How to Pack Expensive Antique Scientific Instruments for Shipping

1) Take everything apart that can reasonably be taken apart and wrap each of the individual pieces separately in bubble packing

2) Put the individually wrapped pieces and/or fragile items in one or more interior boxes to pack in a larger outer box

3) Wrap the heavy parts (e.g., microscope base) individually with lots of bubble packing and put each in a separate interior box filled with styrafoam peanuts - do not try to pack the heavy parts back into the original instrument case as they will shift during shipping and damage the case or the instrument or both - light weight individually wrapped pieces can be packed in the original instrument case and the case then wrapped in bubble packing to protect its finish.

4) Do not use tape of any kind on any part of an instrument or its case - tape will damage finish

5) Glass fronted cases will need to be protected with a layer of bubble packing over the glass, a layer of cardboard, and several more layers of bubble packing

6) Interior boxes and the instrument case should be packed in a heavy outer box (double wall if possible), with at least 2 inches of styrafoam peanut fill between the interior boxes and the outer box sides if possible - before sealing the outer box, shake it gently - if anything rattles it is not properly packed

7) Use fiberglass reinforced tape to seal the outer box - wrap tape around the box in several places to keep the box from being damaged or coming open - the heavier the box, the more tape wraps are needed

8) When in doubt, overpack some more - it is a real tragedy when a fine antique scientific instrument is damaged in shipping if a little more care in the packing process would have ensured its safe arrival

How to Ship Expensive Antique Scientific Instruments

We have been shipping antique scientific instruments around the world for nearly 20 years and have tried a wide range of delivery services. For domestic shipping, the clear winner has always been USPS Registered Mail. It has always proven to be more reliable, less expensive, and at least as fast as any other service. The size limit is 108" (length plus girth - we stock double wall 20"x20"x20" boxes as the largest box we regularly ship by registered mail); the weight limit is 70 pounds; and the insurance limit is $25,000 - yielding a maximum shipping cost of $141.85. We have had only one registered mail package lost (over 10 years ago, an entire locked bag of registered mail was lost with one of our packages in it) and we have had only one package arrive with damage - in both cases, we simply filed the necessary insurance claim forms and we received a check for the total insured value of the package plus the shipping charges within about 60 days, with no questions. This is in stark contrast to our experiences with the package delivery services (UPS, FedEx, etc.) - basic shipping charges are usually at least 50% higher (usually much higher) and it is virtually impossible to get an acceptable resolution on insurance claim for damages to a shipment of expensive antique items.

For international shipping, we have successfully been using USPS Express Mail International for several years. It has also proved to be more reliable, less expensive, and at least as fast as any other service for packages up to 79" or 108" (length plus girth), 44 or 66 pounds, and $650 - $5,000 maximum insured value (specific limits depending on destination country). We have had one express mail package to Canada arrive with damage - we had to fill out insurance claim forms several times, send in catalog photos & descriptions of the damaged item several times, fill out several other forms that were sent to us, and make several calls to the Post Office international claims office to finally get a check for the total insured value of the package plus the shipping charges (approximately $1,400). This is again in contrast to our experience with the package delivery services - we have never received any payment for any damages to any insured international package (the claims that we have filed have been denied or simply ignored, with no one to appeal to).

Important Surveying Instruments Recently Sold

I would like to thank Dale Beeks - Perceptions Scientifica for providing the following information on his winter 2006 - spring 2007 private sales of important antique surveying instruments:

1) Rittenhouse Potts compass - $11,500

2 ) Rittenhouse Evans compass - $12,500

3) Oscar Hanks Bow Compass complete - $15,500

4) 17th century half circle by Wynne - $35,000

5) 1870 Gurley pocket solar compass complete - $50,000

6) 1880 Young & Sons Aluminum Solar compass - $55,000

7) Goldsmith Chandlee compass with provenance
to George Washington's nephew Laurence Lewis - $70,000
(via Auction at Cowan's in Cincinatti)