Re: [ARSCLIST] 78 RPM Packing Advice Requested

["Steven C. Barr" <stevenc@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

----- Original Message -----
From: "Dismuke" <dismuke@xxxxxxxxxxx>
> I just purchased a record collection located in another state containing
> approximately 10,000 78 rpm records.  I have do not have the time to fly
> out there and bring them back myself so I have found a freight company
> which will pick them up from the seller's location, put them on pallets,
> place the load on a truck and bring them to me.  The collection is now
> stored on shelves and in flimsy cardboard file boxes.  I am going to
> hire somebody who lives near the collection to box the records up for me
> and get everything ready for the freight company to pick them up.  I
> need advice in terms of what specific packing instructions I should give
> this person.  Has anyone here ever done anything like this before?
>
> Most of the record collection consists of 10 inch records - but there
> are 12 inch ones as well.  Many of the 10 inch records are either loose
> or in paper sleeves.  Others are in the old fashioned record storage
> albums.   For the loose 10 inch records and the ones in sleeves - what
> box size do you suggest I order?  I can order 10 inch by 10 inch boxes.
> Has anyone used those before?  Or would I be better off with 11 inch by
> 11 inch boxes with newspaper stuffed along the sides as padding?  Is it
> ok to fill the boxes from top to bottom with records?  Or would I be
> better off adding a layer of crumpled newspaper or foam packing peanuts
> on the top and bottom for padding?  Once the records are boxed, should I
> have the box shipped upright so the records are horizontal - or should I
> turn the box on the side so they are vertical?  I can order boxes of any
> height.  Is it better to order 6 or 7 inch tall boxes which will hold
> fewer records and perhaps weigh about 30 -35 lbs or 10 or 11 inch tall
> boxes which will hold more records but also weigh more?  Regarding the
> records in the storage albums - is it safe to ship the records while
> they are still in the albums?  Or would it be better to first remove the
> records from the albums and box them up with the loose records and pack
> the albums separately?  If it is safe to ship them in the albums, what
> is the best way to box them up?  Any thoughts on the 12 inch records,
> most of which are in albums?
>
> Any suggestions will be most appreciated.  This is one of those
> situations where the cost of packing shipping and buying boxes is going
> to exceed what I paid for the records - so it would be a huge shame to
> go through all of the expense and hassle only to end up with 5,000 lbs
> of broken shellac.
Yup..7 years ago, I had to move about 30,000 78'd from Toronto to Oshawa...
about 40-50 miles.
Recommend:
1) Acquire...find/borrow abot 100 (+/-) milk boxes...that is, the plastic
crates in which dairy products are transported from distributor to
retailer.
2) Each crate will hold about 100 records (sleeved...more unsleeved).
Pack the crates as full as possible. Once they are filled, they are
basically a mass of shellac...which is pretty well indestructible.
3) Load crates in large truck (each crate weighs about 50-60 lbs.)
10,000 shellac 78's weigh about 5,000 lbs....or 2.5 tons. Rent
vehicle accordingly.
4) If you have ant groups of records identified and/or sorted, affix
a note to the crate therecontaining!! (I didn't)
...stevenc
(rotsa ruck...)