<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD> <META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=US-ASCII"> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.6000.16481" name=GENERATOR></HEAD> <BODY id=role_body style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: #000000; FONT-FAMILY: Arial" bottomMargin=7 leftMargin=7 topMargin=7 rightMargin=7><FONT id=role_document face=Arial color=#000000 size=2> <DIV>Hi, Paul -</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>A few years back I had a custom hard case made for a clavichord.  The industry leader is Anvil Cases, </DIV> <DIV>(800) 359-2684.  Their cases are terrific and will really stand all kinds of rough treatment.  The case I ordered for the clavichord was from Aarmor Case, 2100 Lapo, Lake Odessa, MI 48849; very similar to Anvil and a little less expensive.  I'm sure you could look either of them up on the 'net, and others, too.  Probably search on "A.T.A. case".   A.T.A. is the Air Transport Association; their specs provide high quality protection.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Issues you'll need to consider:</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>-  The case will add some size and weight.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>-  You can design the case for moving the instrument on its side.  Such cases I've seen (for grand pianos) have as a base what is essentially a skid board.  After the instrument is on the board/case bottom, the rest of the case is put in position and latched in place.  (Some of the case makers have experience with this style case and may even have something in their stock series; but if they do, probably the dimensions will be for grand pianos and you'll need to specify for your instrument.)</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>-  If the instrument is light enough, you can arrange things 'casket style' so you lower it in to sit on its belly.  In this case you need to design protection for any trapwork.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>-  Consider what to do with the legs, or stand, and chair/bench if any.  Can be simpler to have a separate case for them; and reduces size and weight of main case.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Good luck!  Please post a photo or two when you get your solution worked out.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><FONT lang=0 face=Arial size=2 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" PTSIZE="10">~ Tom McNeil ~<BR>Vermont Piano Restorations<BR>VermontPiano.com<BR><BR>346 Camp Street<BR>Barre, VT 05641<BR>(802) 476-7072</FONT></DIV></FONT><BR><BR><BR><DIV><FONT style="color: black; font: normal 10pt ARIAL, SAN-SERIF;"><HR style="MARGIN-TOP: 10px">See what's free at <A title="http://www.aol.com?ncid=AOLAOF00020000000503" href="http://www.aol.com?ncid=AOLAOF00020000000503" target="_blank">AOL.com</A>. </FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>