piano tilter

[Roger Jolly]

Hi Ron,
            The portable tilters can be made a lot safer if you take it to
a welding shop and have them fabricate a longer tongue on to the bottom.
Some I have seen are bearly protruding 3 or 4". no wonder they have
problems. The tongue needs to be catching very close or forward of the
centre of gravity. ( the plate line.)  This is about 6" in from the bottom
of the back support on most old verticals.  The angle of the tonge with
respect to the frame should also be checked carefully, to make sure they
are not bent forward.
A moving strap threaded behind the back post and tilter is definitely a
wise precaution.
regards Roger



At 10:00 AM 09/09/99 -0500, you wrote:
>
>>I've used it on three pianos so far, none larger than a studio.  I like
>>it.  I have not noticed that any of the pianos attempted to "scoot," and
>>I've used no clamps or straps. 
>
>* Mine came without clamps too, and I've never used straps, though it's an
>excellent idea. When the casters are just about to leave the floor (up) or
>just about to touch the floor (down) I hold the piano as near vertical as I
>can with my left hand and work the tilter with my right. The back of the
>piano never contacts the tilter when there is a caster on the floor. I
>haven't dumped one yet, but I've heard the noise and seen the damage when
>someone else did. Yikes!
>
> Is this a better designed tilter, or is
>>there a problem quietly watching and waiting until I am the least
>>suspecting?  Or will the problem rear its head when I use it on a heavy
>>old upright?
>>
>>Clyde Hollinger
>
>* I think it has more to do with the value, and irreplaceability of the
>piano and the flooring.
>
> Ron N
> 
Roger Jolly
BaldwinYamaha Piano Centre
Saskatoon and Regina
Saskatchewan, Canada.
306-665-0213
Fax 652-0505