[Hallicrafters] Packing to Survive

[GARDGORE at aol.com]

Please excuse my late reply to this thread. I get to the mailbox only on 
weekends and I wanted to throw my .02 in on this one. I have shipped and 
received well over a hundred boatanchors over the years so have learned a 
little through practical experience about what works and what doesn't. 
Packing material that will help support the shape of the box, absorb energy 
from falling and dropping and not allow the contents to shift around inside 
is the key. IMHO there is no substitute for wrapping with many layers 
(several inches) of large size bubble wrap in two directions and packing in a 
good tight fitting well taped strong box. If the item is heavy (like the 
earlier mentioned SX-28) I recommend cutting 2" thick styrofoam sheet (from a 
home improvement store) and lining between the boxes in a double boxing 
arrangement. If the item isn't as heavy you might get by OK with styrofoam 
peanuts between the boxes but please don't use them as your packing material 
of choice in the primary box. The radio will swim around inside the box and 
move toward one of the six sides where the cabinet will then be vulnerable to 
a direct hit. Other things to consider:
1) Apply masking tape to glass dial covers to help prevent breakage.
2) Add packing inside, pack around and over tubes to keep them from shaking 
out.
3) Remove the tuning knobs to keep from transferring force into the 
mechanisms. The surface area of those large knobs will transfer a lot of 
force behind the panel.
4) Or leave the knobs on and prepare a styrofoam pad with cut-outs for the 
knobs. Wrap the cabinet with Saran wrap first to keep the styrofoam from 
chaffing the paint.
5) Make sure the rear chassis cabinet screws are in place so the front panel 
won't be buckled when they drop the box and it happens to be upside down at 
the time. These are often left out by a previous owner after a repair or 
maintenance job. 
6) Mark your work as you pack so that the radio will be boxed to travel right 
side up. Right side up is better if you can get it. There is more to it of 
course, I have only touched on the highlights. Basically for things going out 
here I try to pack to survive being thrown down a flight of stairs. This is 
necessary because I have observed the UPS driver in action at our business 
where he throws open his back door, jumps up inside and begins tossing 
packages that are for us out the back and onto the pavement. SX-28 anyone? 
Remember, When the radio was new and was packed for shipping by the original 
manufacturer they had engineers work out the design of all the packing 
material and boxes to be as sure as possible of safe delivery. Can we 
reasonably expect to get by with just putting it in an old box with some 
crumpled newspaper? With the increase in popularity of internet buying and 
selling more and more of our old radio equipment will be lost to mostly 
avoidable shipping damage.

Regards, Greg 

PS- A few more cautions: Close the tuning condensers. Remove crystal and wrap 
separately. Wrap the lid with Saran wrap separately to keep from chaffing the 
paint in the cabinet opening. Don't tape anything to the cabinet finish- 
paint could pull. Wrap power cord separately to prevent plug prongs from 
gouging away at the paint.
Pad the front a little extra and add additional padding underneath the set in 
the primary box. If the set is rare, heavy and valuable (SX-88, RME-9, AGSX, 
PRO-310, NC-400, etc.) or has heavy transformers mounted on a relatively thin 
chassis I advise to just go get it. I know this is not for everyone but 
because not many folks will go to the trouble to pack correctly you are 
taking too big a chance of wrecking something that in many cases not very 
many are remaining.