Do you suggest packing methods to sellers?

[Jerry B.]

I read horror stories from both machine and record collectors about how things are poorly packed. Do you give packing suggestions to ebay sellers prior to shipping your purchase or do you assume they know what they are doing? Jerry

[OrthoSean]

It depends on the seller. I deal usually only with record and machine / parts sellers that have good reputations. In the event that I (rarely) buy something from someone I'm not sure of, I will send instructions. I've only had a couple of bad experiences. The last two cylinder purchases I made were from sellers that really weren't packing savvy and I sent both of them very specific instructions and offered to pay extra for their efforts, ending my note with "please don't be offended by my details, but these are very important pieces of history and I want to be certain I can preserve them for another lifetime". Both were very appreciative and did exactly as I asked. I was pleased, both were very rare 2 minute cylinders in mint condition that I'd wanted for years and both arrived in perfect shape. I could share a few negative experiences, but sometimes it's nice to know that some sellers will actually listen and thank you for the advice.

Sean

[epigramophone]

I adopt a similar approach to Sean's. If the seller has a good feedback history with machines and/or records, I give them the benefit of the doubt and trust them to pack properly.

If a seller clearly has no experience of packing such items I advise them how to go about it, and my advice so far has been gratefully taken and acted upon.

I once told a seller that he could not possibly pack a rare record properly for the amount he was proposing to charge. I paid the cost of a thorough job and the record arrived in one piece.

The worst packing I have seen concerned my purchase of BA1501, the first Blue Amberol cylinder ever issued, complete with original box and lid. The seller sent it in a used manilla window envelope with no protection whatsoever, and it was no thanks to him that it arrived safely. I pointed this out rather forcibly when leaving feedback.

[FloridaClay]

I once bought a record from an elderly lady. It arrived in a flat mailing envelope made of thin pasteboard, needless to say in pieces. She said she had been advised by a post office clerk to use that method! The clerk obviously had no clue. But that is rare. As others have indicated, I usually buy from eBay sellers with a good track record and they generally know what they are doing when it comes to packing.

Clay

[ambrola]

I just bought a cylinder, 4 minute wax, and I told the seller how to pack it. He assured me he knew what he was doing. I got the cylinder double boxed with plenty of bubble wrap. When you buy a record you have been looking for a long time, you have that hesitation, especially when its those 4 minute wax cylinders. They brake if you look at them hard.

[VintageTechnologies]

I often send detailed packing instructions to sellers that aren't full-fledged record or phonograph dealers. Usually they will follow the instructions, but sometimes they balk or ignore the instructions and pack as they originally intended to. I have received too many broken records in a thin mailer or envelope -- Grrrrr.....

I recently took a big risk and bought a very rare original 1904 Victor Monarch Red Seal record sung by Francesco Tamagno, "Di quella pira" from Il Trovatore from a new eBay seller with zero feedback. It sold cheap enough, I guess other the bidders were too nervous to gamble with an unknown. The seller was going to ship the record in a plain envelope! It took some major arm twisting to persuade him to pack it right and I offered upfront to reimburse him for the materials. He simply didn't want to be bothered. The record arrived in one piece despite his not following instructions very well, but it turned out to be in excellent condition. Another record saved for posterity! It was one of Victor's first celebrity records and cost a whopping $5.00 in 1904! The record was beautifully embossed on the back side and had a very abrupt lead-out groove going all the way to the label.

Here is someone else's copy of that song, played on a G&T issue: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-0IdBLhkmY

It is interesting to note that the G&T Tamagno labels had individual serial numbers to guarantee the artist's royalties, but the American Victors did not.

[OrthoSean]

It is interesting to note that the G&T Tamagno labels had individual serial numbers to guarantee the artist's royalties, but the American Victors did not.

Actually, the earliest Victor Monarch pressings of these (and I think some of the Grand Prize pressings) do indeed have serial numbers gold stamped on the labels. I have quite a few of them. The later pressings from Patents label to batwings do not. I'll post a photo of one of mine later, perhaps tomorrow after I'm done digging out from our latest snow deluge up here!

Sean

[pianolist]

Thought I would mention my experience. I have bought hundreds of cylinders and discs from ebay and other sources and have only had a few bad experiences. One, from a long time merchant of cylinder records that I had bought from, and have since bought from, didn't go well. When I bought the records I had also bought a cardboard cylinder storage box, one of the ones with the pegs to hold 18 records or so. To save postage the records were put on the pegs in the box and it was shipped. I removed the records from the box by tipping it over the trash can. They had broken free in shipping and broken to tiny bits, damaged the box also. Good records, it was a shame. So just a word, don't assume anything.

Ron

[VintageTechnologies]

It is interesting to note that the G&T Tamagno labels had individual serial numbers to guarantee the artist's royalties, but the American Victors did not.

Actually, the earliest Victor Monarch pressings of these (and I think some of the Grand Prize pressings) do indeed have serial numbers gold stamped on the labels. I have quite a few of them. The later pressings from Patents label to batwings do not. I'll post a photo of one of mine later, perhaps tomorrow after I'm done digging out from our latest snow deluge up here!
Sean

The black sticker on the backside is dated January 1, 1904 and displays Tamagno's name and the price of $5.00. I will post a blurred photo from the auction to give you some indication of the label style (which is also stamped "Imported"). I thought it was the earliest style. No? The record is in much better condition than the terrible photo shows.

[OrthoSean]

Yes, that's the earliest style that you have. The number gold stamped above "Monarch" is the serial number, so you saved me snapping a photo

As I said before, though, the later issues had no numbers. The later HMV issues didn't, either.

Sean