Putting Machines Into Storage - Tips for Packing?

[tarheeltinkerer]

Hello All,

I'm moving to California and opting to put my phonographs into long-term storage in a climate controlled unit in my home state in North Carolina. I'm running the motors until the springs unwind and intend to remove the reproducers and soundboxes and store them separately. I realize I need to pack some padding around the horns on the Edisons to prevent them from banging around. What else should I to to ship and store these (two Edison DDs, one Victrola, one Amberola).

Thanks!
TarHeelTinkerer

[tarheeltinkerer]

Nothing to add?

[Le0]

make sure the tone arm and turn table are secure as you don't want them to bang everything. I'd also remove the crank and stuff the inside of the case so the motor is fully supported. removing the motor and packing it separately would be even safer.

have a look at this for more details: http://www.lagparty.org/~wyatt/packvictrola.html

[Edisone]

I'd add something to absorb moisture, like those gel packs they put inside new packaging. I wonder if refrigerator boxes of baking soda might also be a good idea.

[schweg]

I moved my whole sizeable collection from Houston to Oklahoma City late last year. On machines that were strong enough to stand up, after taking off any loose parts like cranks, reproducers etc, I:

1-stuffed some t-shirts in the turntable area 2- blanket wrapped the machines (lotsa blankets rented at U-Haul) 3- put big pieces of cardboard around the sides and across the top 4- tied everything to the sides of the truck, each machine separately, then all together to provide stability. I found that not tying them really tight was better to allow some play and avoid rope burns on the edges of machines..

Since I had soooo much stuff to move, I then bought some thin chipboard, laid it across the top, tied it to the truck via holes drilled in the corners, and put some lighter stuff on top. I think it helped hold things down some, and provided stability. Plus, I had so much to move that leaving the whole top part of the truck w/o stuff was not an option.

All "table model" machines were bubble wrapped, boxed, and moved that way. All loose parts were removed first

This may sound way too easy, but the only casualty was part of one leg on a VV-XIV that was already broken and repaired when I got it. The piece was easy to fix. Other than that, not a scratch. However, after imposing on my friends and family, I doubt I will ever move all that stuff again... no way I want to move the
10-50 or 9-55 again anytime soon.

We actually laid a few of the items flat, ones that had long spindly legs, like a DD A-100, but just made sure they were wrapped securely.

Last thing, make sure and label all loose parts or put in small bags (Walmart bags work) so things don't get mixed up. I still have a few machines that I know cranks are around for, but have not located them yet... I retired from my previous employer on a Thurs, and started at the new job on Mon, so things got hectic- at least that's my excuse.

[Moooperator]

Well Steve I just realized you no longer live in Houston! I need to start Craigslist searching there... I might land a bargain now!

[Duchesne]

Bubble wrap is your friend. You could shrink-wrap them too if you were certain the temperature and humidity won't change. No one wants to remove shrink-wrap after it partially fused to an original finish... Silica packets won't hurt either. Shoe stores have lots of them. I've never used Baking soda for packing, but have used it to get rid of bad smells by dumping the parts in question into a sealed back with baking soda for a few weeks.

[Bruce]

I recently moved back to the west coast from Ontario and agree with most of the advice so far.

I bought a big role of bubble wrap and packing tape which were inexpensive compared to the value of our machines. I removed all the reproducers, cranks, etc placed them in zip lock bags (which I labeled - mostly so I would get them back to the correct machine). I wrapped all the tone arms, traveling arms etc in bubble wrap with the tape only touching the bubble wrap and then wrapped each machine a couple of times. Some of my machines where the wood cases were questionable I removed the motors for separate packing.

In hind sight, even though there was no damage, for peace of mind I might have removed all the motors for separate packing.

This is where I was lucky as the professionals came in at that point and packed each machine in its own 2 cube box with lots of packing paper so there was no movement. They wrapped the larger machines in moving blankets which were held in place by a clear cling wrap (also found in moving stores).

When they loaded the truck they build up one row then made a storage shelf (looked like a ladder with plywood on it) which hooked into both sides of the truck. They then packed another layer or two on top of that. This way there was no weight on the legs of the larger machines and record cabinets at the bottom.

Putting things in storage may not need quite as much commitment of money (boxes and blankets) but it may be worth visiting a moving/box store near you for ideas. Packing everything separately sure makes a difference.

Oh yea buy a big black magic marker and write labels on everything

Best of Luck

Bruce

[tarheeltinkerer]

Thanks everyone for the tips. I got all four of my machines down safely to NC and in storage. I wound down the motors, removed the grills, reproducers and soundbox, cranks, and turntables. I stuffed rags, bubble wrap and packing material all around the horns and tone arms to immobilize any movement. All the phonographs were there wrapped in towels, blankets, and old quilts before having wide bungie cords wrapped around them with cardboard boxes around the wood so the bungies did not contact the cases. All were laid flat, grill-side up. I used empty boxes fore and aft as crush barriers in case of shifting (they did not shift). Once back in my storage unit I reinstalled the parts sans the grills and cranks. Glad they are back safe and sound