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I know the information is here somewhere on the Forum. Looked for it but couldn't find it. Specifically how does one pack a horn for domestic shipping in the US? I've never bought this way as seemed too risky, especially the horn. How should one pack a witch's hat horn, for example?

This may help...

George P.

https://forum.antiquephono.org/topic/23 ... -shipping/

George P:

I saw that when I was searching earlier. A wooden box was used to pack the horn. Is that necessary for a smaller witch's hat horn or a morning glory horn? Smaller outside horn machines interest me. What should I tell a seller if I were to buy one? (That was recommended as well, that I make sure the seller knows how to pack a horn.) Would a good strong, oversized cardboard box with lots of bubble wrap and padding do the trick?

John

jboger wrote: Smaller outside horn machines interest me. What should I tell a seller if I were to buy one? (That was recommended as well, that I make sure the seller knows how to pack a horn.) Would a good strong, oversized cardboard box with lots of bubble wrap and padding do the trick?

John

There are too many variables to answer intelligently. What's the size and weight of the horn? What does the seller call a "good strong oversized cardboard box?" What's their idea of "lots of bubble wrap and padding?" Clearly the answer COULD be "yes," but some sellers clearly have no idea of the rudimentary physics at play.

If the box can be crushed by a person sitting/standing on it, I'd have reservations.

George P.

If you can get a measurement of the horn, before the seller ships it, you could construct a shipping container yourself and mail it to him to ship the horn in. I, personally, would construct a wooden box as a shipping crate...

Curt, George P: thanks to both of you. What I hear is any horn should be shipped in a wood crate. I do not have a specific purchase in mind. I think I will stick to buying locally.

jboger wrote:Curt, George P: thanks to both of you. What I hear is any horn should be shipped in a wood crate. I do not have a specific purchase in mind. I think I will stick to buying locally.

I think the wood crating is overkill. Last week I shipped two large Victor horns and both arrived safely. In fact, of the many hundreds of horns that I have shipped, there have only been two instances of damage, and both cases taught me a lesson in improving the packing protocols.

George is right - the end result must support a person standing on it. And the internal packing must prevent movement of the horn inside. So, for example, the common Victor wood spear-point horn will fit snugly in a box 22" x 22" x 22". I wrap it in a shipping blanket and place it inside. Then cut a few strips of styrofoam exactly to the inside dimension of the carton, slice a hole in the enter of it, and slip it over the neck of the horn. Now place that 22" box inside of a 24" x 24" x 24" double-wall box, and place 1" styrofoam between the gaps of the two boxes, on all six sides. Seal it up, and you're good to go. Not a cubic inch too much (shipping costs are based on "dimensional weight") and you can rest assured the horn will arrive safely. Total materials cost about $25 and that beats the best insurance money can buy.

Another method, used by Don Gfell, is to use shipping barrels. They are hard to come by, though, and I save the ones he sends me for re-use.

Raphael

Thanks, Raphael. This seems reasonable, something a reasonable eBayer might agree to do.