Hi Steve:

Ha! Of course, it being the ARSC list, you got two informed, reasoned and diametrically opposed
opinions, from Kurt and Richard.

I agree with Richard that peanuts are a PITA for the recipient, but I agree with Kurt that they can
offer a better "float" for something very fragile.

That said ... I got to watch real-deal antique movers pack up very valuable glass object for transit
to a bonded warehouse. Their method was to _very carefully_ and _not too tightly_ wrap the objects
first in what I assume was non-acidic tissue paper, then a bubble wrap "shell." This bundle was then
placed in a "nest" of rather tightly gathered bunches of the same tissue paper. In essence, the
tissue paper bunches were acting as large "peanuts," allowing the bubble-wrapped bundle to float
within a "sea" of soft objects. Given the value of these objects, and the fact that the shipper and
the warehouse had to carry insurance for every inch of transit and every minute of storage, I would
say that this was a proven solution.

The biggest problem I've encountered with records I've had shipped -- and granted, a very few of
them were 78's -- is that people pack them too tightly. I've gotten LP records forced into a
super-tight box and then cracked just from the pressue on all edges. Same goes for 45RPM. So I think
the best advice for 78's is, first of all make sure they are secure within an album (or secure in
their individual sleeves). Then, bubble-wrap them securely but not tightly. Then, submerge that
wrapped bundle in a "sea" of soft material, be it peanuts or many pieces of bubble wrap or whatever.
Do not make the pressure within the "sea" so great as to crush the bundle.

-- Tom Fine

----- Original Message -----
From: "Richard L. Hess" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, October 30, 2013 10:59 AM
Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] Shipping


> Steve,
>
> I am a firm believer that peanuts are the work of the devil. They shift,
> they crack, and are generally unpredictable in their behavior,
> especially with heavier objects, which I think 78 records are. My
> negative experience is with audio equipment.
>
> They are also a problem, especially in winter, for the person receiving
> the parcel as they tend to fly all over the place.
>
> This is what I write on shipping instructions for people sending me tapes:
>
>> (3) Please do not use plastic/styrofoam peanuts: it's bad for the
>> tapes (they generate static) and they fly all over the place when the
>> boxes are opened. Please use bubble wrap or other similar padding
>> such as flexible closed cell foam sheets.
>>
>> (4) Please do not use any packing material that creates dust like
>> shredded paper.
>>
>> (5) We recently had some equipment come in which had been packed in
>> old foam rubber. This is the second time we've seen shipment turning
>> the foam to acidic goo. Please do NOT use old foam rubber, it is too
>> great a risk.
>
> Cheers,
>
> Richard
>
>
> On 2013-10-30 10:01 AM, Steven Smolian wrote:
>> I'm gathering opinions. After putting 78s in a corrugated cardboard
>> sandwich, is it better to bubblewrap or to suspend them in plastic
>> peanuts, about 2.5 inches on either side. In a box, of course. I'm
>> particulary trying to get them well protected for international mail.
>> .
>>
>> Steve Smolian . .
>>
>>
>>
> -- Richard L. Hess email: [log in to unmask]
> Aurora, Ontario, Canada 647 479 2800
> http://www.richardhess.com/tape/contact.htm Quality tape transfers --
> even from hard-to-play tapes.
>
>