Moving a Collection

[ColoradoPhonograf]

We are in the midst of moving our collection across country. It is a corporate move due to business. All our machines have been boxed or crated. I removed all the reproducers, cranks and turntables and back brackets. As a collector it is a nerve racking situation where you try to take control....but it feels like everything is out of your control. Insurance issues have been addressed. But even if there is a problem, where do you begin? Have any of you had to move two truckloads of what you "live for"?
The trucks are on the road....and I"m a nervous wreck. I am packing the best stuff with me as I drive out later this week. any recommendations as how to unpack a 20 year collection and set up in a new home. We have about 80 machines in the collection. The movers were pretty cool and knew we were serious about our stuff. They did pack well, but I packed things like coin-ops myself and crated. All the wood horns were crated individually.
Scared to death that everything arrives safely. It was an unexpected move and it catches you off guard. Anyone have prozac? Lol
Thanks for listening to my vent... I hope the rest of you never have to go through this.

On to greener pastures,
ColoradoPhonograf

will need a new nickname after this. Something like "Stressed"

[Valecnik]

If it helps, I made a transatlantic move to Europe with about 25 machines, many of them quite large including early Amberolas. I labelled everything that I removed, cranks, reproducers, in some instances motors, casters and carried some of the most valuable items in my hand luggage on the plane, M & diamond A reproducers for example. All arrived two months later without a scratch. Whew!

[Brad]

I did a corporate move which included about 50 machines. I was very clear what my expectations were and they knew I was serious as well. They did a great everything arrived fine.

2 things to remember about corporate moves:

-They are a gold mine for the moving company so they don't want any complaints from the homeowner. A happy homeowner is positive feedback to the employer which results in future business. You usually get the A-team crew.

-They are paid by the pound so more packing materials means more money.

Sounds like you did everything right. There will be a different crew to unload, so be sure to set expectations when they arrive and be present when they unpack and note any issues on the spot.

Where are you headed?

[dutchman]

Sent 4 machines from Islamabad, Pakistan to my Stateside address in 1970. Each one boxed by the Embassy wood shop. Nothing unusual about that except when I took them to the airport to have them airfreighted back customs said they needed the original bill of sale on all the machines before they could be released.

Several cartons of Pall Mall cigarettes and several bottles of Johnny Walker solved the problem....

[need4art]

I will have to remember that. I mean about the bill of sale not the cigs. or whiskey.My wife and I just got back from Lahore Pakistan, and we may be going back for 3 years or so. But just imagine if we could solve our problems with our gov. officials in a similar manner-look what going on to elect our next president. Sounds like neither of these guys ever did anything right!
Abe

[Bruce]

I am anticipating a cross country company move to Vancouver this fall and will need to move my collection as well.

Did you have to make special arrangements for insurance of your collection and how did you value it for the insurance co.?

By the way someone suggested flying with the valuable parts in your luggage. After 9/11 I would look for a better way as you will no doubt set of a few alarm bells as chances are that none of the airport security staff have ever seen a phonograph let-a-lone phonograph parts and likely will have everything torn apart making sure your springs do not blow the plane up.
Four years ago I was returning from Paris with a small Pathé all packed and secure for the ride home. The security agents got all excited when the ex-ray highlighted all the springs,levers and a strange aluminum funnel. My rudimentary French only made things worse. I had to unpack it and show them it actually played music. Thank goodness the Pathé came with a patriotic French song and I was soon on my way.

[VintageTechnologies]

To move a phonograph collection cross-country, I designed and built custom plywood crates that were ideally sized for each table-top machine. They were made from inexpensive ½" CDX plywood, had internal corner braces and were assembled with glue and 1" sheetrock screws. Once I figured out a basic crate design, I created a computer spreadsheet that calculated a cut list for each of the wood pieces. All I had to do was input three numbers for the interior dimensions of a crate, then print a cut list for that crate. That way, I calculated a lot of crates without any errors.

After packing the crank and reproducers inside a cabinet, I wrapped the phonograph inside a heavy-duty trash bag. For packing material, I obtained used foam rubber padding that is laid beneath carpets. I would lay 4" of padding in the crate, set the phonograph in place, then fill in the sides and top with more padding. I allowed 4" clearance for packing area around all sides, so some of the crates were rather large. Then I screwed the plywood top down. They were indestructible. The stupid Mayflower van company dropped one crate four feet, upside down from the truck ramp onto concrete but the phonograph survived perfectly.

[gramophone78]

I am anticipating a cross country company move to Vancouver this fall and will need to move my collection as well.

Did you have to make special arrangements for insurance of your collection and how did you value it for the insurance co.?

By the way someone suggested flying with the valuable parts in your luggage. After 9/11 I would look for a better way as you will no doubt set of a few alarm bells as chances are that none of the airport security staff have ever seen a phonograph let-a-lone phonograph parts and likely will have everything torn apart making sure your springs do not blow the plane up.
Four years ago I was returning from Paris with a small Pathé all packed and secure for the ride home. The security agents got all excited when the ex-ray highlighted all the springs,levers and a strange aluminum funnel. My rudimentary French only made things worse. I had to unpack it and show them it actually played music. Thank goodness the Pathé came with a patriotic French song and I was soon on my way.

I have shipped 8 machines & horns once from Mexico with no problem at all. However, they were crated and this was pre-911. One was a hot-air machine. All went on board the plane. Now today.....there may be a hassle. Glad to hear another collector heading my way... .

[JohnM]

We just moved from Indiana to Arizona less than a week ago and didn't lose a record, let alone a machine!

[ColoradoPhonograf]

Bruce,
as to your inquiry about insurance. I found that in general you can declare values with the moving company and see what they have for coverage. Sometimes they have a cap and you can have them up the coverage for that specific load. The other thing to do is consult your homeowners insurance and and buy "cartage insursance" for a specific move.I found that for values you should have someone highly regarded in your hobby that is familiar with your collection to establish values at the time of shipment. I took notes from other collectors who have had the same situation and they all said to take many photos to document each machine. WIse people have helped from experience and it is wise to document everything you can.
An individual appraisal before hand is the best....but most appraisers cannot really enter the arena that a fellow collector may be able to access.

Hope this helps from what I learned along the road.

ColoradoPhonograf