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Ultimate Way to Package an Antique Telephone for shipping

Started by Ktownphoneco, May 09, 2015, 11:30:09 AM

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Ktownphoneco

Some may think this packaging technique is "over kill", and perhaps in some cases it is, but it's a method that's served me well over the past 20 years, and I've had a fair number of compliments and "no" complaints.

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The Ultimate Way to Package an Antique Telephone For Shipping

Damage to antique telephones being shipped by sellers on auction sights such as "eBay" continues to be a problem from time to time. I have sold and shipped a number of antique telephones through "eBay" and have yet to experience a problem doing so.

Packages moving through the postal service are handle by both human hands, and by machine once they enter the system.
Conveyor belts and metal deflector doors which are directed by scanners reading zip/postal or country codes incorporated into bar codes, run the automated portion of the system.

Packages moving across the country or overseas are placed in shipping containers which are carried either by truck, ship or aircraft to their destination states, provinces or countries.

Space is an issue, especially for ship or air shipments, so packages traveling in this manner are tightly packed into the container in which they'll travel.   In many cases I'm sure, the container doors are forced shut when containers are slightly over packed. This is especially true for shipments traveling by air, as space on aircraft is at a premium.

This is the packaging system I use in order to make sure the telephones I sell reach their destinations in one piece and undamaged.

( 1 )  Box Selection:  Use a good quality box. It can be new or used, but make sure it's not damaged. I personally use new boxes which I buy from Uline. They have warehouses in both the U.S.A., and Canada, and their products can be ordered online. Good quality boxes and fiberglass reinforced packaging tape can also be found at "U-Haul". Avoid boxes made in China. They do produce some good quality boxes, but most retailers sell the cheaper versions which are of poor quality. Stick to quality U.S. or Canadian made boxes.

( 2 )  Box Size Selection:  Use a box of an appropriate size. Quite often sellers use boxes that are too small to allow for proper packaging of the telephone being shipped. For example; to ship something like a Western Electric or Northern Electric model 302 deskset, or a Northern Uniphone model, I use a box that is 16 and 3/8 inches long, by 12 and 5/8 inches wide and 12 and 5/8 inches high. (41.65 cm long by 32 cm wide by 32 cm high).

( 3 )  Box preparation for overseas shipping:  If shipping within continental U.S.A. or Canada, proceed to step (4). Otherwise, proceed as follows;  Cut 6 pieces of a material such as hard board, or Masonite, to a size which corresponds to the inside dimensions of the box your going to use. Place 5 of the pieces into the box to line the bottom, both sides and both ends. The 6th piece for the top will obviously be installed last.

( 4 )  Cut 6 pieces of 1 inch Styrofoam to fit the inside dimensions of the box. Install 5 of the Styrofoam pieces inside the box and up against the bottom, both sides and both ends of the box. If Step (3) was followed, place the Styrofoam up against the hard board. As with the hard board, the 6th piece of Styrofoam will be install in the last step.

Note:  When cutting the Styrofoam, the preferred method is to cut the top and bottom pieces the full dimension of the inside of the box perimeter. The end and side pieces should be cut 2 inches less than the total height dimension of the inside of the box. The idea being that the top and bottom pieces of Styrofoam are supported by the side and end pieces.

( 5 )  Bubble wrap:  Wrap the telephone and handset or receiver separately with bubble wrap so that no part of the telephone or handset is left exposed. Make sure that handsets that have a transmitter cup (spit cup) like the Western / Northern "E-1" are well protected with bubble wrap. Line cords, handset, mounting or receiver cords, can be coiled up and tied off with bag ties if desired. It makes them easier to place inside the box, rather than having them sticking out all over.

( 6 )  Shipping peanuts:  Place a bed of shipping peanuts inside the box.

( 7 )  Placing the telephone into the box:  Place the main body of the bubble wrapped telephone into the box, and a little off to one side.

