Re: [ARSCLIST] Disposition of those bluegrass tapes

[steven c <stevenc@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "phillip holmes" <insuranceman@xxxxxxxxxx>
> Just write me in your will, Uncle Steven.  How much does 40,000 78s weigh?
> Would it take more than a 52' trailer?  I remember helping a friend move a
> collection of at least 10,000 78s (lots of nice jazz--complete run of Blue
> Note and Prestige 78s).  I filled the back of my mini truck and nearly
lost
> control when I went around the first corner.  I probably had twice the
> recommended load (but it sure didn't look like much when I was loading).
I
> swore off moving 78s in a passenger vehicle after that.  The next time I'm
> using my 15' trailer or better.  I later helped the same guy close down
his
> store--a sad day.  We loaded one of those full size u-hauls with 25-35K
> records.  In August.  In Texas.  I thought I was going to die.  When I
drive
> by the old place I start sweating.
An average shellac 78rpm disc weighs about eight ounces, more or less...so
a milk box full (120-135 78's) weighs in at 60-65 lbs. and 40,000 at
20,000 lbs. or ten tons! Wer hired a couple of amateur "movers" when I
moved the 40-odd miles from Toronto to Oshawa, Ont'o. and they showed up
with a five ton cube van. That had the ROOM for the records...but not the
load capacity! They had about 3/4 of the 78's on the van...which was, by
then, sitting suspiciously close to the ground...and realized two trips
would be necessary (or a larger truck!).

And I only have about a dozen Edisons!

However, I'm proving my house is well built (or was!). It was built
sometime between 1868 andr 1874...I have about 30% of the collection
in the first-floor parlour, and another 20% or so in various rooms
on the second floor...and not a sign of sagging!

When I moved the collection from Illinois to Canada (1976-77) it was
only about 2,000 78's (two kilorecords?), or about half a ton. I
actually bought an old half-ton pickup truck specifically to move
to Canada...made three trips, each time pulling a large U-Haul
trailer (never did learn how to back it up!)...and there are boxes
(no 78's) that haven't been unpacked since THAT move!

Note that the collection was accumulated as much for discographic
research as for listening pleasure...and, as well, includes several
thousand records I was given in "job lots" (couldn't argue with
the price of $0.00!)...

Steven C. Barr