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Shipping an M400

Shipping an M400

2015-05-12 by loserslounge2000@yahoo.com

Kind of a loaded question, I guess. But someone in Seattle is interested in buying my M400, which is in Brooklyn. Has anyone on this list successfully shipped an M400? Though I expect a lot of "don't do it" replies, please let me  know if this is in any way realistic.


Thanks!

Joe McGinty

Re: [newmellotrongroup] Shipping an M400

2015-05-12 by HammondB3

It depends on how it's packed.  I had craters and freighters ship mine from Dallas to Long Beach. It arrived in an open back chicken truck.  It was packed like it was in a vault.  Not a scratch and worked beautifully. 

But Don't Do It!




On May 11, 2015, at 10:20 PM, loserslounge2000@yahoo.com [newmellotrongroup] <newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com> wrote:

 

Kind of a loaded question, I guess. But someone in Seattle is interested in buying my M400, which is in Brooklyn. Has anyone on this list successfully shipped an M400? Though I expect a lot of "don't do it" replies, please let me  know if this is in any way realistic.


Thanks!

Joe McGinty

Re: [newmellotrongroup] Shipping an M400

2015-05-12 by Mike Dickson

I shipped a MkV across the Atlantic and it was fine.

On 12 May 2015 at 07:29, HammondB3 hammonddave2004@yahoo.com [newmellotrongroup] <newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com> wrote:
 

It depends on how it's packed.  I had craters and freighters ship mine from Dallas to Long Beach. It arrived in an open back chicken truck.  It was packed like it was in a vault.  Not a scratch and worked beautifully. 

But Don't Do It!




On May 11, 2015, at 10:20 PM, loserslounge2000@yahoo.com [newmellotrongroup] <newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com> wrote:

 

Kind of a loaded question, I guess. But someone in Seattle is interested in buying my M400, which is in Brooklyn. Has anyone on this list successfully shipped an M400? Though I expect a lot of "don't do it" replies, please let me  know if this is in any way realistic.


Thanks!

Joe McGinty




--
Mike Dickson
Edinburgh

Re: [newmellotrongroup] Shipping an M400

2015-05-12 by Martin

If you crate, make sure the crater puts a rail each outer side of the feet that the cabinet rests on. Don't let the tron travel on it's feet! The rails should be just taller than the feet so the base is protected from any upward shocks.

Best

M

Mellotronics.com on my iPad
Celebrating 51 years of mellotrons

On 12 May 2015, at 09:00, Mike Dickson mike.dickson@gmail.com [newmellotrongroup] <newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com> wrote:

 

I shipped a MkV across the Atlantic and it was fine.

On 12 May 2015 at 07:29, HammondB3 hammonddave2004@yahoo.com [newmellotrongroup] <newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com> wrote:
 

It depends on how it's packed.  I had craters and freighters ship mine from Dallas to Long Beach. It arrived in an open back chicken truck.  It was packed like it was in a vault.  Not a scratch and worked beautifully. 

But Don't Do It!




On May 11, 2015, at 10:20 PM, loserslounge2000@yahoo.com [newmellotrongroup] <newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com> wrote:

 

Kind of a loaded question, I guess. But someone in Seattle is interested in buying my M400, which is in Brooklyn. Has anyone on this list successfully shipped an M400? Though I expect a lot of "don't do it" replies, please let me  know if this is in any way realistic.


Thanks!

Joe McGinty




--
Mike Dickson
Edinburgh

Re: Shipping an M400

2015-05-12 by tron400@yahoo.com

I shipped an M400 recently (a year ago?). Nothing less than a crate built with 3/4" plywood on a pallet should be used. If you're not handy with tools, let a pro do it. Pack the inside of the Tron with styrofoam to stabilize the motor and internal frame. Lock the keys in place with a thin strip of styrofoam. Ship the tape frame separately. Shipping a Tron this way is not cheap, though. Add a few hundred $$$ to the cost of the Tron.

Bernie

Re: [newmellotrongroup] Re: Shipping an M400

2015-05-12 by gino wong

A road case or a pro shipper custom framed out box.  I ship reel to reel machines often and it is vaguely the same principle , protect it from what is inside and outside the box.

On Tue, May 12, 2015 at 6:06 AM, tron400@yahoo.com [newmellotrongroup] <newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com> wrote:
 

I shipped an M400 recently (a year ago?). Nothing less than a crate built with 3/4" plywood on a pallet should be used. If you're not handy with tools, let a pro do it. Pack the inside of the Tron with styrofoam to stabilize the motor and internal frame. Lock the keys in place with a thin strip of styrofoam. Ship the tape frame separately. Shipping a Tron this way is not cheap, though. Add a few hundred $$$ to the cost of the Tron.

