Our town's grocery store closed and there's an auction of the equipment and fixtures in about a week. I see there are two meat slicers on the auction -- a Hobart 1612 (1/4 hp) and a Hobart 2712 (1/2 hp) -- and I'm tempted to bid. I'm inclined toward the 1612 because it looks like it's smaller and might go for less money. It will only be for household use.
I would appreciate any advice and recommendations from the more knowledgeable people here. Which one should I focus on and what might be a fair price? Any other feedback?
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Thanks, RonB. I've been watching craigslist and facebook market place and am seeing prices for various used slicers from reputable companies in the $300 to $700+ range. I don't know much about prices for specific models, however, so the numbers are much appreciated.
I have a friend that is giving me his 1612 from his now-closed pizza joint. He says it sliced everything he threw at: cheese, hard salami/pepperoni, bacon, deli meats, and of course vegetables. Poking around on CL locally I could pick one up for $300-350 if I'm patient. Keep in mind that it's still a beast at about 75lbs. I'm going to build a cart for mine. The 2712 looks like a bad mama-jama, but I doubt the 1/2 hp motor would give you any advantage in a home setting. Good luck and keep us posted!
BTW, the tone of your post indicates that this might have been your town's only grocery store, is that true? If so, that is sad. Like the post office, a health facility and a gas station they are essential to a community.
Last edited by CaptainMike; March 10, 2019, 12:03 PM.
CaptainMike -- Yes, a slicer with a 1/2 hp motor seems like overkill to me too.
Postville has a population of about 2000 -- big enough so you'd think it could support a small general grocery -- but the town has struggled since the ICE raid in 2008 both economically and culturally. The grocery store that closed has shown the signs of being in trouble for some years and apparently the owner of the building (not the grocery store owners) didn't want to spend any money on building upkeep, so I don't think people were hugely surprised.
That said, it's not all bad news. Kwik Star (Kwik Trip) has bought the lot and is planning to build a big gas station there that will stock general grocery items. And the inevitable Dollar General store on the edge of town with canned goods, cereal, snacks, and milk. There are two other small groceries in town that specialize in serving the orthodox Jewish and Hispanic communities, and they offer interesting and tasty food that you wouldn't normally expect to find in rural Iowa.
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