1949 Firestone 10" console HELP!!!
 

Please move if this isn't appropriate in this catagory.
Can anyone out there help me figure out how to get a set from New Hampshire to Arizona? A while back I decided to focus on the 1949 Firestone TVs to collect. There are only 4 models. I found a 7" tabletop. The 7" portable and 10" tabletop I have at least seen pictures of so I know they exist. In all the years of collecting I had never even seen a picture of the 10" console version, until now. A collector has one in Newbury, NH (a couple hours from Boston). He posted that he was selling some sets on videokarma. He is not willing to package for shipping. Its a small enough console that it could be shipped Fedex (I realize it would have to be packaged very well). Anyone out there have any ideas? I even considered Craters & Freighter but they don't service that area of NH.

Nice console. I agree that it's a rare one. You might be able to convince him to take it somewhere to have it crated or to have another collector in the area do it. Money talks in a situation like that so don't give up! Good luck.

I was going to suggest Craters & Freighters but if they're not there...

You might try searching for another pack and ship company that is in that area, I wouldn't want to shp Ground with one that big though, not even sure you can.

Freight, boxed and strapped to a Pallet is the way to go, it's going to cost dearly though.

If there's a UPS Store in the area he could drop it off at they might be able to arrange it.

Your other option is a 2700 mile road trip. :yes:

Someone HAS to know someone or have family out in that area. If I was able to arrange transport of a set from Boulder CO to Lancaster PA, there's gotta be a way to help out our friend here :)

Other such companies do exist. Box Brothers is one, although I believe they are based here on the West coast.

Phil Nelson

Something like the AK Pony Express? Someone picks it up, hands it off, and so on until it gets within driving distance for the OP. Vacationers anyone?

I used Craters and Freighters to ship my Visionette to California. They crated the TV but they had Estes Express trucking company haul it across the US. Estes moved it from depot to depot and sent me an email everytime it changed trucks. Craters and Freighters attached a metal handle to the crate and it was shipped standing up with the handle tied to a rail inside the truck. I'm not sure f they box or crate. They do move from truck to truck every 500 or so miles. A trucking company probably could pick it up from a UPS type store.

Perhaps Uship.com might work?

uShip is a great alternative. I've had console color sets delivered to the museum from the west coast for under $300.

Be careful with them, though. They have a convoluted bidding procedure. After you list your shipment, you will probably get a bid with the title "You have received the lowest possible bid". Reject it and wait for a better offer. I don't know why they do this, but it is crazy.

I live in Surprise, AZ. I used Pak Mail to ship a rare TV several thousand miles. They did an excellent job in crating my TV with triple protection. They have one location in New Hampshire. The link:
http://www.pakmail.com/shipping-stores/new-hampshire/

If you use UShip, do your homework and check the references of the shipper. Some of the shippers have stolen rare televisions and never shipped them. Evidently UShip did not do thorough background checks on the shippers that signed up with them.

I was looking at doing Uship for a 23" Motorola color but the seller backed out. It would have been OK fully assembled but for a post war set like that, I would have somebody remove the CRT and put it in a separate wood crate with solid foam-formed packing inside or at least a neck harness to keep the neck from moving

That's a cool looking set. Hope you can work something out. Is the set small enough that the seller could take it to a UPS store and have them pack it?