The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I felt I had to give an update on what happened following an earlier post on the forum. The other week I found that somehow the end gate clip on my Edison Standard had snapped. I decided to post a query on this site as to where I could get hold of one and how to fit it.
I received a reply from Phono-Phan, who said he thought he might have one. After some communication and checking of dimensions we established he did indeed have the right part and was willing to supply me with it. The only problem was he is in the US and I am in the UK. He kindly went to the post office to enquire about postage to England, but we found the prices (bearing in mind how small the item is) to be crazily high. I then remembered an American friend (BassetHoundTrio on this forum) was coming over to my neck of the woods. So, introductions were made, the part was sent inter-state and then made its way, hand delivered, to my flat. The question of how to fit it was still troubling me, but along with BassetHoundTrio came another friend, emgcr (also from this forum) and he had the part fitted in seconds!
So, with the help of three forum members my Standard is able to sing again. That’s what I call transatlantic cooperation!
Huge thanks to Phono-Phan for supplying the clip, to BassetHoundTrio for delivering it, and to emgcr for fitting it. I love it when a good plan comes together.

Cool story. I have met great friends on the forum too.

That worked out very well!

James.

I was more than happy to help out a fellow Phono-holic. The part itself was rather small but the effort to get it to the UK was the challenge. Normal shipping for this little end gate clip was very expensive. The timing was perfect that someone from the States was leaving for Europe in a couple days to visit Thomas Barnard (loudbass). I was able to get the small part to him in time to make the trip.
Ken Brekke

The fellowship here on the forum is just wonderful!

Loudbass wrote: Thu Jul 07, 2022 3:02 pm The other week I found that somehow the end gate clip on my Edison Standard had snapped. I decided to post a query on this site as to where I could get hold of one and how to fit it.
I received a reply from Phono-Phan, who said he thought he might have one. After some communication and checking of dimensions we established he did indeed have the right part and was willing to supply me with it. The only problem was he is in the US and I am in the UK. He kindly went to the post office to enquire about postage to England, but we found the prices (bearing in mind how small the item is) to be crazily high.

What were the prices? For a small item like that it shouldn't be more than $20-30.

I had some small car parts sent from the UK (Burlen Carbs), that easily fit in one of those thick brown paper bags filled with recycled cloth fibres.
I suspect it to be around the same size as your part, the cost was £33.00 _ I thought that was quite a bit.
Was that what they were going to charge, or round about there ?

The cost uninsured and not tracked was around $20; not bad, but risky. Tracked went up to $50 and adding insurance brought it up to around $70.
So not too outrageous I guess, but the arrangement we came to certainly worked out well!

Loudbass wrote: Fri Jul 08, 2022 4:03 pm The cost uninsured and not tracked was around $20; not bad, but risky. Tracked went up to $50 and adding insurance brought it up to around $70.
So not too outrageous I guess, but the arrangement we came to certainly worked out well!

If you need to ship something small overseas from the USA, the best best is usually through PirateShip.com's Simple Export rate. Up to ½ pound anywhere in the world is $10.99, even less to Canada. You have to have an account with them (free) and you do have to ask them to activate this rate (also free).