( 8 )  More Shipping peanuts:  Add more shipping peanuts to the box and using your fingers, move the peanuts into all the "nooks and crannies" around the telephone body so that no pockets of air remain. Bring the level of shipping peanuts up and over the telephone.

( 9)  Placing the handset into the box:  Place the bubble wrapped handset or receiver into the box, and position it in such a way that it's as far away from the body of the telephone as possible.

(10 )  More Shipping Peanuts:  Fill the remainder of the space in the box with more shipping peanuts. Again, use your fingers to make sure all spaces are filled and that no air pockets remain.

IMPORTANT:  Overfill the box slightly with shipping peanuts.   They will compress as the lids are placed on the top.  This prevents the telephone and handset or receiver, from moving around inside the box as it "bangs and bounces" it's way to the customer.

(11 )  Styrofoam Lid:  Place the 6th piece of Styrofoam on the top of the shipping peanuts and press it down to compress the shipping peanuts as previously described. If Step (3) was followed for overseas shipping, place the 6th and last piece of hard board on top of the last piece of Styrofoam.

(12 )  Close Box Flaps:  Close both end flaps of the box followed by the side flaps. Hold closed with 4 pieces of Scotch shipping tape.

(13 )  Fiberglass Reinforced Shipping Tape:  Wrap the box using fiberglass shipping tape. I usually place the first wrap around the length of the box running over the top and bottom box flaps, followed by three wraps around the girth of the box and complete taping with one wrap around the box running across both sides and both ends.

(14 )   Labeling Box:  Obviously "machines" can't read these labels, but at some point the boxes will again be handled by people once they reach their final destination and being delivered to the customer. Place Labels around the box reading "FRAGILE – HANDLE WITH CARE".

Now your ready to ship the telephone.

It's much easier to properly package an antique telephone for shipping than it is to get into an argument and item return situation with a disgruntled buyer. You can also be rest assured, the buyer won't likely buy from you again, and it'll probably result in a negative feedback situation.

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Jeff Lamb, Ktownphoneco
Kingston, Ontario, Canada.


Jon Kolger

I can vouch for Jeff's packing.  I purchased a phone from him a while back and was very impressed with his packing.  In fact, I have saved all his packing material and will re-use it one of these days.

DavePEI

I do most of what Jeff Suggests. Too many times i have received items damaged through careless packing.

My packing technique is very similar to Jon's. If shipping a Wooden phone, I remove the hook-switch and place it inside the box whenever possible. If for some reason it can't be removed, I armor it with a cardboard tube to protect it is the box is smashed against another item.

Always, lots of bubble wrap. Always, remove any handset or receiver, and bubble wrap it carefully, and place it next to the thickly bubble wrapped phone.

I generally label the box as to shipping and return address inside and out - I have had labels damages on boxes i have received, and this makes it possible to the parcel to be opened to get the address. Overkill? Perhaps.

After many years of working for Canada Post, I have seen too many items damaged due to improper packing. Always pack so a bunt kicker can kick it into the end zone!

On an article shipped to Ireland, I hollowed out builder's foam board to protect the very easily famaged item/ Whatever you feel is too much, is probably enough!

Dave
The Telephone Museum of Prince Edward Island:
http://www.islandregister.com/phones/museum.html
Free Admission - Call (902) 651-2762 to arrange a visit!
C*NET 1-651-0001

NorthernElectric

Peanuts are useless and offer near 0 protection.  Heavy items will move through them like air.  Tightly crumpled newspaper is far superior as a filler.
Cliff

Ktownphoneco

I guess I should clarify the term "shipping peanuts".     I don't use the the type made from Styrofoam that look like over sized "popcorn".     I use a biodegradable version that U-Haul (among others) sell.      They are slightly off white in color, tubular in shape, about 5/8" inch in diameter and about 2" inches long, and they don't cling to your hands like a demonstration of static electricity.      I'm not sure exactly how heavy an item would have to be to cause a problem, but I've shipped heavy wooden subscriber sets with a 5 bar 48-A magneto inside, and theirs absolutely no problems doing that.
Packaging something in that weight class just requires more peanuts packed more tightly under, around and over the item, and a little more overfill prior to closing the lid of the box.   
Adding an initial thin layer on the bottom of the box, then putting the item into the box and just adding the static prone Styrofoam peanuts without packing them down and around the item, and without enough of an overfill isn't what I'm advocating.    Using the type of Styrofoam peanuts I've described above, and placing and packing them around the item, as I've explained, will keep a heavy magneto subset right where it's suppose to be.

