Lid props (was Re: "VJ")

[harvey]

The negative things you describe is what I experienced, Ron, regardless of
positioning, and regardless of whether I held my mouth right. IOW, just
when I least expected it, the Schaff/S&S lid props would scoot out and
cause the lid to hit me, or knock the tuning hammer off the pin (sometimes
with resulting consequences), or at a minimum cause noise and
embarrassment. With new OR old clients, I've never enjoyed the customer
appearing after hearing the commotion and saying, "Is everything all right?"

Conversely, the props I mentioned have never caused embarrassment or
damage. They even work on the Hamilton (aka Kenworth) one-piece hood,
fallboard, and upper panel. The Kohford prop not only requires no
adjustment, it is not adjustable. I've been using it since 1970-something.
The Davis version was recently built and is only being carried for testing
at the moment. Afterwards, it will go into backup for those times I need
two pianos opened at the same time (approximately once every six months).

Perhaps your homemade version is better? Perhaps you should consider
building entire pianos instead of just lid props? Perhaps you don't use an
impact 'method' for tuning?

Jim Harvey
wonderin' if Susan thinks I ignored her request for descriptions since I
changed the subject line.


At 10:22 PM 10/24/99 -0500, you wrote:
>>Susan, these are neither the dangerous S&S or Schaff versions, nor the
>>"stick on a rope" that Spurlock sells. I used, or tried to use each of the
>>former a couple times. They did not end up in the back of a drawer, rather
>>in the big round file at the end of the workbench.
>
>Now that's interesting. I carry a version of the S&S prop that I made
>myself, and haven't really had any problem (with) to speak of (Is it just
>me, or is this language an abysmally poor excuse for a communication
>medium?). I do have a real live S&S produced prop, but mine seems to work
>better so the "real" one lives in a drawer in one of my work benches. I
>suppose I'll pitch it when my drawer fills up and I need the room... but,
>then again, It has the name Steinway on it, so maybe it's  worth something
>by associative mystique if nothing else. Perhaps I'll take bids. The trick
>with this type of prop is that you have to point the "tongue" toward the
>wall when the hinge mount positioning allows it, instead of pointing it at
>the floor, or the prop will walk out while you're trolling the piano around
>the living room with your tuning hammer and slam the lid down on your
>formerly relatively undamaged person. The Baldwins with the 37 lb.
>top/front/guillotine seem to be the worst offenders here, but there are
>certainly other contenders of note. I've got a few of the (nominally)
>3/4"x1 1/2"x5" stick with the strap loop and dowel whatchacallit (also shop
>made) that are realistically somewhat more secure than what I carry, but it
>requires more of a battle to but them in, so I go with the quick and easy.
>I haven't been slammed yet, but my reflexes got tested once before I
>learned to point the tongue to the wall. Adrenalin is a wonderful thing.
>
>
>Ron N