the Victrola JetSet: Fun with airport security

[alang]

Never try to be pro-active with airport security. Just follow the heard and follow instructions. When questioned answer in a friendly and professional manner. Everything else has the potential to make you stick out and therefore suspicious. And don't argue, that could bring their wrath on you if the person had a bad day. They can make you miss your flight without any problem for them, or at least have you sprint to catch your flight barely.

Andreas

[fmblizz]

I think I might have you all beat.

Back before 911 I went to the Orlando Phonograph Show with my wife. This was meant to be a little vacation and I did not set up at the show just another educational visit and hoping to meet face to face some of the collector's that I had corresponded with in the past few years.

Low and behold not there 15 minutes I spied a Victor Talking Machine Co. fire alarm box. Well me being a firefighter as a profession I just had to have that alarm box. After pleading and bribing my wife I was finally able to make the purchase.

That as I would come to find out was the easy part.

I actually bought a small gym bag and wrapped the fire box in a bath towel generously donated by the hotel we were staying at. Once inside the airport at security, things really went down hill.. (karma) These fire boxes do have a little weight to them. I put the gym bag with the firebox on the conveyor and just as I expected was immediately pulled from the line. A supervisor was summoned and we proceeded to open it up to see what was inside. I explained to the supervisor exactly what it was and told him that I just came from a phonograph show where I purchased it. Now we are starting to run a little late the wife was definitely not happy. Before they let me proceed they wanted to run a test for explosive residue which I had no problem with... WRONG.... They used some type of swabs after opening up the firebox wipe around the inside. Sure a hell they got a positive reading (go figure). Before I knew it I had 3 security officers around me (and my embarrassed wife) and we took a trip to a security room. Once again I explained exactly what it was that I was transporting and even gave them a little history lesson on the significance of special find that I had purchased. They weren't impressed at all that's for sure. They then proceed to do the swab test once again and once again their test machine show positive for explosive residue. At this point I said "do you really think I would bring a explosive device on board the aircraft that my wife & I were going to be flying home in??". Well now the flight is boarding which I told them and security brings in there top guy to make a final decision. After giving the same talk and explanation for the third time we were release and now sprinting to our gate. We did make the boarding but there was not much communication between the wife and & I for the first hour. If looks could kill LOL They get happy again.

fmblizz

[TinfoilPhono]

At Union a couple of years ago I bought an original tinfoil phonograph (1879 Fondain). I knew there was no way this would pass without question so I packed it carefully in my carry-on with heavy bubble wrap and sent everything else I owned through as checked luggage.

I got to the airport early and when I reached the TSA inspection I asked for a private screening, which they are obliged to honor. They had me stand aside for a few minutes, then finally 3 TSA agents (two armed, one in coat and tie) walked me a LONG way down the hall to an unmarked locked room. Once inside they unlocked a second room, which led to a third. There was no way in hell I would ever get out of that situation if I was planning anything nefarious.

Still I was surprised when they let me open the bag myself. There may have been no escape, and we were reasonably far from any masses of people, but a fanatic could have caused some mayhem all the same.

I proceeded to unwrap the machine and set it on the table, and gave them a short history lesson. I'm not kidding when I say they were entranced. They asked a lot of good questions, not just security-related ones, and were clearly fascinated. ("You mean, like Thomas Edison??") We spent quite a bit of time chatting before they let me pack up and waved me on my way with smiles.

Of course I realized that for them this was a very welcomed break in the ordinary routine. Three people got a good 15-20 minutes away from the usual grind, and in the end found it entertaining.

[gramophone78]

At Union a couple of years ago I bought an original tinfoil phonograph (1879 Fondain). I knew there was no way this would pass without question so I packed it carefully in my carry-on with heavy bubble wrap and sent everything else I owned through as checked luggage.

I got to the airport early and when I reached the TSA inspection I asked for a private screening, which they are obliged to honor. They had me stand aside for a few minutes, then finally 3 TSA agents (two armed, one in coat and tie) walked me a LONG way down the hall to an unmarked locked room. Once inside they unlocked a second room, which led to a third. There was no way in hell I would ever get out of that situation if I was planning anything nefarious.

Still I was surprised when they let me open the bag myself. There may have been no escape, and we were reasonably far from any masses of people, but a fanatic could have caused some mayhem all the same.

I proceeded to unwrap the machine and set it on the table, and gave them a short history lesson. I'm not kidding when I say they were entranced. They asked a lot of good questions, not just security-related ones, and were clearly fascinated. ("You mean, like Thomas Edison??") We spent quite a bit of time chatting before they let me pack up and waved me on my way with smiles.

Of course I realized that for them this was a very welcomed break in the ordinary routine. Three people got a good 15-20 minutes away from the usual grind, and in the end found it entertaining.

Darn, you could have been on the "Border Security" show. What they didn't know is.....you are a fanatic.....a Phonograph fanatic... .

[Lenoirstreetguy]

I brought everything to a halt loading for a flight at Logan Airport from Boston to Toronto. The item in question was a brass blade electric fan that I had packed away in my luggage. This was pre-9/11 , but even so it was an international flight and things got very quiet very fast when the bag when through the x ray machine. I was trotted to the conveyor and was told sternly to unpack the item, as everyone backed away from me. I think I was saved by one of the agents, a young woman, who said at the unveiling " Oh my god! I've wanted one of those for YEARS! Where did you get it? " Her colleagues looked at us both as if we were part of an elaborate hoax, but after that it was smooth sailing.

