Steven C. Barr(x) wrote:
>> I cross the border every two or three weeks (Canada/US, usually in the Niagara
>> area but sometimes at Thousand Islands) with nary a problem. I carry a valid
>> passport, I leave my attitude at home, I carry documentation or receipts for
>> anything I'm bringing over, I take off my sunglasses when being questioned by
>> the Customs officials. Granted, I haven't flown into the States in a few
> years.
>> The only odd interrogation I'll receive in fact comes from Canadian officials,
>> usually at the Thousand Islands entrance, where they'll ask if I'm importing
>> liquor, tobacco, firearms, ammo or pepper spray (I kid you not). Records? What
>> are those? (One time I had over a thousand 78s in the car and proof that
> they'd
>> cost me next to nothing, and the guard insisted on knowing "What is the most
>> expensive record you bought?" I got sent over for inspection and the
> supervisor
>> looked and said "Oh, yeah..him. Have a nice day.")
>>
> Well, many years ago, one had to pick up all out-of-country parcels
> at the Toronto Canada-Customs office, located on Front Street (in
> Toronto) just east of Union Station. In 15-20 years of picking up
> parcels containing 78's, I always brought a copy of my "Dating Guide"
> to prove they were over 50 years old. In all that time, only one
> Customs officer noticed that the name of the parcel's recipient and
> the author of the reference work just happened to be identical...?!
>
> Most of the time, the Customs person was in his/her/its twenties...
> and upon seeing the contents were 78rpm records, simply assumed
> they were of the same age as Methuselah, give or take...
>
> Steven C. Barr
I used to have records and tapes sent up as well. I had a major argument with
one moron over a 7-inch reel of tape from MarBren (remember them?) containing
six vintage radio programs..this guy "learned it in a book" and swore that I
was attempting to bring in a videotape containing god knows what kind of
immoral content. This was in the late 70s, remember. As for picking up packages
of records at the Front Street office, I went to collect one load and the guys
there knew who I was and wanted to know when I'd be playing them on CHFI.
dl
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