The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Hello everyone,

In a few days I'm going to be making a small haul of phonographs. I was wondering what the best method is to pack them up so they don't go sailing down the interstate, never used the truck for phonographs, but this time its necessary. They must be standing up, so please take that into consideration in your answers. Thanks. Looking forward to some new machines.

I’ve moved a few in my truck at once….not several BUT…
What I did was of course keep them as close to the truck cab as possible. I first removed the casters and cranks from any that had them, triple blanket wrapped and then cardboard around them and taped closed.
I then built makeshift containment walls with upright pallets and secured them using ratchet straps to the hook locations in the truck bed. Covered with tarps in case of inclement weather.
It worked for me, but like I said it was just three not several machines.
The pallets worked well in my situation. I hope you find the method that works for you. M

Flying Dutchman wrote: Fri Jul 07, 2023 5:04 am I’ve moved a few in my truck at once….not several BUT…
What I did was of course keep them as close to the truck cab as possible. I first removed the casters and cranks from any that had them, triple blanket wrapped and then cardboard around them and taped closed.
I then built makeshift containment walls with upright pallets and secured them using ratchet straps to the hook locations in the truck bed. Covered with tarps in case of inclement weather.
It worked for me, but like I said it was just three not several machines.
The pallets worked well in my situation. I hope you find the method that works for you. M

Thanks for the advice, in my book, several equals three, its only three machines I'm moving too. How did you secure the lids closed? did the blankets do that as well? I probably can't make any pallet containment walls so i'm going to have to try to think of something else. maybe strap them down?

Thanks

Hi, I have moved a few upright phonographs on my pickup truck as well. I use the shrink wrap sold at U-Haul. It is about 6 inches wide, stretches nicely and clings well. I wrap it around the circumference of the closed lid line a few times to keep the lid down. Because it stretches, it clings to the cabinet and the lid and stretches into place. I then cover the phono with a moving blanket and wrap the shrink wrap around the blanket until I feel the blanket will not blow around in the wind. It does not unwind in the wind. It is easy to unwrap or just cut off with scissors. Good luck.

grampaphone’s idea of the shrink wrap is great. Wish I would have thought of that then.
I just wrapped with blankets and then cardboard which when over the top also and then just used packing tape or masking taped it all together, including the lids.
I would just be careful using bungee cords or ratchet straps too tightly on the corners of the machines as that can cause damage if vibrations and slight movements make the machines shift a bit. Maybe some styrofoam on the corners taking the force against the straps if you gotta strap them against the cab.
That’s why I used the pallets to take the tightness and just had the padded machines up against them.
Shrink wrap is probably cheaper than the 4 roles of packing/masking tape I used…..

Pardon the potentially "dumb" question... lol

But, what about the heat? I am in North Carolina and we have been having heat indexes of well over 100 in the afternoon and early evening. Would that be harmful to antique phonographs with original finishes? I am specifically thinking of when you would be removing the shrink wrap or blankets.... I moved an off brand phonograph many years ago that was transported in a HOT car and the blanket wrap was almost stuck to the thing in places. Ah, the things we do when we're young.....

Do make sure the lids don't fly open. Same applies to cabinet doors; tie them shut.

Remove tonearms first so they don't flop around and damage anything.

Pulling out the motor boards isn't a bad idea either.

Charles

Thanks for everyones Help. The machines got back to New Jersey safely.

Glad to hear that. When can I see what there is?