Re: [ARSCLIST] Shelf stack (box) archiving of 10" 78rpm disks

[Michael Biel <mbiel@xxxxxxxxx>]

From: Tom Fine <tflists@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Actually, a cheaper varient of the milk box is widely available at stores that cater to college kids, maybe Ikea, too. The kids use them for shelving and storage, stacking them several-high in dorm rooms. They are a cheap varient, at least the ones I've seen, with too much open space as compared to the more closed (and thus stronger) sides and bottom of a real dairy crate.>

These store-bought plastic crates are usually much too flimsy for 78s. 
The sides will bend, and I wouldn't trust stacking them.  The original
fiberglass crates Steve has were designed to carry the heavy milk
containers that are about as heavy as the records, so they are much more
trustworthy, but harder to obtain legally.  But the crates will work
fine on shelves.  The type of metal shelving I used to use has become
impossible to find, so I have switched over to the Gorilla shelves that
are sold in Sams Club.  They're about $60 for a 5 shelf unit, 48-inches
wide and 14-inches deep.  They have a wood insert in a metal frame for
each shelf, and do not use nuts and bolts, but are hammered together
with bolts on the shelf frames going into keyholes ln the uprights. The
similar shelves in Lowes are more expensive and not conveniently sized. 
Home Depot is a loss for me with nothing appropriate.  But for
lighterweight items, Lowes sells a great plastic shelf that is quite
strong but really needs to be attached to the wall because it might
start to sway.  I use these for paper in file boxes.  But the Gorilla
shelves are perfect for putting boxes or crates of 78s in lieu of
stacking.  Each box is thus available without moving other boxes in a
stack. If the boxes are laid on their sides, the records can be taken
out without moving the boxes, and there is support each shelf foot.  

But the ideal system is one that Tim Brooks and Rich Markow use, but it
was expensive.  They had specially built wooden squares that can be
stacked up as if they are shelves, but can be used for moving without
removing the contents.  A sliding lid can be made part of the box.  Rich
has his stacked about four and five high, and I think Tim has his at
about 8 high.  Both of these units -- and some of Steve Barr's milk
crates -- will be seen in Leah's documentary being shown at ARSC (and
thereafter will be available for purchase at a very reasonable price.) A
small part of my clutter is also shown, and you will love the visit to
David Lennick's warehouse spaces.  We didn't get to my warehouse, nor
did she put in any footage of the warehouse I used to have in New Jersey
20 years ago.  I think I will pull that out for the out-take session she
is doing before showing the production.  As we open the 10-foot high
creaking steel doors my mother can be heard saying in dismay, "When are
you going to start selling this stuff??"  

Mike Biel  mbiel@xxxxxxxxx