Butch and Myra
Grumbler
How much should we expect to pay for a good used chopper?
Thanks, Myra and Butch
Thanks, Myra and Butch
Chopper
- Thread starter Butch and Myra
- Start date
D
Dermot
Guest
Sorry
D
Dermot
Guest
Choppers hold their value very well the Morso is very rugged, mine was built in 1958 and if I were to sell it I would expect to get about 60 to 70% of current new cost if not more, this would include two sets of blades (almost new) and one old set (still some life in them), instruction manual all tools etc, a new Morso comes with one set of blades when new.
I just sold an old Morrso with three sets of blades for $500.00 if that helps.
John
John
Alan Sturgess
CGF II, Certified Grumble Framer Level 2
The range for Used Morso choppers is as follows
$500 to $1800 US$
$800 to $2700 CAN$
The “current” market price for a NEW Morso deluxe chopper is about $2600 US$ or $4100 CAN$.
A MORSO chopper that is 20 to 25 years old would fetch the lower amount. However
the chopper could be older than this and still be worth $500 as Morso choppers tend to hit a “bottom” value and stay there.
A Morso Chopper up to about 8 years old and with the NEW “Pistorius” engraved
colour coded mitre gauge and in very good condition would be at the high end of the range.
The other important factor to look at is the age of the blades, the brand of the blades and the number of sets that come with the machine. Often the vendor may be the second or third owner of the machine and they really do not know the exact age of the machine. The first thing to check is the date stamped into the top end of the blades. It is not unusual for blades on these machines to last 15 years. It all depends on how many sets the machine has had, how much work they did, and how often they have them sharpened. If someone knows a little about sharpening blades they can easily hone the blades with a 2” wide x 8” long Japanese water stone. If they do this properly they can double the life of the blades. Most stores send the blades out when they “feel” dull. You can actually bring back the sharpness with honing two or three times before you need to send them to the professional sharpening service.
When you see a small nick in the blade and the resultant groove on the moulding you then know the blades definitely need to be sent out for sharpening.
A new set of MORSO blades right out of the box should measure 3 1/64” or 77 mm wide.
If you are still not sure of the age of the machine, then send an e-mail to the factory with the
Serial number and they will tell you how old the machine is. Here is their WEB site:
http://www.morso-guillotines.dk/
The following lists all the serial numbers up to 1976 and an address for e-mailing them.
http://www.morso-guillotines.dk/mitrehistory.htm
Another item that will add a few dollars to the value of the machine is the 24” infeed support. Most machines I have seen do not have this, but it is available as an option with a new machine or you can order it as an aftermarket add on. The new price on this add on is about $120 US$
MORSO blades definitely last longer and work better than some of the GENERIC brands
from Asia or Eastern Europe.
For those who do not realize, the NEW colour coded gauge was actually patented
and designed by Pistorius and is made under license by MORSO. The Pistorius Choppers, made and sold by Pistorius, are actually MORSO base units that have been improved and upgraded by Pistorius.
You have asked just about a CHOPPER and most people are familiar with just the MORSO brand. However there are two other brands that you will find in the framing industry. The
next best known one is the JYDEN chopper. The JYDEN company went out of business about
6 years ago. The story I have heard is that one generation of family members split off from the MORSO company and started to make the JYDEN machine. Many of the parts including the blades are interchangable. The JYDEN’s foot pedal is a little more awkward to used since it
comes up about 3 inches higher than the MORSO. The last series of JYDEN machines did have
an engraved mitre grid similar to the MORSO one, but without the colour coding lines.
An older JYDEN chopper would be worth about 15% to 25% less than a MORSO. Depending on whether you are the buyer or the seller this may help you with getting a better price for the JYDEN.
The other lesser known chopper is the SCHLEICHER MASCHINENBAU chopper made in Germany. This machine has been for on the market for at least 30 years. It is much lighter constructed than either the MORSO or the JYDEN and will not cut material as wide as the other choppers. A used Schleicher is worth about $300 to $400 CAN$ or $200 to $300 US$
Alan Sturgess
$500 to $1800 US$
$800 to $2700 CAN$
The “current” market price for a NEW Morso deluxe chopper is about $2600 US$ or $4100 CAN$.
