Once upon a time I worked in a player piano store, and we had reproducers moved in and out. I thought the problem was that the parts of the player underneath would get damaged if the piano were let down after taking off the lyre. That if the piano were tipped over using the lyre, it would arc over just right. Anyhow there were special considerations for the movers with our reproducer grands but we paid them for it. Besides some of those with six legs were very flemsy when any attempt was made to tip them over. For the grands with only big dowels and screws for the legs and not lock plates you are asking for trouble not using the lyre. All in all it is much easier on the men, equipment and instrument if it is tilted on the lyre. It is just one more practice which must be done with care and thought. The lyre must be inspected for strength which is actually easier to ascertain than the legs. If there is any question about the conditions of the legs or lyres it is best to have three experienced movers to tip. For grand pianos up to 5' 6" those get moved by myself, tilted over on the lyre (after it has been inspected) on to the sled. On my two rental grands the lyres were secured in with machine bolts into T nuts embed in the key bed. One more use for the lyre in moving. A folded up pad placed under it will lift the left leg off the floor so no one needs to hold that side up while the other fellow is underneath trying to take the leg off. This is one more indication that the lyre is strong enough to tilt with. Ric. ---------- From: Berley A. Firmin <FIRMAN1@prodigy.net> To: pianotech@ptg.org Subject: Re: Tilting on the lyre Date: Friday, May 28, 1999 2:06 PM I am extremely cautious about moving grands and would never allow a mover to use the lyre....I restore Reproducers and would die if a lyre broke or gave way and the piano fell on the player unit beneath! My nightmares are made of these! Mr. Berley Antoine Firmin II Bayou La Combe, Louisiana
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