[CAUT] Moving Pianos on Campus

[Ken Zahringer]

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Rob,

I will occasionally move uprights, with student or faculty help, and of
course harpsichords, but up until now we have hired a moving company to mov=
e
grands.  This is getting very expensive, though.  They will often send 5 or
6 guys to move a concert grand, and only two of them really know what
they=B9re doing.  Because of this, I am working up a proposal to do moving
in-house.  This will allow us to move a grand for 25-40% of what the movers
charge, plus my help will actually be trained.  There are two critical
purchases in this proposal: a Piano Horse and a Buckeye truck.  The piano
horse is available through Jansen, and they have a video about using it tha=
t
they will send you.  It tilts the piano onto the skid with minimal effort.
Gordon Crail, the inventor, has given classes at convention.  The Buckeye,
or Self-Lifting, piano truck is available through Schaff.  It sounds like
your dolly/skid arrangement is already similar.  It the administration balk=
s
at either one of these purchases, I=B9m not moving grands.  I think anyone wh=
o
moves a grand without a piano horse, or something like it, is just a
masochist.  Needless to say, I highly recommend both of these pieces of
equipment.

Your back is a separate, but related, issue.  I had some back problems when
I was in high school.  When I started doing some weight training and
running, they largely went away.  About ten years ago I separated from the
Air Force, and going to the gym and running were no longer a job
requirement.  Funny thing, 2-3 years later my back started bothering me
occasionally again, and there have been a few days when I couldn=B9t get off
the floor.  Now I=B9m taking a little better care of myself.  My point: find =
a
doctor or chiropractor that you trust and work with them.  Make a commitmen=
t
to strengthening your back to minimize the problems.  It will not get bette=
r
on its own, only worse.  I=B9m 48 and I intend on being active for another 40
years (or more).

Ken Z.




On 2/22/06 11:31 AM, "Rob & Helen Goodale" <rrg@unlv.nevada.edu> wrote:

> Hello,
> Typically I stay in the back ground and just observe the list but I have
> worthy inquiry.  I am the staff tech at UNLV, (University of Nevada, Las
> Vegas).  We have +/-65 pianos and occasionally a few must be moved around=
.  I
> have one grand and one upright that I keep aside for when someone needs o=
ne
> for special events.  The upright has a permanent heavy truck on it for mo=
ving
> around.  For grands I use a method that involves tilting the piano up ont=
o the
> skid while it's already on the dolly.  The dolly is custom made with extr=
a
> large hard wheels.  Two of the wheels do not swivel so that it doesn't sk=
ip
> out while lifting.  If it is a reasonably small grand, (nothing larger th=
an a
> C-3), then it is surprisingly simple.  I'm sure there are others who do t=
his.
> Anyway to the point.
> =20
> =20
> After lifting and moving pianos for years my back has just about had it.
> Every so often it slips out of place and I find myself in pain for severa=
l
> days.  Recently I was required to move several pianos in a day and it jus=
t
> about did me in.  This morning I found myself stiff and unable to crawl o=
ut of
> bed.  The reality is that I can't continue doing this.  At age 40 I have =
a
> long way to go and I don't fancy ruining my back for the likes of ungrate=
ful
> university staff.
> =20
> I would like to know what other university techs have done regarding pian=
o
> moves.  Because of liability reasons they are not too enthusiastic about
> getting students to do it.  The facilities management people are not reli=
able
> and can't be trusted to show up on time.  The Faculty is certainly not
> interested in getting their hands dirty.  I have occasionally called in
> another outside tech but that is not always possible.  Unfortunately my J=
edi
> skills aren't mastered well enough to move pianos using "The Force".  So.=
..
> what do YOU do?
> =20
> Rob Goodale, RPT
> Las Vegas, NV
>=20


--=20
Ken Zahringer, RPT
Piano Technician
MU School of Music
297 Fine Arts
882-1202
cell 489-7529


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