A MORSO chopper that is 20 to 25 years old would fetch the lower amount. However
the chopper could be older than this and still be worth $500 as Morso choppers tend to hit a “bottom” value and stay there.
A Morso Chopper up to about 8 years old and with the NEW “Pistorius” engraved
colour coded mitre gauge and in very good condition would be at the high end of the range.
The other important factor to look at is the age of the blades, the brand of the blades and the number of sets that come with the machine. Often the vendor may be the second or third owner of the machine and they really do not know the exact age of the machine. The first thing to check is the date stamped into the top end of the blades. It is not unusual for blades on these machines to last 15 years. It all depends on how many sets the machine has had, how much work they did, and how often they have them sharpened. If someone knows a little about sharpening blades they can easily hone the blades with a 2” wide x 8” long Japanese water stone. If they do this properly they can double the life of the blades. Most stores send the blades out when they “feel” dull. You can actually bring back the sharpness with honing two or three times before you need to send them to the professional sharpening service.
When you see a small nick in the blade and the resultant groove on the moulding you then know the blades definitely need to be sent out for sharpening.
A new set of MORSO blades right out of the box should measure 3 1/64” or 77 mm wide.
If you are still not sure of the age of the machine, then send an e-mail to the factory with the
Serial number and they will tell you how old the machine is. Here is their WEB site:
http://www.morso-guillotines.dk/
The following lists all the serial numbers up to 1976 and an address for e-mailing them.
http://www.morso-guillotines.dk/mitrehistory.htm
Another item that will add a few dollars to the value of the machine is the 24” infeed support. Most machines I have seen do not have this, but it is available as an option with a new machine or you can order it as an aftermarket add on. The new price on this add on is about $120 US$
MORSO blades definitely last longer and work better than some of the GENERIC brands
from Asia or Eastern Europe.
For those who do not realize, the NEW colour coded gauge was actually patented
and designed by Pistorius and is made under license by MORSO. The Pistorius Choppers, made and sold by Pistorius, are actually MORSO base units that have been improved and upgraded by Pistorius.
You have asked just about a CHOPPER and most people are familiar with just the MORSO brand. However there are two other brands that you will find in the framing industry. The
next best known one is the JYDEN chopper. The JYDEN company went out of business about
6 years ago. The story I have heard is that one generation of family members split off from the MORSO company and started to make the JYDEN machine. Many of the parts including the blades are interchangable. The JYDEN’s foot pedal is a little more awkward to used since it
comes up about 3 inches higher than the MORSO. The last series of JYDEN machines did have
an engraved mitre grid similar to the MORSO one, but without the colour coding lines.
An older JYDEN chopper would be worth about 15% to 25% less than a MORSO. Depending on whether you are the buyer or the seller this may help you with getting a better price for the JYDEN.
The other lesser known chopper is the SCHLEICHER MASCHINENBAU chopper made in Germany. This machine has been for on the market for at least 30 years. It is much lighter constructed than either the MORSO or the JYDEN and will not cut material as wide as the other choppers. A used Schleicher is worth about $300 to $400 CAN$ or $200 to $300 US$
Alan Sturgess
B. Newman
SGF, Supreme Grumble Framer
The chopper I learned on had a hand lever instead of the foot lever which pulled down toward you. The blades were opposite from most I have seen today. They came together at the back. In other words, the rabbet of the moulding was facing the front. It was black, cast iron, and very, very heavy.
Anybody have any idea of what it was? I've always wondered.
Betty
Anybody have any idea of what it was? I've always wondered.
Betty
B. Newman
SGF, Supreme Grumble Framer
Whoa, page not found! 
Then a double post!
Bummer.
Betty
Then a double post!Bummer.
Betty
So, Alan (or anyone else,) what's a "Dan-Clip" chopper? This is made in Denmark and has the colored, engraved ruler lines. The setup seems pretty conventional. I guess my main concern is the interchangeability of the blades. I have several sets, but will eventually need new ones.
