The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

In a couple of days, I'm going to pick up
a C-250 DD machine.

At Union last Sat., I asked around about the
proper way to move one of these.

I got a bicycle innertube from Jerry to
hold the lid closed. Thanks Jerry!

Here is what I was planning to do:

1) Remove and stow reproducer.
2) Remove and stow turntable.
3) Remove and box up the records.
4) Put some padding between record drawers
and front door to keep drawers from banging
into the door.
5) Block the carriage firmly in the "up"
position using cardboard shims, a hunk of wood
or whatever.
6) Stuff some old towels or blankets in around
the horn to secure it from moving around.
7) Carry it to the car.
8) Put blanket around it, put inner tube
over lid.
9) Use cardboard sheets in the car so that
as the machine slides in (wrapped in blanket),
it can slide along the cardboard.
10) Machine lays on its back in the car.

Will this work? Is it a good plan?

Or do I need to do it some other way?

BTW, my car is a station wagon, and the minimum height clearance is 32 inches, the
tailgate is 44 inches wide, and there's 64
inches to the first lengthwise obstruction.

Thanks, Chuck

Chuck wrote:7) Carry it to the car.

Hi Chuck.

These suckers are heavy. A large hand truck (about 4' tall) is a real help. Good luck on the move and congratulations on getting a great machine.

Martin

I have some soft nylon rope and rope the lid and bottom door closed with it. I have put one in a Subaru S/W.

Remove the crank.

It might be worth while to remove the motor and horn as well, and put those in a separate box. That will make the cabinet that much more easy to move (even more if you remove the drawers as well).

For the record, I was able to transport my C-250 in the back seat and trunk of a Toyota Corolla: it was probably a good thing that the cabinet was missing its castors….

Bill

I have done something very similar with both a C250 and an Amberola IA without removing the motor. I had no problems as both just fit in the backseat of my Toyota Avalon (not simultaneously ) on their sides. Just make sure you pack the space between the machine and the front seats so the whole thing can't slide forward should you make a sudden stop.

Whoops, yes, I DID remove the IA motor. My memory must be failing me.

I would never move one without removing the motor and horn. You can also wrap Seran wrap around the lid to hold it closed; it's poor man's shrink wrap.
Dave Jolley

Discman wrote:I would never move one without removing the motor and horn. You can also wrap Seran wrap around the lid to hold it closed; it's poor man's shrink wrap.
Dave Jolley

Didn't the factory ship them with the motor & horn installed ?

coyote wrote:I have done something very similar with both a C250 and an Amberola IA without removing the motor. I had no problems as both just fit in the backseat of my Toyota Avalon (not simultaneously ) on their sides. Just make sure you pack the space between the machine and the front seats so the whole thing can't slide forward should you make a sudden stop.

I would never turn an Amberola 1A sideways without removing the motor, which is not bolted down. Ditto a Diamond Disc A250 and a few others too.

They were shipped from the factory with the motor installed however that was almost 100 years ago when the wood was strong and flexible. You're subjecting them to a lot of stress moving them around that way today. You could probably carry a cylinder machine by the handle on the lid back when it was new but you wouldn't do that today. I would rather play it safe and avoid a potential problem.
Dave Jolley