The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

How do you all move larger upright/console machines around, e.g., between the house and car/van? Right now I've been relying on the kindness of my landlord, but that's not really fair to him.

Do you use a hand truck? A flatbed? Pros and cons? I figured the hand truck was probably the best way, but the "standard" hand truck is only 22" wide and the wider "appliance" truck weighs almost as much as a small machine!

All thoughts and ideas welcome.

Thanks in advance!

We live in a cul de sac with great neighbors. I busy myself in the garage and wait for my next victim. As soon as I see someone, I swoop in. I call it my vulture technique and it works every time. Of course, we've had some turnover in the neighborhood.

Jerry Blais

I would be lost without my "Console Board", a 32" long piece of 1X8 with a lip made of a 1X2 on edge screwed to it along one edge. With this simple accessory I can move anything up to and including a Columbia 810 or a Victor Electrola 8-60 with a common two-wheel dolly. I also like to cover the metal tubes which make up thee dolly with foam pipe insulation so that any worry about scratches is superfluous.

Do you buy them lunch after they help out?
Harvey Kravitz

I will bet he offers some Edison light beer. Tom B

After watching Jerry Blais move the very heavy Columbia 810 with an appliance dolly alone, I decided to buy one. It really works well as long as you tighten the straps tight. I also made my own flat dolly on casters with 1 X 1 screwed around the edges so machines can't slide off. It's about five feet long and three feet wide with a handle purchased at Harbor Freight meant for wagons to pull it.

The general method that I have used in the past to move floor model machines is to have someone grab the front legs of the machine and another find some way to grip the top back of the machine somewhere below or behind the lid. Usually on Victrolas there is a door that opens up in the back and then you can very easily grip it. The person gripping the front legs lifts the machine off the ground while the other person in back tips it backwards while gripping it in the aforementioned way. This method seems to be the most efficient from what I've tried, and the weight is balanced very well in this method. Be sure to lock or tie down the lid while doing this to keep it from opening.

I hope this helps,
Stephen

I also us an appliance dolly. The only problem I have found is that the feet on Victrola XVI's and Edison C-250's rub against the wheels. I have to block them out with a 2X2 piece of lumber.

tomb wrote:I will bet he offers some Edison light beer. Tom B

I gave a friend a nice bottle of absinthe for helping move my Edison and Victor Consoles.

52089 wrote:How do you all move larger upright/console machines around, e.g., between the house and car/van? Right now I've been relying on the kindness of my landlord, but that's not really fair to him.

Do you use a hand truck? A flatbed? Pros and cons? I figured the hand truck was probably the best way, but the "standard" hand truck is only 22" wide and the wider "appliance" truck weighs almost as much as a small machine!

All thoughts and ideas welcome.

Thanks in advance!

Young people. They do have their uses!