Help: Downsizing problems

Subject: Downsizing problems
From: 2feathers
Date: 22 Oct 00 - 11:09 AM

As the time approaches to walk slowly into the sunset I would like to know what to do with my record collection. We will be moving from a BIG house with LOTS OF STORAGE SPACE into a four room apartment somewhere. Gotta pare down. Can anyone help?

Subject: RE: Help: Downsizing problems
From: rabbitrunning
Date: 22 Oct 00 - 11:41 AM

Well, you could contribute some things to the Mudcat auction [grin]!

Don't give records to your local public library unless you _know_ what their weeding policy is. Many libraries weed straight into the trash can. An academic library is better, but find out how they treat the collection they've already got.

There are places on the web like World Wide Wax which might even give you money (or get you money) for some of them. And there are some used record stores which are also happy to take your records.

My rule of thumb in weeding my personal collections is "how often do I think of this?" and "Can I find it if I suddenly find myself fretful with wanting to listen to it? (or read it, for books)." Stuff with a high sentimental value I keep, too. Low use, easily accessible, low sentiment items can go.

Another way of handling it is finding a fellow packrat who is still in the acquisition phase of life, and asking them if they will be the life-custodian of your collection so long as they get it in the will. Must be a good friend or a relative, and put the agreement in writing, of course!

Of course, I live in a four bedroom apartment myself, and you'd be appalled --- er, astonished at how much stuff you can cram into one! Wall space may be at a premium, however!

(still in the acquisition phase, myself, mostly...)

Subject: RE: Help: Downsizing problems
From: 2feathers
Date: 22 Oct 00 - 12:20 PM

To Rabbitrunning: Will try World Wide Wax, thanks. What are you acquiring? Maybe I've got something you would treasure.

Subject: RE: Help: Downsizing problems
From: TheMuse
Date: 22 Oct 00 - 04:37 PM

2feathers

I know someone who is always interested in records. How large is your collection? What type of music and what condition are they in? And also where are you located?(shipping could be an obstacle) I'm just north of Syracuse, NY. Thanks in advance for any info you can give me. PM me with details if you want.

TheMuse

Subject: RE: Help: Downsizing problems
From: Barbara Shaw
Date: 22 Oct 00 - 09:18 PM

Why don't you contact a music school near you and see if they are interested in taking over the collection?

My son is majoring in music in college, and he and his friends are currently CRAZY about listening to "old" (from his parents' era) record albums. He says they want to hear it the way it was supposed to be heard when it was created! We actually went hunting through tagsales for a turntable for him to play these records on (try finding one of them today...)

If the music school doesn't want the collection, I'm sure they could find some students who would be very interested. Don't let those fine old records go unheard!

Subject: RE: Help: Downsizing problems
From: Poo-Twa
Date: 22 Oct 00 - 10:40 PM

BlueJay Here. 2feathers, I've been through this myself. I recently moved from a three bedroom house with a basement and finished attic, into a much smaller one level three bedroom with very small closets.
Have a yard sale, and download some stuff. We did, and made almost 500 bucks in the process.

I'd think long and hard before parting with the vinyl, though. I did that once about ten years ago, and I've regretted it ever since. I got rid of probably 300 records in a downsizing frenzy. (I kept my favorite 100). Many of these albums have never been released on CD, or were released and are no longer available. I just missed getting Jesse Colin Young's "Soul fo a City Boy". A friend had the CD, but by the time I tried to get it, it was no longer available. (See the Procrastinator Club Thread).

Finally, you could consider renting a storage space. I did it when my wife and I, three kids and newbie grandson all had to cram into a two bedroom apartment for a couple of years. Sure, it cost me thirty bucks a month, but allowed me to keep appliances, books, my remaining LP records, camping gear, etc. I still have most of the stuff, which would be costly to replace.

Just my two cents worth. But really consider keeping the vinyl! Thanks, BlueJay

Subject: RE: Help: Downsizing problems
From: Lyrical Lady
Date: 22 Oct 00 - 11:03 PM

Yikes...I have the same problem! I have my Dad's collection of 78's (about 600 - 700). I can't bear to part with them but I have a feeling they would be more useful in someone else's hands. I have a turntable to play them and and 1921 gramaphone but no time to play them. Sooooo...there they sit, under the stairs waiting for someone to love them!

.... LL

Subject: RE: Help: Downsizing problems
From: Clinton Hammond2
Date: 23 Oct 00 - 01:06 AM

Ummmm... E-bay?

