I want one of those Holzter "track-O" movers!  Way cool and back saving up and down stairs, trucks, etc.  Probably spendy, though... pw <table width=100%> <tr valign=top> <td width=40%>Ken Zahringer <ZahringerK@missouri.edu> Sent by: caut-bounces@ptg.org 01/11/2008 08:30 AM <table border> <tr valign=top> <td bgcolor=white> <div align=center>Please respond to College and University Technicians <caut@ptg.org></div></table> <td width=59%> <table width=100%> <tr valign=top> <td> <div align=right>To</div> <td>College and University Technicians <caut@ptg.org> <tr valign=top> <td> <div align=right>cc</div> <td> <tr valign=top> <td> <div align=right>Subject</div> <td>Re: [CAUT] The Piano Horse</table> <table> <tr valign=top> <td> <td></table> </table> <tt>Yes, I've got one, and YES it is absolutely worth it.  I floated the idea to the director a couple of years ago after we got a bill for around $1200 for a round trip move on a weekend for our jazz festival.  They were quite receptive. BUT-- Don't just buy the horse.  The old school way is still way too much work.  Here's the system I put together: I have the Piano Horse.  We also bought the Grand Chariot that Gordon talked about http://www.premiermovingequipment.com/  It's fantastic.  Why tip a piano all the way down to the floor, then lift it up again onto a dolly?  One problem, though: the Horse is designed to tip a piano onto a skid on the floor.  If you're tipping onto a Chariot, the whole side of the piano is on the platform, and the Horse is out of the picture, when the piano is at about a 45 degree angle, and you just have to heave it up the rest of the way.  SO, I built a ramp for the Horse to ride up to the Chariot height (picture attached).   The length of the ramp is based on the curve length of the Horse, so it sets the piano down 3-4" past the edge of the Chariot platform. I can send you dimensions if you want (it's in a closet at the other end of the building).  I also built my own jack-in-the-box, or rather jack-on-a-post.  I screwed a bunch of 2X4s together to make a post, screwed on plywood top and bottom caps, and attached a bottle jack (picture also attached).  For pads and a bag for legs and lyre, check out Holzter Moving Gear http://www.holzter.com/ They've got some neat stuff. Our Wind Ensemble has a Steinway M that they use in the percussion section at all concerts.  Rehearsal room and concert hall are three blocks apart (naturally!).  I pack up the piano by myself for every concert, and it's no big deal.  I just have one of the students help me roll it up the ramp into the truck (with the rest of the percussion equipment, etc, that is moved for every concert).  If we have to move a concert grand, I get two student helpers.  We've been using this rig for two years now, and it has already paid for itself, and then some.  Figure this: a normal move used to cost $200-$250 each way.  Wind Ensemble has three concerts per semester.  That's $2500-3000 in moving costs each year, not counting any other moves.  All the gear I bought, including pads, straps, etc, was just under $1500.  It works for us. Regards, Ken Z. I'm 50, but I'm in denial :-) On 1/10/08 1:23 PM, "Douglas Wood" <dew2@u.washington.edu> wrote: > Are any of you using Jansen's Piano Horse for moving grands around > you facility? We are currently hiring outside movers, and I'm > wondering if it would be worth purchasing one. > > Doug Wood -- Ken Zahringer, RPT Piano Technician MU School of Music 297 Fine Arts 882-1202 cell 489-7529 </tt>