Wertheim Superba fiddle base disaster in shipping

 A universal problem for VSM enthusiasts is the shipping of them. Or more precisely, packing.

I have a lot of bad experiences of this, but I show you here the absolute worst I ever had the misfortune to receive.

I came across this machine on Ebay & it looked a good opportunity, the seller describing it as 'possibly a German Machine?' I knew it was a Wertheim & took a risk.


 Looked to be a good project but...

This is how it arrived:


For some unknown reason the seller decided to remove the handcrank & belt guard & wrap them separately in bubble wrap!! Two heavy items banging around during shipping & this is what it did! If he hadn't removed the parts it may well have survived intact.

If anyone needs any Wertheim spares? I got refunded immediately, but what a waste!! It survived from 1880s/90s, 2 World Wars etc. etc. only to be wrecked by a moments carelessness. He described himself as an Antique Dealer...

 


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