[CAUT] grand casters

[Jurgen Goering]

Barbara,
There are always conflicts of interests when choosing casters.  There 
was  earlier post that included the comment that "You might need to use 
the stagehand method of wrapping a piece of line cord around  the base 
of the wheel, once it's in place" and concluded with advice to get a 
signed release.   This illuminates one dilemma: we want casters that 
roll well, carrying a heavy instrument safely over bumps and ramps, but 
then we require the instrument to be stationary and unmovable during 
show-time, more precisely, during any time it is not purposely being 
moved.

A large caster with ball bearings will do the best job of moving the 
piano with minimal stress to the legs.  Casters that the piano moves 
easily on will need brakes to keep it from moving during play.  Casters 
that do not have or  "need" brakes will not roll well and will stress 
the legs, which can lead to accidents.  I am always amazed at the small 
furniture wheelies found under some grands.   Surely can't be intended 
for moving the piano?  The Europeans have got it more or less figured 
out in the caster department - check out the websites of Sauter, 
Bechstein, Fazioli, Steinway-Hamburg to see what their pianos are 
riding on.  That is why the spider dollies/trucks are virtually unknown 
over there and ubiquitous here.  And the trucks have many disadvantages 
for piano moving and playing.

To answer your question - yes, there is the small caster in the family 
which has an installed height of 82 mm.  Ron Overs had the 7' (?) piano 
he showed in Rochester mounted on these casters.  The next size up 
would probably roll even better, but that would mean shortening the 
legs a bit or switching legs to keep the pedals at the proper height.


Jurgen Goering
Piano Forte Supply
(250) 754-2440
info at pianofortesupply.com
http://www.pianofortesupply.com


Barbara Richmond wrote:
> Jurgen,
> Are there any that don't require a leg change?
> Barbara

> ----- Original Message -----

>  From: Jurgen Goering
>   To: caut at ptg.org
>   Sent: Tuesday, February 06, 2007 12:33 PM
>   Subject: Re: [CAUT] grand casters

>  Barbara -
>   I can understand that the music director is not crazy about a 
> Steinway on a truck. More and more institutions and artists are 
> discovering the advantages of proper stage casters.    I import and 
> distribute stage casters for grands. They have a tough, non marking 
> PUR coating to protect floors, five ball bearings, brakes, and come in 
> different sizes.

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