Jeff Lamb

CanadianGuy

Wonder how many phones get opened up at border crossings? Watching that show on TV "Border Security" and how they dismantle or drill tiny holes in items with voids where contraband can be hidden, I'd imagine they sometimes look at a rotary phone and think someone's trying to hide something in a silly old phone?

DavePEI

Quote from: CanadianGuy on May 11, 2015, 05:34:21 PM
Wonder how many phones get opened up at border crossings? Watching that show on TV "Border Security" and how they dismantle or drill tiny holes in items with voids where contraband can be hidden, I'd imagine they sometimes look at a rotary phone and think someone's trying to hide something in a silly old phone?
Well, I can tell you a story about that. Some years ago now, I bought a Tandy RS Telephone Analyzer on eBay. I waited and waited for it, and almost a month later it arrived with yellow "opened for Customs Inspection" tape on the box.

I opened the box, and found the back removed, and the umpteen screws that hold it on rolling around in the box. Fortunately, when I put the back on and replaced a missing transformwer nut, it worked.

Some customs type must have x-rayed the box and noticed it was mostly hollow (normal,as the PDB board is small, but the extra space in the case is taken up by the "Consumer friendly" front panel. Aha, he thought. We must have contraband! So he unscrewed the umpteen bolts, and was so pissed off he wouldn't get a bonus for finding anything, he just threw it all back into the box, and didn't bother undoing what he had done.

Son of a B! He should have been fired! I am still after all these years seething about that one. Granted, they might have thought they had to check it, but darn, they should have re-assembled it again after when they found nothing!

Dave
The Telephone Museum of Prince Edward Island:
http://www.islandregister.com/phones/museum.html
Free Admission - Call (902) 651-2762 to arrange a visit!
C*NET 1-651-0001

KaiserFrazer67

Quote from: NorthernElectric on May 10, 2015, 11:06:39 PM
Peanuts are useless and offer near 0 protection.  Heavy items will move through them like air.  Tightly crumpled newspaper is far superior as a filler.
Not necessarily true; the problem is that too many folks don't use them properly.  The styro peanuts have to be jam-packed in the box so that they fill up ALL spaces, then the box filled to about an inch above the opening of the box (as I was shown by the folks at the local UPS Store).  When closing and taping the box shut, the styro peanuts should be compressed, pushing back against the flaps of the box somewhat.  The taped box flaps should actually bulge slightly from the pressure of the styro peanuts inside.  If the peanuts are too loose, of course they won't do their job and everything inside will move around.  Naturally, the items you're shipping should be copiously wrapped in bubble wrap to begin with.  I've used the styrofoam peanuts successfully in conjunction with bubble-wrapping items when shipping glassware, Telechron clocks, a WE candlestick phone, and even an old Ansonia mantel clock, with no problems and positive feedback all around.
-Tom from Oakfield, Wisconsin --  My CO CLLI & switch: OKFDWIXADS0--GTD-5 EAX

"Problems are merely opportunities in workclothes." -Henry J. Kaiser

markosjal

Quote from: CanadianGuy on May 11, 2015, 05:34:21 PM
Wonder how many phones get opened up at border crossings? Watching that show on TV "Border Security" and how they dismantle or drill tiny holes in items with voids where contraband can be hidden, I'd imagine they sometimes look at a rotary phone and think someone's trying to hide something in a silly old phone?

In May 2020 I crossed the Mexico / US border into the USA with probably close to 20 antique phones. It was funny at first watching them open  the buckets that contained them then explaining that "I collect antique phones" .