Bernie




--
Gino Wong Birgelo  BSComm, BSEE, PhP

ReRed Recording
Girard Hall Studios (ReRed Treehouse)
527 W. Girard Avenue 
Philadelphia, PA 19123 USA   
215 717 7059

Re: [newmellotrongroup] Re: Shipping an M400

2015-05-12 by Chris Dale

Ideally the best way to guarantee it will arrive safe is to pack the Tron yourself (by taping pillows together all around it completely so that no part of it is visible) and then crate the Tron (as others have described here), and then put that crate inside of a second crate with plastic styrofoam rolls and more pillows around the inner first crate. 

The idea is that the inner crate is 'floated' inside the outer crate and will not absorb any shock once the crate is moved. And these crates are set down hard by shipping companies. I've visited their facilities and seen them do their work all around the globe. 

It know it sounds ridiculous, but I've shipped Optigans, and a Chamberlin across the continent, and huge fragile geology specimens from the other side of the world, and nothing arrived broken. 

Yes it can be expensive, but it's a choice between having something in the same condition you send it, or having to file damage claims if somehow there's a problem. 

If you can't do this, then at least tape pillows completely around the Tron before it's crated. It will make a BIG difference and keep any fine packing material dust from getting into the machine. If you can, it's also best to tell the shipping company not to use styrofoam 'peanuts' because they create static (bad for the machine), make a big mess, and get into everything.

Minimizing any movement or shock to the unit, and keeping the machine clean, is the most important thing. 





On Tue, May 12, 2015 at 11:44 AM, gino wong wonggster@gmail.com [newmellotrongroup] <newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com> wrote:
 

A road case or a pro shipper custom framed out box.  I ship reel to reel machines often and it is vaguely the same principle , protect it from what is inside and outside the box.

On Tue, May 12, 2015 at 6:06 AM, tron400@yahoo.com [newmellotrongroup] <newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com> wrote:
 

I shipped an M400 recently (a year ago?). Nothing less than a crate built with 3/4" plywood on a pallet should be used. If you're not handy with tools, let a pro do it. Pack the inside of the Tron with styrofoam to stabilize the motor and internal frame. Lock the keys in place with a thin strip of styrofoam. Ship the tape frame separately. Shipping a Tron this way is not cheap, though. Add a few hundred $$$ to the cost of the Tron.

Bernie




--
Gino Wong Birgelo  BSComm, BSEE, PhP

ReRed Recording
Girard Hall Studios (ReRed Treehouse)
527 W. Girard Avenue 
Philadelphia, PA 19123 USA   


Re: [newmellotrongroup] Re: Shipping an M400

2015-05-12 by Chris Dale

P.S. - Make sure they stamp 'This Side Up' on the crates!

On Tue, May 12, 2015 at 7:14 PM, Chris Dale <unobtainiumkeys@gmail.com> wrote:
Ideally the best way to guarantee it will arrive safe is to pack the Tron yourself (by taping pillows together all around it completely so that no part of it is visible) and then crate the Tron (as others have described here), and then put that crate inside of a second crate with plastic styrofoam rolls and more pillows around the inner first crate. 

The idea is that the inner crate is 'floated' inside the outer crate and will not absorb any shock once the crate is moved. And these crates are set down hard by shipping companies. I've visited their facilities and seen them do their work all around the globe. 

It know it sounds ridiculous, but I've shipped Optigans, and a Chamberlin across the continent, and huge fragile geology specimens from the other side of the world, and nothing arrived broken. 

Yes it can be expensive, but it's a choice between having something in the same condition you send it, or having to file damage claims if somehow there's a problem. 

If you can't do this, then at least tape pillows completely around the Tron before it's crated. It will make a BIG difference and keep any fine packing material dust from getting into the machine. If you can, it's also best to tell the shipping company not to use styrofoam 'peanuts' because they create static (bad for the machine), make a big mess, and get into everything.

Minimizing any movement or shock to the unit, and keeping the machine clean, is the most important thing. 





On Tue, May 12, 2015 at 11:44 AM, gino wong wonggster@gmail.com [newmellotrongroup] <newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com> wrote:
 

A road case or a pro shipper custom framed out box.  I ship reel to reel machines often and it is vaguely the same principle , protect it from what is inside and outside the box.

On Tue, May 12, 2015 at 6:06 AM, tron400@yahoo.com [newmellotrongroup] <newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com> wrote:
 

I shipped an M400 recently (a year ago?). Nothing less than a crate built with 3/4" plywood on a pallet should be used. If you're not handy with tools, let a pro do it. Pack the inside of the Tron with styrofoam to stabilize the motor and internal frame. Lock the keys in place with a thin strip of styrofoam. Ship the tape frame separately. Shipping a Tron this way is not cheap, though. Add a few hundred $$$ to the cost of the Tron.

Bernie




--
Gino Wong Birgelo  BSComm, BSEE, PhP

ReRed Recording
Girard Hall Studios (ReRed Treehouse)
527 W. Girard Avenue 
Philadelphia, PA 19123 USA