On my way back from St. Louis, I drove through an old sub-division I knew of, and spotted a mesh dish right off. Wasn't interested in it, looked like a 6 footer. So I drove around that sub-division some more, and was leaving, and as I was pulling out onto the main street, I saw this solid dish sticking up above a double-wide mobile home.
Shot across the street and pulled into this mobile home park. It has been there since the late fifties. Most of the lots were sold then instead of rented. I know because one of my aunts used to live in that park.
Swung down the street where this dish was, and sure enough it was an 8.5' solid Birdview. Made just like my mesh, except solid and painted white.
There was no one home, and the house looked vacant, so I knocked on the neighbor's door. She said the guy who bought it from the previous owner had only been there twice in the past year. Got the address, drove to City Hall, and looked up the land owner. Got the name, and came home.
Got on the internet, and had to pay twelve dollars to get the info I wanted, and it turned out to be the wrong guy, but the last listing was in Decatur Il. I had been looking in Missouri. It had a phone number, so I called and it was him.
Talked to him for a bit, he was all business. Said he had bought the property to fix up and re-sell. I made my usual offer to take it down if he wanted to get rid of it for free. He himmed and hawed for a bit, so I told him I would give him what he could get for recycling it. $25 or $50 dollars.
He took down my phone number, and said he was coming over next week when it warmed up a little. He asked if I was in a hurry, and I told him no. In the middle of negotiation is not the time to get in a hurry.
He said he would let me know in less than 30 days, and maybe as soon as he comes over there next week.
Here are the pics:
I included the pole pictures because I wanted to ask your opinions on the best way to get this thing down.
I tapped on the pole, and I don't think this is a tube like the other one. I think it is at least schedule 40 pipe a full 6" OD and at least 12 foot long. It would almost have to be schedule 40 to be standing free on the concrete all these years. It is hollow too. The pole itself will weigh 200 lbs.
There is only about a foot or 18" between the roof and the pole. The dish sticks out over the roof. If the dish can be unbolted and taken off the mount first, I think the mount can be swung around where the heavy side is over the roof, and lifted off. Then it is a matter of cutting off the pole and laying it down.
I think I have at least a 75/25 chance of getting this dish. If so, it will go up for the family setup.
To answer your question in the other thread Chefwan, dishes can be anywhere. I didn't ever think I would see a high dollar dish like this in a mobile home park, but there it is. There are at least 8 - 10 more dishes in that park too.
Please give me some creative ideas on how to get it down.
Thanks,
Fred
Shot across the street and pulled into this mobile home park. It has been there since the late fifties. Most of the lots were sold then instead of rented. I know because one of my aunts used to live in that park.
Swung down the street where this dish was, and sure enough it was an 8.5' solid Birdview. Made just like my mesh, except solid and painted white.
There was no one home, and the house looked vacant, so I knocked on the neighbor's door. She said the guy who bought it from the previous owner had only been there twice in the past year. Got the address, drove to City Hall, and looked up the land owner. Got the name, and came home.
Got on the internet, and had to pay twelve dollars to get the info I wanted, and it turned out to be the wrong guy, but the last listing was in Decatur Il. I had been looking in Missouri. It had a phone number, so I called and it was him.
Talked to him for a bit, he was all business. Said he had bought the property to fix up and re-sell. I made my usual offer to take it down if he wanted to get rid of it for free. He himmed and hawed for a bit, so I told him I would give him what he could get for recycling it. $25 or $50 dollars.
He took down my phone number, and said he was coming over next week when it warmed up a little. He asked if I was in a hurry, and I told him no. In the middle of negotiation is not the time to get in a hurry.
He said he would let me know in less than 30 days, and maybe as soon as he comes over there next week.Here are the pics:
I included the pole pictures because I wanted to ask your opinions on the best way to get this thing down.
I tapped on the pole, and I don't think this is a tube like the other one. I think it is at least schedule 40 pipe a full 6" OD and at least 12 foot long. It would almost have to be schedule 40 to be standing free on the concrete all these years. It is hollow too. The pole itself will weigh 200 lbs.
There is only about a foot or 18" between the roof and the pole. The dish sticks out over the roof. If the dish can be unbolted and taken off the mount first, I think the mount can be swung around where the heavy side is over the roof, and lifted off. Then it is a matter of cutting off the pole and laying it down.
I think I have at least a 75/25 chance of getting this dish. If so, it will go up for the family setup.
To answer your question in the other thread Chefwan, dishes can be anywhere. I didn't ever think I would see a high dollar dish like this in a mobile home park, but there it is.
There are at least 8 - 10 more dishes in that park too.Please give me some creative ideas on how to get it down.
Thanks,
Fred
: great dish hunter 
