[morzh]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1938-Philco-Earl...true&rt=nc

Just bought this backelite Philco 38-12 (wanted it for a while, this one is clean and the cabinet is intact). And I think the price is very reasonable.
Note: the lines on the glass are light, not cracks.

Here's what I wrote to the seller. If after this the radio comes damaged, I will lose my faith in peope . Seriously.


.......
Now, please do pay attention to instructions below.

This is a backelite radio.
I do not know if you have experience packing old radios, the backelite ones require extra care.

1. make sure nothing is loose inside.
2. if possible turn the tuning knob so the variable capacitor inside has its rotor blades fully inside stator.
3. wrap well in plastic wrap.
4. use a first box to fit the wrapped radio snuggly enough so it does not bounce and tape the box over.
5. use the second box oversized at least two inches in each dimension (2" has to be between EVERY wall of the box and the first box with the radio inside) and fill all these spacing with peanuts, first on the bottom, then sides and then the top. The peanuts have to be ttight enough so not to end up on top and radio on the unprotected bottom due to shaking in delivery.

Remember, the package WILL be dropped and abused, and backelite is easily craked unlike wood.
If it is craked, it goes back. I hope it will not have to. I have just received a radio from a guy who I gave exact instructions which he disregarded, and then blamed UPS when it arrived destroyed (I am in the middle of the case resolution right now). Let's try to avoid that.

Best regards,

Morzh.


PS. I know I sound here as a paranoid nudnik and all...it is better than have another case opened with eBay returning the item.

[Squire]

Hey! If you can prevent another vintage radio from being damage why not! The last Bakelite radio I received was very well packaged for which I am still grateful!

[morzh]

Wow, according to her, it was bought for 6 bucks on a garage sale.
Where do people find garage sales like this one?!

[Squire]

No kidding! I love 38 Philcos! Wood or Bakelite doesn't matter. They are great designs and the dials are beautiful!

[morzh]

Yes, I wanted to complement the 38-15 I have, and the backelite ones are less common. And white plascon is even less common .. hopefully one day it pops up.

[Eliot Ness]

3. wrap well in plastic wrap.

Did you mean bubble wrap? You might get a broken radio that has several layers of Saran Wrap on it

[Image: http://www.saranbrands.com/i/hp_premium_img.jpg]

[morzh]

John

You forgot doube boxing. I did mean plastic. Inside the 1st box. Not Saran, but shipping grade cling wrap.
However she indicated she has ons of bubble so she will use it.

[Jayce]

I hope it comes through intact for you! I got a 38-12 this spring at a pinball show, already recapped and working to boot. Best looking bakelite in my whole collection and it performs better than my wood cased 38-12.

[morzh]

Jayce

I am sure it is backelite that makes it so good!

[morzh]

I like the looks of this 1938 small radios and 1939 39-7 also.
The 38-15 I have looks really neat.

[GarySP]

Mike, you forgot the most important instruction of all. On the outside box in big, bold lettering write..."Please beat the daylights out of this box. I wrote FRAGILE on the last one!" Hope it gets to you intact. Looks very good in the photo. Take care, Gary

[morzh]

I wrote that instruction on our device's box when we subjected it to ISTA3 pickup and delivery test.

It survived intact.

[wa2ise]

One has to pack an item so you feel confident that it will survive intact after rolling the package down a flight of stairs.

[morzh]

How 'bout

6 drops from 6 feet, from every side of the of the box.
One drop from 4 feet on a hardwod or metal block size of a curb stone (emulating drop on a curb).

And then vibration. 8 hrs.

[Warren]

We get lots of boxes with parts in them and thats what FedEx says ....your supposed to pack it so it can survive an 8 foot drop onto a curb. Shows you how they treat the boxes.