This chopper was purchased probably 20 years ago from the Williamson Company.
This chopper was purchased probably 20 years ago from the Williamson Company.
Mel
MGF, Master Grumble Framer
Alan or anyone else,
The pair of Morso brand blades that are currently on my chopper are only 2-1/2 inches wide. I think I'm getting good cuts and they still pass the lower blades at all points. At what point are they past prime? They are numbered "4+78".
The pair of Morso brand blades that are currently on my chopper are only 2-1/2 inches wide. I think I'm getting good cuts and they still pass the lower blades at all points. At what point are they past prime? They are numbered "4+78".
Framerguy
PFG, Picture Framing God
Hi Betty,
That sounds alot like a Lion Chopper that is advertised in many woodworking magazines and catalogs. It is a light duty chopper and I don't know if many framers have used them as the Morso is so much stouter. It is comparable to a Logan mat cutter vs. a C&H Advantage or a Fletcher. They both work well but one does a better job easier (sometimes).
Framerguy
B. Newman
SGF, Supreme Grumble Framer
No Tom, it definately wasn't a Lion. This thing was an antique 30 years ago! It put you in the mind of some sort of press the way it pulled down toward you. BIG ole rascal!
Betty
Betty
D
Dermot
Guest
In case some of you guy’s think I have lost my mind, I should point out that a new Morso-F is listed at Euro €1644 delivered from my local distributor, about US $1480, I would most likely get a bit of discount on this price, if I were buying a new machine.
Jyden choppers are still manufactured the company is still in business I cannot find there web site right now, they also have a US distributor, if you search the archives you will find the details I posted this before, BTW Jyden and Morso blades according to Morso are NOT truly interchangeable, there is a slight difference in both, Morso supply blades for both machines.
The SCHLEICHER chopper as far as I understand was a machine manufactured by Morso and labelled for SCHLEICHER, Morso supply blades and spare parts for SCHLEICHER.
Ron
All Morso blades are interchangable with their machines no matter when they have manufactured them, the Morso blades currently available fit my machine which was built in 1958, I did not need to order special blades for that year of machine, the standard production blades fitted my machine, I bought a new set of blades this year.
Dan-Clip!!!!!!!!! It could be Dan-List A/S the business name for Morso.
Found it HP Hansen = Jayden http://www.hphansen.dk
Jyden choppers are still manufactured the company is still in business I cannot find there web site right now, they also have a US distributor, if you search the archives you will find the details I posted this before, BTW Jyden and Morso blades according to Morso are NOT truly interchangeable, there is a slight difference in both, Morso supply blades for both machines.
The SCHLEICHER chopper as far as I understand was a machine manufactured by Morso and labelled for SCHLEICHER, Morso supply blades and spare parts for SCHLEICHER.
Ron
All Morso blades are interchangable with their machines no matter when they have manufactured them, the Morso blades currently available fit my machine which was built in 1958, I did not need to order special blades for that year of machine, the standard production blades fitted my machine, I bought a new set of blades this year.
Dan-Clip!!!!!!!!! It could be Dan-List A/S the business name for Morso.
Found it HP Hansen = Jayden http://www.hphansen.dk
Mel
MGF, Master Grumble Framer
If this works, you should see a photo of a chopper the same or similar to the one you describe. If it doesn't transfer, go to the earlier thread dated 2/25/2000, titled "So whats this chopper worth?".
B. Newman
SGF, Supreme Grumble Framer
Ooooh, this one looks even more primitive than the one we had. You know those stamping presses with a pull down handle? That's the way it was. Although the blades came together like this one.
Betty
Betty
Mel
MGF, Master Grumble Framer
That old chopper is framer's. You'll see it on his design table in some of the more recent photos of his shop.
I pat the mat, I chop the cat. =<^..^>=
(Apologies to AL, who cannot be imitated.)
I pat the mat, I chop the cat. =<^..^>=
(Apologies to AL, who cannot be imitated.)