[pianotech] upright tilter

[Keith McGavern]

Dear Daniel and List,

First, I applaud the recommendations of using of a strap, whether  
completely around the piano, or from the back posts. Safety is always  
paramount, to property, customer and self.

Having said that, I, personally, do not use straps when tilting  
vertical pianos. Let me also admit, I, too, have lost a vertical  
piano, ONCE, when the rear wheels touched the floor. It was in a  
unversity environment, thank goodness for that.

What I deduced from that experience is this:

1) The toes of the foldable type tilter that I use and was purchased  
from Tuners Supply Company, now defunct, in the late '70s' had to be  
extended from the original design. Also, you must determine if the  
toes reach the bottom board. This is imperative and can only be done  
by feeling underneath the piano when the piano tilter is put in place.

2) If the toes are marginally touching the bottom board, there is  
adequate reason to believe that if you attempt to tilt the piano in  
that circumstance, you are subject to potential disaster, both in  
property and personal injury.

3) What I did to circumvent this situation was to use slats, commonly  
used to support box spring mattresses, to take up the space that  
exists between the toes of the tilter and the bottom of the piano,  
thereby causing the entire tilter to be as close as possible to the  
piano before attempting the tilt. Having filled up that space with the  
slats eliminated the implementation of straps FOR ME.

4) Now, another extremely important consideration in returning the  
piano to its upright position is orientating the rear casters. This is  
vital to success is putting the piano back upright. Once I have done  
this, I simply hold the piano against the tilter for the remainder of  
putting it back upright. Mind you, I am not an extremely large person,  
nor very strong when I do this. It's all about applying the leverage  
in the most correct places.

Once again, I reiterate. The strap idea is conceivably appears to be  
the safest approach, but without the safeguards I have mentioned, it  
is possible to still have undesirable consequences, both in property  
and personal injury.

That space must be eliminated between the toes of the tilter as much  
as possible, and the contact with the bottom of the piano and the toes  
must be as secure as possible.

Sincerely submitted,

Keith McGavern