Page 59 - One Thousand Ways to Make $1000

E.

L. CORD, president of the Cord Corporation, who built up the Auburn
Automobile Company, and is the directing head of many important business
enterprises, made his first money rebuilding Ford cars. He bought a $75
second-hand Model T Ford. He geared it for high speed, added a homemade
racing body, gave it a coat of paint and sold it for $675.

The plan worked so well that he bought twenty Fords, put them through the
same rebuilding process and sold them all for an average profit of $500 per
car.

Of course, this opportunity is gone today. But there are other similar
opportunities. Second-hand goods of all kinds are constantly being traded in
on new goods. Washing machines, radios, vacuum cleaners are frequently
traded in long before their life usefulness has ended. A few new parts, a coat
of paint or enamel will put them into a salable condition.

There’s a real opportunity in almost every town or city for the man who is
mechanically inclined, who has a few tools and isn’t afraid to get his hands
dirty, to make a good living reconditioning second-hand household
equipment.

Almost every dealer who takes in second-hand equipment offers a pitifully
small allowance on it. To get rid of it he is often willing to sell it for just what
he paid. At times even less. There is a steady market for rebuilt and
reconditioned household equipment. Hundreds of people who do not want to
pay the price of new equipment are good prospects for rebuilt equipment.

All you need to start is a few tools and one second-hand machine, such as a
washer, vacuum cleaner or refrigerator. The first step is to take the equipment
apart, clean it thoroughly, replace worn and broken parts, refinish where
needed. Then you are ready to make your first sale. Offer your first rebuilt
piece of equipment to your next door neighbor. If he doesn’t buy, offer it to
the next nearest neighbor, and so on until sold. As you make each sales call,