Jim

[PeterF]

I had a cute little Gem in my carry-on a few years back, and of course its cast iron body with attached cylindrical mandrel made things look a bit exciting for the X-ray person. But as I lifted it from the bag the motor started whirring inside the case. Things got extremely exciting at that point.

This is not dissimilar to the situation where people forget to remove the batteries before packing their, uh, "personal massagers" for vacation trips.

[bob27556]

Must be over 10 years ago I won the auctions for 2 Russian suitcase portables in the UK. Having family there I had the seller ship to Cornwall and I picked them up during my next visit. I suspected airport security might have a problem with them and packed them for easy access by the inspectors at Newquay Airport. I checked in and got myself and carry on through security and sure enough the PA system sounds off calling me to the security office. There was my suitcase not yet opened and 2 officers sanding behind the stainless steel table that it was on. So as a move to immediately relieve any anxiety I said "I guess you would like to have a look at my antique record players". They then smiled and one said 'We suspected they might be record players but weren't sure". I then requested they forward that info on to Heathrow security and my suitcase went through with no problem although every time I heard an announcement over the PA I was listening for my name. On the following trip I purchase some trench art consisting of a 50mm cannon shell that was turned into an ashtray using 4 bullet casings. Needless to say I found my suitcase on the stainless steel table again!

[Valecnik]

Well in summer 2013 I brought back about 80 of my favorite diamond discs individually sleeved in paper and plastic between each one. Forty per smail box then double boxes with hard foam insulation frames inside and packing peanuts to boot. It was a lot of work and I really did not want TSA to mess it up so I also asked for a private screening. They opened the boxes, looked at a few, did that explosives test and let me reseal the boxes.

The real workout came AFTER TSA. The boxes did not come home to Europe when `I did. They arrived a few days later in the condition you see here. Even though the boxes look like they've been through hell, not a scratch or a bit of damage to one record.

[tinovanderzwan]

I think I might have you all beat.

Back before 911 I went to the Orlando Phonograph Show with my wife. This was meant to be a little vacation and I did not set up at the show just another educational visit and hoping to meet face to face some of the collector's that I had corresponded with in the past few years.

Low and behold not there 15 minutes I spied a Victor Talking Machine Co. fire alarm box. Well me being a firefighter as a profession I just had to have that alarm box. After pleading and bribing my wife I was finally able to make the purchase.

That as I would come to find out was the easy part.

I actually bought a small gym bag and wrapped the fire box in a bath towel generously donated by the hotel we were staying at. Once inside the airport at security, things really went down hill.. (karma) These fire boxes do have a little weight to them. I put the gym bag with the firebox on the conveyor and just as I expected was immediately pulled from the line. A supervisor was summoned and we proceeded to open it up to see what was inside. I explained to the supervisor exactly what it was and told him that I just came from a phonograph show where I purchased it. Now we are starting to run a little late the wife was definitely not happy. Before they let me proceed they wanted to run a test for explosive residue which I had no problem with... WRONG.... They used some type of swabs after opening up the firebox wipe around the inside. Sure a hell they got a positive reading (go figure). Before I knew it I had 3 security officers around me (and my embarrassed wife) and we took a trip to a security room. Once again I explained exactly what it was that I was transporting and even gave them a little history lesson on the significance of special find that I had purchased. They weren't impressed at all that's for sure. They then proceed to do the swab test once again and once again their test machine show positive for explosive residue. At this point I said "do you really think I would bring a explosive device on board the aircraft that my wife & I were going to be flying home in??". Well now the flight is boarding which I told them and security brings in there top guy to make a final decision. After giving the same talk and explanation for the third time we were release and now sprinting to our gate. We did make the boarding but there was not much communication between the wife and & I for the first hour. If looks could kill LOL They get happy again.

fmblizz

salpeter and petroleum are both agents used in explosives but they where also used in factories that made items made of wood
they used some strange stuff in the past in wood craftmanship others are poisons like arsenic and mercury that where used in the glues of the times
imagine buying a antique alarm clock with purified radium on the clock face
some of the stuff used to kill woodworm or mold in the 1890s to 1910s can be concidered as A class drugs today

all of these things will make airport security officers very nervous


tino

[gramophone78]

Well, last May I had a Paillard hot-air Gramophone shipped by a friend who picked it up in Holland for me, took it all apart and packed it up. Then dropped it off at Air Canada Cargo in Brussels. A very good friend... .

I was very worried the two large boxes would be heavily scrutinized and opened both there and in Canada upon arrival.

To my great surprise.....The only security measure taken was the two boxes placed into an X-ray machine in Brussels.

They charged me good for that.. .

Once they arrived in Montreal.....nothing!!... . Again, reloaded and sent to Vancouver...again, nothing.
The boxes were sealed and in good order. Surely the engine, fuel tank and other strange parts would have raised an eyebrow...???.

I was very relived.

Canadian's....we are loved and trusted everywhere..... .


The same happen to me (pre-911) transporting with myself another Paillrad hot-air Gramophone out of Mexico. On that occation, I had five wooden crates brought onto the plane with me. No one even batted an eye. In fact, my Wife was able to talk the guy into not charging any extra for the five crates... . No wonder I love her... . However, in that instants...I was on a direct fight straight to Canada. If we had to land in the US.....I don't even want to think about it.