On Fri, 31 Jan 1997 swinfo@g2g.com wrote: > "For a concert series that we host every summer, our Stienway must be > moved a great deal. I'm wondering if there is a way to move our piano > up onto the stage, a 3 ft. lift, using a jack or pully type system > instead of brute man power. Do you know of any system on the market > that may help us?" Funny they should ask. I just saw a deck, of sorts, that was built by the props department at the Power Center for the Performing Arts exclusively for the purpose of moving a 9' <other *rather heavy* brand> piano on and offstage at a height of approximately 3.5' -- this so it will match the height of the stage on which the rest of the "orchestra" sits. Space and time being at a premium, the prop designer decided that the only way to achieve "parity" would be to elevate the piano (so as to avoid having to hoist the thing 3.5' several times in a performance) for the duration. The deck on which the piano now lives is quite impressive. Not a hint of bowing under the weight of the grand instrument. I noticed that there were some rather persuasive-looking brakes on the backside (upstage), too. Good thing. While I was tuning the piano, perched atop this deck, I felt the entire "vehicle" shake and wobble with every yank on the tuning hammer. Must be a dream to drive that machine! :-) If this kind of thing is what they're after, I'll see about putting them in touch with the designer of the unit. Ron Torrella, RPT Assistant Piano Technician University of Michigan School of Music
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