The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I would appreciate the members opinions regarding the necessity of transportation services for transport and delivery of antique music machines. Otherwise stated...Is there an opportunity for an upstart business that focuses on the securing, protecting, packing, transporting, and delivering of our prized possessions?
Thanks in advance for your opinions.

I've been hauling phono items between Oregon and Chicago and Oregon and Los Angeles and points in between for years. I think the only thing I've damaged is a large Pathé disc. I haul to offset fuel expenses and try to give good value. I doubt if it would be cost effective for someone to specialize in hauling music related items. Any reputable hauler should be able to offer safe delivery but finding that someone that cares may be the hard part.

Jerry Blais

There are many professional specialty antique haulers who do an excellent job. Limiting a business to mechanical music machines would be too restrictive. Clocks, objet d’arte, etc. also all need knowledgeable and caring packing and transport. Many of the dealers at the big national shows in NYC and elsewhere rely on these professional haulers. A close friend of mine who sets up at the Miami Beach show each year sends over a million dollars worth of stuff back and forth and never sweats a thing.

Jerry’s wonderful service is not a business model for success. He does it out of love for his hobby and friendship with others. But one cannot support a business on gas money alone.

For years I have used Mike Patella for hauling all of my stuff east of Union. He would be the first to tell you that making a full-time business out of phonograph and music box hauling is next to impossible.

Raphael

Jerry is unbelievable offering his help as well as the others---A truck is a must with most items RIGHT NOW, I am just trying to locate someone around Rogers, Minnesota to disassemble a phonograph crate and ship it--the owner will not knock apart or ship.