 years ago that I'd be a millionaire. Now that I'm there it just doesn't seem like so much money. I'm sure as long as our health holds we'll both continue working, probably shortening our hours when we reach the age of maturity for social security.

[Wareagle]

[QUOTE=HWooldridge]He paid all his employees quite well but demanded a lot - both in time and dedication. I could tell a lot of stories but one that has stuck with me was when our quality manager wanted to take a weekend (that's right - Saturday and Sunday) to see his daughter get married. The company owner told him that he needed to get his priorities straight and work came before personal life. Needless to say, the QA guy went to the wedding, but he was "tainted" from then on and left a few months thereafter.

The boss didn't have a personal life QUOTE]
My wife just left a company that had that same philosophy. She was wrapped up in trying to keep on top of things. The more she did, the more they expected. Obviously she was unhappy, and che came to realize that her priority was her job, and not her family. She'd cancel plans, work all weekend, every evening, and even would take her computer on vacation in order to make a deadline. None of the effort was appreciated.

They paid very well, but in the end, she realized the money wasn't worth it. She landed at another company doing the same job, with less than half the work load, about a tenth of the stress, and is making the same money!

Work to live; don't live to work!

[wierdscience]

Interesting story, but my guess is the guy was a wacko before he had money.

I have a wacko brother who has a number of anti-social tendencies and having a bunch of money is about the only thing that makes him happy. He's worth around 20 million, but he's still the same wacko he was before he earned the money.

I have dealt with a few wackos too,one like you say would be a wacko if he were penniless.
Still another was nutty as a fruitcake,likeable enough just stone crazy.How he ever made it I don't know,quess he falls into the "Bucket of s***" category.

[Milacron of PM]

Speaking of wealth....I admit it I'm a millionaire.


The catch is, as J Paul Getty used to say, "a million dollars isn't what it used to be".

I never would have dreamed 30 years ago that I'd be a millionaire. Now that I'm there it just doesn't seem like so much money. .

Yeah, due to inflation, a million net worth US dollars, no longer means you are officially "rich". It's almost a shame we don't have another catchy phrase wealth point designation in between "millionaire" and "billionaire", as there is a huge gulf between the two !

There is "multimillionaire" of course...but besides those pesky extra two syllables to pronounce, here again, a world of difference in having 2 million and 900 million net worth !

[JRouche]

Well, since the thread has already veered, here I go too....

Rich folks, I work in an area that is soaked with them.

They still sit on a crapper, drive in bumper to bumper traffic, get colds, have family die off, breath smog, sweat, get hungry, get full, get horny, get impotent, pick their nose, and their ass, swear, get swore at, stub their toes, bump their elbows, get dust in their eyes, sunburn too.

They have all the little things in life which MAKE life, no different from any other person when it comes down to the brass tacks..

On a side: I have been to a few too many suicides and righteous attempts of many very to do folks and their kids. Dont see nearly as many in the "poorer" part of town. No real stats there, just a seat of the pants examination....JRouche

[A.K. Boomer]

Getting back to the lathe, thats my friends machine that i will be running tomorrow morning --- septin he has a six station turit tool holder and a massive single point thread attachment that mounts directly above and behind,,, this machine is not only a thing of beauty --- it is so amazing on how well it not only holds tolerance but also puts a finish on parts due to its rigidity, somebody said something on the lines of getting the same results with a smithy,,,,, your flat out smoking crack,,,,, you put the same experianced machinist on both machines and the work will speak for itself, there is only so far you can tweak a piece of crap ------ but when your dealing with the good stuff the sky is the limit, i want a tenth, i not only got it with repeat but i got it with a nice finish.... dont ever try that on a smithy, believe me, there is a reason why one costs twenty times more, Im not out to beat on all smithy owners but fer crys sakes dont even bring it up... its like compairing an f-50 to a metro......................... good luck getting the same results with the same experianced drivers,,,,

I got nuthin againsts smithies, for some of us its all we can afford -- I just posted this to keep things in perspective.

[Orrin]

A recent Discover magazine article on happiness brought out an interesting fact: wealth does not make much difference in whether a person is happy or unhappy.

I tend to agree. I've known loads of dirt-poor people who were happy and carefree; and, I've known a few wealthy people who were not any happier than the next guy.

IMHO, many people are chronically unhappy, regardless.

Orrin