[pianotech] Piano Stage Lift

[Andrew Anderson]

sent belatedly due to subscription issues

A stage lift can be made from any number of off-the-shelf solutions.

To have any idea what is appropriate you would need to figure out what  
kind of weight will be involved (dead weight in the moving floor  
section) and live weight.  There are any number of car-lifts that  
could be adapted.  A floor-level lift would need to be installed below  
the floor.  Is there a basement? or could the floor be cut out at the  
desired point and a mini basement installed for a lift?   
NorthernTool.com has a number of different types of lifts used in ATV  
and Automobile service that can give you some ideas.

In all practicality you will probably deal with a local fabrication  
shop that makes and modifies equipment for farms and industrial  
applications.  They will be able to design a solution custom to your  
needs and will probably enjoy the change of environment and scenery.   
Hydraulic lifts would need a mechanical locking system to avoid the  
Titanic syndrome (they incorporate such systems in car-lifts too).   
Check with  a metal fabrication shop, if they don't do whole  
solutions, they will know who does or will be able to put together a  
subcontractor team that will.

Best of luck,
Andrew Anderson

On Jul 6, 2009, at 6:04 PM, Floyd Gadd wrote:

> I received a request today for information that lies beyond the  
> level of my
> experience and expertise.  Here is the request as it came to me:
>
> We are wondering if you have any information on piano lifts.  Our  
> local
> community hall has a high stage (approximately 4 feet) with an apron
> extension that is in 4 sections and is left up most of the time.  We  
> have
> used the piano on the stage in the past but we are finding more use  
> for it
> on the main floor now.  We are considering installing a lift of some  
> kind on
> one part of the stage apron extension (if that is possible).  It  
> would be
> more convenient if the lift could be lowered as close to the floor as
> possible when in use on the main floor and when raised to stage  
> level the
> piano could be rolled off and the apron remain as usual.  I am  
> assuming that
> a scissor lift of some kind would be more advisable but need an  
> opinion from
> an expert.  Would something like this be even possible and if so,  
> what kind
> of cost would we be looking at?  Where would you suggest we get more
> information?     Wilma
>
>
> As I will be away from home for a few days, I've given the party  
> from whom
> the question came a link to the archives for this list so she can  
> see the
> responses as they come in.
>
> Floyd Gadd
> Manitoba Chapter
>