Subject: RE: Help: Downsizing problems
From: Night Owl
Date: 23 Oct 00 - 01:36 AM

2feathers..is there a way to group them (by singer or type of music etc.)and offer them in separate groups in the Mudcat auction?? I lost my record collection last year and would be interested in bidding on some. I'm sure others here would also, assuming you have some Blues or "Folk" music there....broad definition of "Folk". GBG (great BIG grin)

Subject: RE: Help: Downsizing problems
From: katlaughing
Date: 23 Oct 00 - 10:19 AM

Boy this struck a chord! We are moving from a 4 bedroom house with full finished basement and 2 bathrooms to a small 2 bedroom, 1 bathroom. We are going through and getting rid of stuff we never use or look at, stuff we could replace if need be. But the really important stuff, which includes a few vinyls, we will rent a storage space for as BlueJay suggested. We are moving in with our daughter and know that it is temporary so we don't have to get rid of too much as we will need it when we are back in a home of our own.

My biggest problem is the cats! When one comes into my home they are there for life, so we have a few. I am worried about how they will all do with the diminished space. They will have a small outside enclosure, but no stairs to run up and down, etc.

When we did whittle down a 78 collection a friend had given us, I wound up donating them to a local thrift shop which was thrilled to get them.

Thanks,

kat

Subject: RE: Help: Downsizing problems
From: JTT
Date: 24 Oct 00 - 04:50 AM

Don't forget to record them on to CD first before selling them.

Subject: RE: Help: Downsizing problems
From: 2feathers
Date: 24 Oct 00 - 03:15 PM

Many great ideas, thanks. Also comforting to know others are going through the same "agony" of parting with that which is dear to us.

(I have recently learned and sing Eric Bogle's "Leaving Home." If I don't cry outside, I cry inside when I hear it or sing it.)

In order to record on CD - which is a super idea! - I would have to have a burner first, and I have none. And can you imagine the days it would take to do this? When my friend Bill Palius died, I recorded many of his 78's onto casettes. Is it worth doing that? How long do casettes last anyway?

THE MUSE says 'PM ME' What does that mean?

We have 78's, LP's (no 45's) ranging from Complete Operas, Gilbert and Sullivan, Yiddish, Folk, Classical--you name it! We even have a shelf of reel to reel tapes such as a collection of ads for Bertha's Kitty Boutique, and one of This is the Week that Was, and one of Fiorello. Even writing about these hurts.

Subject: RE: Help: Downsizing problems
From: mousethief
Date: 24 Oct 00 - 03:24 PM

PM means Personal Message. If you click on "Personal Pages" on the masthead (thing at the top of the page) then scroll down until you see a clicky that says "Send A Message" then click on it. Follow the directions from there.

Alex
O..O
=o=

Subject: RE: Help: Downsizing problems
From: GUEST,Roger the skiffler
Date: 24 Oct 00 - 03:28 PM

We've been burgled four times in a 30 year marriage, strangely, my record collection has never appealed to the thief. One good thing to having minority tastes in music!
RtS

Subject: RE: Help: Downsizing problems
From: 2feathers
Date: 24 Oct 00 - 03:37 PM

Roger, the skiffler: We also were burgled a number of times and never realized how useful it was to have an unappealing collection of records. Gave me a laugh!

Subject: RE: Help: Downsizing problems
From: Jim the Bart
Date: 24 Oct 00 - 03:52 PM

In May I finally managed to get into a house where I had space enough to set up my turntable and get to my records (and boy does it feel good to type that word and really mean it). After dragging about eight crates worth from storage area to storage area for over ten years I was wondering if it would prove to be worth it. Believe me it is. The sound is better than I remembered. And some of these sides will never be on CD.

I spent about four hours Friday alphebetizing and re-acquainting myself. Sunday night I moved from Leadbelly, to Oscar Brand, to Norman Blake, to Joni Mitchell. Heaven.

That being said, 2feathers, you gotta do what you gotta do. It doesn't pay to get too tied to your stuff and there's not enough time to waste any of it on regrets. Good luck in your new place.

BART

Subject: RE: Help: Downsizing problems
From: 2feathers
Date: 24 Oct 00 - 03:56 PM

Alex, thank you. I followed your instructions and left a message for TheMuse.

Subject: RE: Help: Downsizing problems
From: mousethief
Date: 24 Oct 00 - 04:01 PM

Glad to help!

Alex
O..O
=o=