[meteorite-list] Comments re: membrane boxes from Ron Hartman

From: R. N. Hartman <rhartman04_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Sat Feb 11 23:25:25 2006
Message-ID: <001301c62f8a$4747fbd0$6401a8c0_at_ronij3wi4b7cpv>

Reply from Ron

I have enjoyed all the free advertising so far on this list, and have found
all the posts of interest. I appreciate healthy debate and the many points
that have been made.

I would like to address two comments regarding one of the previously sent
posts.

COMMENT 1)<<You can't tell me that stretching that membrane across the
plastic is so much more difficult than sticking a piece of round foam in a
jar
that it costs 3-4 times as much to make???

REPLY: In fact, it is. There is a great deal of hand assembly in this
process. The membrane is attached by a process almost identical to putting
a new screen on a screen door and trimming it to size. The stretch has to
be just right for the box to have its shock proof characteristics and for
the membrane to return to a flat plane when the piece is removed. It
requires special tooling and semi-automated machinery, and a skilled person
to do the job. We do this ourselves, and it required sending Jim to the
factory in Europe for a week of special training plus the purchase and
importing of the equipment. If we did not do part of the manufacturing, we
could not keep our prices lower than everyone elses.

COMMENT 2)<<... and am really annoyed by the
mold mark in the middle of it-- exactly where a mold mark should NOT be on a
display case>>

REPLY: The box is a patented invention, but was not designed with meteorite
collectors in mind. It was designed for transportation and/or storage of
delicate parts and to provide shock protection. THE GOOD NEWS: Our #10
membrane box, 100 x 50 x 16 mm is our own unique box with NO MOLD MARK OR
MARKINGS. We offer it with a colorless latch. It is the ideal size for smal
pieces. We provide it with colorless latches.

We got into the membrane business a few years ago after reading that a
number of collectors were looking for the product. There are other dealers
on the web. You can find them by going to Google and typing membrane box
into the search. We tried them initially. One such dealer sent loose boxes
in a zip-lock bag, so scratched up that half were unusable. Another (and I
talked to their CEO personally) took about 3 months to deliver the micro
boxes and a third of the boxes were scuffed on one side due to improper
packing. Most of these places do not keep much of a stock in inventory, as
we try to do. And, we guarantee that our boxes will arrive quickly and
fully assembled, in perfect condition and ready to use, or we will replace
them. You don't have to worry about broken plastic cases due to rough
handling in shipping.

We also offer advise and support about the proper sized for your needs. I
notice that some other sellers on the web are now including in their ads
that the membrane boxes are good for meteorites, although I suspect that
most couldn't recognize a meteorite if they tripped on it!

I will be pleased to respond to any questions or comments.
RON
R. N. HARTMAN, Inc.
METEORITES AND ACCESSORIES
MEMBRANE SUSPENSION BOXES
Serving collectors, education and industry worldwide

email:
info_at_meteorite1.com
info_at_membranebox.com

visit us on the web at:
www.meteorite1.com
www.membranebox.com

Mailing address:
R. N. Hartman
20687-2 Amar Road #400
Walnut, CA 91789 (U.S.A.)

----- Original Message -----
From:
Cc: <meteorite-list_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Sent: Saturday, February 11, 2006 12:36 PM
Subject: Re: Re: [meteorite-list] Membrane Boxes


On Sat, 11 Feb 2006 13:15:53 -0500, you wrote:

>I find Ron Hartman's pricing very reasonable. Try to beat that by buying
>from the source in Europe and having them shipped to the US.
>

The prices are reasonable-- if you are displaying pieces worth a sizable
multiple of the price of the membrane box. For instance, a $800 lunar in a
$2
membrane box is no big deal. I tend to collect micromounts, both for
economic
and for space reasons. I thought about putting all of mine into membrane
boxes,
but I just could not justify paying the price per membrane box when you
could
get a gem jar of about the same size for a small fraction of the price. The
gem
jars are about the same size, about the same amount of material, and about
the
same complexity to manufacture, but because only one company is making the
membrane boxes, there is no competition for them, and therefore inflated,
monopoly prices. You can't tell me that stretching that membrane across the
plastic is so much more difficult than sticking a piece of round foam in a
jar
that it costs 3-4 times as much to make? I only go with a membrane box for
the
pieces with great interest on both size. My other micro pieces go into gem
jars. Also, I have one of the boxes like this one, and am really annoyed by
the
mold mark in the middle of it-- exactly where a mold mark should NOT be on a
display case: http://home.earthlink.net/~capricorn89/box23.jpg (irrelevant
side
note-- I worked in a plastics plant running injection molding machines one
summer during school, some of the machines the size of rooms. It gives an
interesting perspecitive on how plastic objects are made).
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Received on Sat 11 Feb 2006 11:10:37 PM PST