Do not get me started! I had to cross on foot middle of COVID 19 Pandemic and sicker than you could imagine at Douglass Arizona in 114 degree Fahrenheit heat.It was complicated with rules changing daily.

BTW when I transport phones it is in buckets packed in Bubble wrap and some styro peanuts on bottom  . Never once have I broken nor even scratched one.  The buckets are well worth the investment at Home Depot or Harbor Freight. Buckets can be stacked and do not crush. They keep the phones from collecting dust and have even stored phones in buckets outside in the rain when space was at a premium.

I always put heavy phones on bottom like phones that are metal housings with more delicate lightweight plastic phones on top. I usually pack 3 phones per bucket.
Phat Phantom's phreaking phone phettish

Jim Stettler

Quote from: KaiserFrazer67 on April 04, 2017, 04:04:01 AM
Not necessarily true; the problem is that too many folks don't use them properly.  The styro peanuts have to be jam-packed in the box so that they fill up ALL spaces, then the box filled to about an inch above the opening of the box (as I was shown by the folks at the local UPS Store).  When closing and taping the box shut, the styro peanuts should be compressed, pushing back against the flaps of the box somewhat.  The taped box flaps should actually bulge slightly from the pressure of the styro peanuts inside.  If the peanuts are too loose, of course they won't do their job and everything inside will move around.  Naturally, the items you're shipping should be copiously wrapped in bubble wrap to begin with.  I've used the styrofoam peanuts successfully in conjunction with bubble-wrapping items when shipping glassware, Telechron clocks, a WE candlestick phone, and even an old Ansonia mantel clock, with no problems and positive feedback all around.
The easiest, less messy way to use 'peanuts is to put the in plastic bags to make 'pillows'. you can then pack the pillows around the item.
The recipient doesn't have a mess, and they get re-useable packing pillows.
Jim
You live, You learn,
You die, you forget it all.

FABphones

Quote from: Jim Stettler on February 07, 2021, 11:08:15 AM
The easiest, less messy way to use 'peanuts is to put the in plastic bags to make 'pillows'. you can then pack the pillows around the item.
The recipient doesn't have a mess, and they get re-useable packing pillows.
Jim

Now THAT is a good idea!

I have received boxes of these packed around phones, they go everywhere, floor, table, chairs...  they mostly get disposed of as they make such as mess. In future I will pack them into smaller bags and reuse.

Great tip!

Thank you.
A collector of  'Monochrome Phones with Sepia Tones'   ...and a Duck!
***********
Vintage Phones - 10% man made, 90% Tribble
*************

HarrySmith

Yes, great idea. I hate opening a box and getting things things everywhere. Much neater way to do it. I rarely use them myself, I pack most phones in a medium flat rate box with bubble wrap and not one had gotten damaged. The key is making sure whatever is in the box cannot move around. After I pack the box, before I tape it I give it a few good shakes, if there is any movement I add more packing. I shipped fragile porcelain & glass all over the world with out anything getting damaged that way.
Harry Smith
ATCA 4434
TCI

"There is no try,
there is only
do or do not"

Key2871

I pack my phones in plastic bags, ( just like the phone company used to do) tape closed and then wrap in bubble wrap and peanuts with ample space around so nothing gets peanut bits all inside the phones. I've learned a LOT over the years about packing things for shipping. I've not had any issues for years, things getting lost because of shippers yes but damage, no.
But lots of good tips on packing.
KEN

markosjal

There are "Air Pillows"  (sealed bags of air) that work well too.
Phat Phantom's phreaking phone phettish

Jim Stettler

Quote from: markosjal on February 07, 2021, 09:44:36 PM
There are "Air Pillows"  (sealed bags of air) that work well too.
That is where I got the idea. I received a package and one of the air pillows had  'popped', luckily the phone wasn't damaged.

I realized that  a bag of styro peanuts can't pop. and they don't make a mess and they get re-used by many people.
Jim
You live, You learn,
You die, you forget it all.