Foote-truck, (was Van)

[Dan M. Hallett, Jr.]

Dear Susan and list:

Brookstone carries a fold-up handtruck in their catalogue fitting Ed's
description. I don't have the price handy.

Dan Hallett, Jr. RPT

> Susan asks:
> 
> >Could you tell me the brand of your German handtruck, and where I might buy
> >it?
> 
>      It is a Braucke brand.  I don't know where you may find one, but it is
> worth every penny of the $120 I paid for it.  It is very light, the wheels
> fold in as well as the handle.  When folded, it measures about 24"X18"X 1
> 1/2",  and when I go through the "Dr. Calagary's Cabinet" routine of opening
> it up, it has never failed to impress the customers.
>     In my youth, I thought nothing of carrying a large grand action down
> flights of steps, out to the car, etc.  Now, I have found that the most
> graceful way of carrying is also the easiest on my back and shoulders.  I
> would encourage all techs that do a lot of action transport to study their
> ergonomics.  It is a sad, sad day when you try to amortize the cost of spinal
> disc repair over the hundreds of actions that perhaps contributed to the
> problem, so see if you can't refine the movements to a smooth, even, flow.
>      There is the initial lift out of the piano, of course, but even then, it
> helps to avoid ever bending over the action to lift.
>    I remove a grand action by pulling it out until the back rail is just short
> of the front of the keybed, then elevating the keys until the action is
> vertical. Watch out for the drop screws, they like to dig into the stretcher.
> >From there, it is easy to keep your back straight as you stand and lift the
> action off the piano.  One step back and you can lower the bass end to the
> floor, from whence it is a piece of cake to slip the waiting dolly underneath
> and voila!,  you have wheels on the action!
>      Also,  I have for years been in the habit of spinning the action around
> inside the action cavity if I need to do on-the-spot regulations or repair,
> using the keybed as a work bench with the keys up under the pinblock. If there
> is room, this can be done without ever having to lift more than half the
> weight of the action.  Anybody else do this?
> Regards,
> Ed Foote
> (P.S. ,  I will be off-list for the next month, as I take my lovely wife and
> two testosterone-poisoned sons to Seattle in a motorhome on the "Big American
> West" tour. Watch out WallyWorld, Chevy Chase ain't got nothing on us!!!!)
> (:)}}}
>