Need pointers on shipping Edison standard

[Mormon S]

I have looked through older post about shippingn edison standards. I sold a model c, with a horn and 5 cylinders, now I need to package it.

The main point I hear is to use USPS, not UPS. Do I store the reproducer, carriage, and crank in the cabinet? Do I detach the motor and pack it separately? Do I ship it with the lid attached?

This is my first time shipping a full machine. If anyone on the forum bought it, it was an ICS on ebay.

Thanks
Martin

[Jerry B.]

Good questions. Now for some of my own. Are the cylinders wax? Are they in boxes with lids? How big is the horn? Jerry B.

[phonogfp]

Remove the entire mechanism (motor & upper works), and "mummify" it with several layers of bubble wrap.

Pack the reproducer and crank, well padded in a small box(es), inside the empty cabinet. The 5 cylinders can go in there as well - carefully packed. Use wadded newspaper to fill the cabinet and keep the box(es) from sliding/tumbling around. Lay thin card stock/construction paper on top of wooden motor frame and secure the lid (the card stock/construction paper will prevent rubbing/scratching during transport.

Put the wrapped up mechanism in a box that will leave at least 1.5 - 2 inches of space on all sides, and pad securely with wadded newspaper or good substitute. (Some like packing peanuts, but others hate them.)

Place the packed mechanism in a larger box that leaves at least 1.5 - 2 inches of space around it plus the empty cabinet. Wrap the cabinet in a layer or two of bubble wrap, and place it in the larger box with the packed mechanism, and pack securely with wadded newspaper or good substitute. Keep the cabinet and packed mechanism 1.5 - 2 inches away from each other. (You might want to take a picture of the packed mechanism and cabinet in place in the larger box before you put in the top layer of wadded newspapers or good substitute.) When mechanism and cabinet are packed into the larger box, there should be no movement when it is shaken.

Put your buyer's name and address into this larger box and seal it VERY securely with strong packing tape. Let your buyer know when it ships, and provide him/her with a tracking number. Good communication is the oil that speeds a good transaction.

George P.

[Mormon S]

Good questions. Now for some of my own. Are the cylinders wax? Are they in boxes with lids? How big is the horn? Jerry B.

Yes they are wax (the old style with the cotton wraps) and the boxes have the lids. The horn is a picknick "witch hat" horn.

[AZ*]

Excellent advice from George, as usual.

I had an Edison Opera shipped from Canada, and it was professionally packed in much the same manner described by George. It arrived without any damage at all.

It seems like overkill, but that's what it takes, and it isn't trivial. You have to assume that your package will receive rough treatment including being dropped.

[drh]

To the foregoing, I would add that you should run the spring most or nearly all the way down. Don't ship with the spring under tension.

[fran604g]

Great advice. Follow it precisely, and you'll likely have a good experience.

Don't forget to make sure adequate insurance is included in the shipping charges.

Best,
Fran

[NEFaurora]

I have had high success with Kinkos/FEDEX shipping some Phonographs. Wrap up just the phonograph and the horn itself and or Motor/Bedplate separately, While you watch, Kinkos/Fedex will wrap the rest up for you in bigger safer boxes...and it will be great... Get an estimate from them beforehand though.

I agree...that USPS is much safer than UPS. If you ship UPS, You might as well just put it in your driveway and run your car over it because that's the kind of service that you will receive. UPS is a big No-No when it comes to Phonograph shipping......

)

Tony K.

Edison Collector/Restorer

[kirtley2012]

I agree with George

And when I bought my standard I instructed the seller to dismantle the machine, removing the motor and bedplate from the cabinet and packaging it carefully separately, the reproducer and other parts were each wrapped in bubble wrap and places within the cabinet, much as George describes, the seller luckily listened and the machine arrived just as it had left

[VanEpsFan1914]

FedEx seems to be well-liked, but I spoke with a FedEx driver...they don't exactly treat packages with kid gloves, either. Boxes were sitting on a shelf in the back of the van, where turning or braking would have scattered them all over the floor.

I can't imagine what a Victor VI or a big Triumph would have done. Maybe shattered.

The bigger the box is, the better.

I shipped a horn to Texas one day by reinforcing the box with tons of hard cardboard. drboruff has it now and is going to put it on a Victor II which is great.

Dumpster diving behind Badcock is the best place to get rugged packing material.