Shipping of Amberola 1A

[Valecnik]

Could anyone comment on the weight of an Amberola 1A (without packing) for shipping purposes?

For cross-country or international shipping of such a machine has anyone used "Craters and Freighters" or would you suggest another alternative method?

Thanks, Valecnik

[JohnM]

When I purchased my 'Shell-O-Phone' from a Houston Craigslist ad a few years back, I suggested to the seller to use Craters & Freighters because the seller was a non-collector and I wanted the process to be painless for him. I emailed the seller specific instructions about how the certain things needed to be packed or handled such as removing the tone arm and reproducer, and where the grill should go when removed and packed. When I got the call to pick up the machine at the freight terminal, it was palletized and very well-packed. An extremely stout cylindrical corrugated cardboard 'crate' -- more of a cocoon -- was constructed around it, and the cabinet completely immobilized within using thick blue urethane foam. This was not the thin corrugated board used for boxes -- this was about ⅜" thick purpose-made stuff. The cabinet within was wrapped in stretch plastic, and then the cocoon was stretch plastic-wrapped to the pallet. It was a first-rate packing job! I was very impressed with how well-protected the machine was, at least for domestic shipping (overseas shipping it would have to have been all that and in a proper wooden crate). Needless to say, it arrived perfectly intact with no damage to the delicate plaster-encased sea-shell within. I think I paid about $300-350 to have it packed and freighted from Houston, Texas to Kingsport, Tennessee (I lived in the mountains of Virginia at that time). I had to pick it up at the freight terminal in my own pick-up truck at my own instruction because non-4WD cube delivery trucks were too large to come up my ½-mile long driveway and turn around to exit. If not for the difficult driveway, it would have been delivered right to my door for the same money. I highly recommend C&F, although I'm sure you could find a cheaper deal on http://www.uship.com.

John M

[Valecnik]

Thanks John for the feedback. Makes me feel alot better about them. Shipping price is not the most important factor when considering something like this!

Valecnik

[schweg]

Craters and Freights has shipped several floor models for me with great success.. and not really too costly

Steve

[USlakeside]

Whats a Shell-o-phone look like?

[JohnM]

Whats a Shell-o-phone look like?

Here you go! Plays through a conch shell set in plaster-of-Paris! It is a large and extremely well-made machine with a silky-smooth motor, gold plated hardware, and four -- count 'em -- four needle cups . . . except . . . the tone arm and reproducer (which appear to be original) are nickel-plated and rather generic and cheap. I would suspect that Shell-O-Phone folded almost as it started, and they were likely scrambling for hardware to complete the few that were produced. I have only been able to account for two of these in collections -- mine, and Bob Johnson's in Oregon -- so I suspect that there aren't many examples. Because of the quality of the cabinet and motor, etc., I think that the sea shell concept may have been an honest attempt to create an audiophile experience, not unlike esoteric high-fi and stereo equipment. Although the sound quality is a bit tinny, mostly because of the metal diaphragm in the reproducer, the sea shell provides adequate and very directional sound. The grill is on ball-catches and pops in and out easily, probably to facilitate showing off the conch shell. If anyone ever finds any Shell-O-Phone support materials, dusters -- even just an ad, please let me know! Thanks!









John M

[ColoradoPhonograf]

I just went and picked up my 1-A and for a guess I would say about 120-130 lbs. I'm sure you need an idea of weight to get a shipping quote. Hope it helps.

ColoradoPhonograf