perc-o-prince
Well-known member
Ok, here it is. Start w/ a Singer #12 fiddle-based sewing machine.
Packing Example
- Thread starter perc-o-prince
- Start date
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perc-o-prince
Well-known member
Secure the little lever that holds the s/m on the wood base. Don't trust that it will stay there on its own (I loves me zip-ties!).
perc-o-prince
Well-known member
Disengage the cranking mechanism from the flywheel (red arrow), and secure both (more zip ties!!).
perc-o-prince
Well-known member
Don't trust that the little lever you zip-tied will hold the machine securely to the base. Band the base of the s/m to the wood base with strong tape, but tape over newspaper so as not to damage finishes.
perc-o-prince
Well-known member
Secure the bobbin winder so it doesn't flop around.
perc-o-prince
Well-known member
Before putting the lid on, ball some newspaper to fill the cavity of the case to further hold the machine in place inside the case.
Then, wrap the case in cling film, and band each end with tape. This will not only keep the lid on, but provide sopport so seams don't separate.
Then, wrap the case in cling film, and band each end with tape. This will not only keep the lid on, but provide sopport so seams don't separate.
perc-o-prince
Well-known member
Securely tape the bottom of your box. I use fiberglass-reinforced paper tape, and the H or I method which uses 3 pieces of tape.
perc-o-prince
Well-known member
Give a good base (this will actually be the end of the box) with a good 6" of balled newspaper and/or paper grocery bags.
perc-o-prince
Well-known member
Fill all around the wrapped machine with more balled paper or well-packed shred. Well-packed is the key so that the machine can't move around. Also, I use paper bags w/o shred for the underside of the machine since the box will (hopefully) spend most of its traveling time oriented the desired way.
perc-o-prince
Well-known member
Finish filling the box, tape securely, and add FRAGILE labels that also have This End UP and arrows on them. I figured it out and the labels only cost about $0.05 each. 20 cents per box for that little extra security is cheap.
perc-o-prince
Well-known member
That's it! Every machine like this gets packed this way every time. It takes about 1/2 an hour since I'm used to it now, but the pay-off is worth it in repeat business, word-of-mouth in the community collecting such things, and feedback on eBay.
Chuck
Chuck
Do you have a tape machine??? I had one for awhile when I was shipping large items I sold on eBay. Now I just sell clothes for the most part so I got rid of the tape machine. It was awesome!
Great packing job. I used to own a Mail Boxes ETC store (before they sold out to UPS Stores) so I know a little about packing.
Great packing job. I used to own a Mail Boxes ETC store (before they sold out to UPS Stores) so I know a little about packing.
perc-o-prince
Well-known member
Hi Heather,
Yes, I do have one. I forget where Rich got it, but it's indispensible! I used to hand cut the tape before I had that!
Thanks for the vote of confidence! I wish all of the folks at MBE and UPS Stores knew about packing like you! If someone offering us a machine (typewriter) privately says they're going to take it there, I ask them not to. Too many bad experiences. Instead, I make up a packing box that will be easy for them to use, usually a box-in-a-box with soft foam sheets between them, and ship it to them. I tell them to open the box when they get it, take off the top foam sheet, open the interior box and use the bubble wrap I included to wrap the machine. Then, they put the machine in the inside box, put the foam back on, and close the outside box putting what were the inside flaps on the outside. They affix the pre-paid label I sent in the box, and hand the box to the UPS Store or a UPS driver. Sometimes there are special things I have them do to the machine depending on what it is, but nothing too complicated.
Chuck
Yes, I do have one. I forget where Rich got it, but it's indispensible! I used to hand cut the tape before I had that!
Thanks for the vote of confidence! I wish all of the folks at MBE and UPS Stores knew about packing like you! If someone offering us a machine (typewriter) privately says they're going to take it there, I ask them not to. Too many bad experiences. Instead, I make up a packing box that will be easy for them to use, usually a box-in-a-box with soft foam sheets between them, and ship it to them. I tell them to open the box when they get it, take off the top foam sheet, open the interior box and use the bubble wrap I included to wrap the machine. Then, they put the machine in the inside box, put the foam back on, and close the outside box putting what were the inside flaps on the outside. They affix the pre-paid label I sent in the box, and hand the box to the UPS Store or a UPS driver. Sometimes there are special things I have them do to the machine depending on what it is, but nothing too complicated.
Chuck
Very well done! Should get there in top-notch condition.
elginkid
Well-known member
Those are some amazing acanthus decals! I have the same machine, 1886 with Ottoman Carnation decals, but some of the bobbin winder components are missing. If I could find some of those needles, I'd try using it. I hate when parts become obsolete long before the machines wear out!
Wes
Wes
perc-o-prince
Well-known member
Wes,
Keep in touch with me because I routinely get needles as part of the accessories. These machines are sent to me from the UK and I never know what's going to be in there! I have a few in the shed now, and will try to remember to pull one out to list (and check for needles!) tonight.
Chuck
Keep in touch with me because I routinely get needles as part of the accessories. These machines are sent to me from the UK and I never know what's going to be in there! I have a few in the shed now, and will try to remember to pull one out to list (and check for needles!) tonight.
Chuck
Chuck nice tips on
the paper under the tape on the machine and the saran wrap before taping shut! Never would have thought of that.
Its amazing how some things arrive from Ebay land!!
the paper under the tape on the machine and the saran wrap before taping shut! Never would have thought of that.
Its amazing how some things arrive from Ebay land!!
