The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I found a nice horned rear mounted machine, but it needs to be shipped. How much would you expect to pay for shipping? I assume 2 boxes, one for the base and another for the horn. Distance is 2 states away.

How much do y'all expect shipping would be?

Thank you in advance.

T

It's quite expensive. I believe you need 2" in each direction from your object and the inside of the carton in order to qualify for insurance. I shipped a Columbia BN from Oregon to Florida and each carton was around $75. Of course that's a greater distance than you're considering. Jerry Blais

Jerry B. wrote:It's quite expensive. I believe you need 2" in each direction from your object and the inside of the carton in order to qualify for insurance. I shipped a Columbia BN from Oregon to Florida and each carton was around $75. Of course that's a greater distance than you're considering. Jerry Blais

Thank you Jerry. I know the horn is what really drives up the price, but wasn't sure what ball park to expect.

To ship it well packed in two cartons, I'd say somewhere between $100 and $150. Of course, that's not including packing materials, which you will need a lot of to ensure it arrives safely. I'd say for all, $200 wouldn't be out of the question.

I usually charge between $125 and $175 for a rear-mount machine shipped in 2 boxes, each double-boxed. The packing materials and boxes comprise about $50 of that total. Fedex and UPS charge by “dimensional weight” which usually means the lighter box containing the horn costs more to ship than the phonograph itself.

Raphael

Raphael wrote:I usually charge between $125 and $175 for a rear-mount machine shipped in 2 boxes, each double-boxed. The packing materials and boxes comprise about $50 of that total. Fedex and UPS charge by “dimensional weight” which usually means the lighter box containing the horn costs more to ship than the phonograph itself.

Raphael

I"ve never heard of anyone having had an item packed and shipped by Raphael damaged during shipping. The problem is that most sellers, shippers are not Raphael. I, like Raphael almost always double box.

The box with my son standing next to it contains a Triumph motor and top works. The motor is removed from the top works and boxed separately. On top of that, separately boxed is the top works wrapped in bubble wrap and surrounded by peanuts. Both of those two pieces go into an inner box which is surrounded by peanuts, tight packed.

That unit goes into the box you see in the picture. The box in the picture is lined all the way around with ¾ inch hard foam insulation and then filled with peanuts. That box I'm pretty sure could be dropped out of an airplane without damaging the contents.

The second box you see is airplane dimention ¼ inch plywood reinforced concentrically in all corners with a frame that just fits a no 11 Cygnet bell, music master bell or no 10 bell. I put plumbing pipe insulation around the bell and again fill it with bubble or peanuts. Then it's screwed shut.

The wooden box must have made 15 or 20 round trip transatlantic flights transporting mainly horns but sometimes other contents, including bottled beer. None of the contents have ever been damaged.

The cardboard box you see containing the motor and top works has probably made about 5 or 6 round trip transatlantic flights. It will soon need to be retired but again without any damage to fragile contents over it's life.

Note that the Triumph case is not included in either of the two boxes you see. That would absolutely require a third box.

Moral of the story.... Don't become a horror story. Be prepared to pay plenty for packing and impose strict requirements on the packer to follow your instructions. Require a full refund from the seller in case of damage. Let the seller deal with the insurance company.

Good luck!

I agree with Bruce, Triumphs, Operas, etc. require removal of the mechanism from the case, EXCEPT if one uses palletized freight delivery, which I recommend whenever possible. Freight shipments are subjected to much less shock than express shipments, as the pallet just (hopefully) goes up and down with a pallet jack or truck. But even when opting for freight, the phonograph and the horn should be separately and sturdily boxed, and well cushioned inside.
The attached picture shows a shipment going out today, destined for Taiwan.

Raphael

Now that is the way you pack!!! Outstanding! Thank you again guys. I think I might have to try and find someone going up or coming down that might help me. With kids I cannot just drop and go.

Thanks again for all the advice!

T

I agree Raphael palatizing is the safest way for larger packages. Keeps the shippers from throwing them around. Although nothing is ever certain. My father built a box to ship a Model T block he'd rebuilt. It was shipped on a palat. At some point along the way a fork lift driver poked right through it...

One other idea. Since you said it's only a couple of states away, is making a second trip to transport the machine an option? Overall cost would probably be about the same, but you wouldn't have to deal with packing and the worry about "what if...".