piano moving/lyre

[Carl Meyer]

I think that the lyres on most pianos are strong enough for tilting the
piano.  Most of the movers I've dealt with  use them.  I would think 
that
you would want to examine the lyre so that it is solid and attached 
well.
Large and heavy pianos might be an exception.

I've moved TOO many pianos.  I now (if I can't get out of it) lift the 
bass
end and tuck a 3 inch thick piece of expanded polyethylene under the 
lyre.
This lifts the bass up enough to remove the bass leg.  Now I position 
the
skid on the dolly properly so that the bass edge tips on the center of 
the
skid.  The dolly will tip so that the left side of the piano will be 
flat on
the skid until the piano is raised upright.  The trick is to position 
the
dolly so that the piano will balance.  Now the piano can be centered and
strapped down.

An idea I got from Lowell Wacker (who moves pianos, any size, by 
himself is
to brace the lyre to the treble leg.  I made something for this out of
threaded rod and plumbing parts.  Haven't used it much but I think it 
would
be some insurance against putting too much side thrust on the lyre.

Anybody seen or heard of a lyre collapse?

Picture of the contraption is attached.

Carl Meyer Ptg assoc
Santa Clara, Ca.

Photo at:

https://www.moypiano.com/ptg/files/attachments/4e/48/2e/c7/lyreprop.jpg

Alternate:

http://tinyurl.com/t2h4