I read your post with great interest. One of my favorite programs is “Alaska the Last Frontier.” It’s one of the best shows on the Discovery Channel. It shows the great innovative spirit of Americans. Your description of father’s ability to keep old equipment working describes the Kilchers in the series that has gone for 10 seasons. I watch it On Demand and zoom through the long commercials. I think those in Alaska will be vulnerable because of the great resources China wants. I think China also wants our tremendous lands for growing food. If they can use viruses and technology to take our land away from us, they will do it. It is their devious nature that will exploit a situation I’m afraid of. What they will do to take advantage of America will lie ahead. I would have been more secure with President Trump.
The man the the metal machine tools was actually one of fathers good friends. My dad, like his friend worked at the coal coal mine. My dad’s “hoody” was running an auto body shop business on the side. He broke more than a little even with his union job at the mine and made his gravy in the 70s and 80s buying somewhat beat up cars with solid engines and transmissions, putting a bit of lipstick on the pig, and then selling them for double or triple the investment. At any one time he usually had 4 to 5 running vehicles parked in our driveways on top of the family’s personal vehicles.
I would say that he pulled in about $10 - 14K a year in the early 80s and I know he did not report that income. That is roughly $35 - 45K in today’s money.
I myself bought a 74 Camero for $500, drove the hell out of it for 2 years painted it up and replaced the interior from out of a totaled vehicle,