Tips on transports of fragile Gramophones

[snallast]

Is what I need! I am looking to send a gramophone from Sweden to China - does anyone have any experience, tips of a good transporter Europe - Asia? Or other advice...

[walser]

I always assume that they are made out of glass and pack them accordingly. So a cardboard box stuffed with paper will not do it.

Usually I separate it in as many pieces as possible: Horn, support, box, turn plate, arm, sound box... and pack them separately en cardboard boxes stuffed with foam. Then put all the boxes in one or two wooden boxes made out of 5mm plywood.

Transport or postal services are really rude with the packages. I've received several gramophones shipped from Europe to Chile that have arrived completely destroyed to the point of needing to reassemble all the wood pieces of the gramophone box and restore the shape of the horn. It makes the restoration more interesting but I would prefer to receive them in good shape

Regards,

Pedro

[AZ*]

Pedro offers sound advice. The cost of shipping is usually based not only on weight, but often on the size of the box. That leads some people to use the smallest box possible with inadequate cushioning.

[snallast]

Thanks, yes those are very good tips. I will take it apart as much as possible although this is that one-of-a-kind machine with a seashell for a horn. But packing in seperate boxes with bubblewrap tight and in a bigger box, seems a very good idea.

On to the transporters: any experience there? I talked to one and they said I would have to be prepared for the content being able to survive a fall of 120cm - which is the height they fall from on those transporter belts, that´s like 4 or 5 feet.

Maybe they´re all like that?

[walser]

Yes, they are all like that. It will probably travel by air plane and the belt system in the airports is quite brutal.

One more thing. Beware of the plastic bubble directly touching varnished wood. It can react with the varnish and leave permanent marks. Been there...

[snallast]

Thanks - I´ll try to use foam rubber or if not possible, at least cover the wood somehow first. It seems the gramophone comes apart in more pieces than I thought which is good news for this long trip. Thanks for your advice!!
I remember securing a gramophone arm with tape (really dumb) , the recipient was not happy when he took it off and the plating came off with the tape... now I´ll use string or the like.

Hakan

[Steve]

Some good advice has been offered so far but I would just add that I would never pack a heavy item in foam or rubber or peanuts or anything that allows it to move within the package. I have received several busted machines from France due to the stupidity and cheapness of the sellers. A heavy item will move in anything that permits movement!

Heavy cabinets should be packed tightly into their containers with heavy duty rigid polystyrene slabs (like the ones new electrical appliances are often wedged into when you unbox them) surrounding them. The slabs are absorbent enough to reduce some of the shock induced when a box is dropped BUT they do not allow the cabinet to move which would be fatal with "soft material" as gravity and inertia will not stop the cabinet smacking the floor (which never moves!) within the box. This is how the cabinets of horn machines have all become badly damaged in the instances that I mentioned.

All lightweight parts are perfectly ok wrapped in soft packing within sturdy boxes as described in earlier comments.

[Sidewinder]

I have received several busted machines from France due to the stupidity and cheapness of the sellers.

Ditto that. Bought a horn in France...was packed a flimsy stuck together cardboard box with no padding whatsoever. With predictable results!

[Uncle Vanya]

One should make a point of supporting the bottom of the motor with a wood or stiff foam cradle, lest a dropped parcel lead to a broken motor board or cracked motor casting.

[soundgen]

Don't put fragile on the parcel or packet , it is just a incentive for low paid parcel operatives to throw it across the room ! Believe me they do !