Piano horse

[ed440 at mindspring.com]

For small grand pianos it's pretty easy to make a 2x4 "T" with plywood triangles to reinforce it.  You can pull the action and clamp the "T" to the front edge of the keybed, or you can screw it to the bottom of the keybed, or drill holes and bolt it into the lyre plate.  A little to the left of center is better for turning than dead center.  Working solo you can clamp a 2X4 to extend past the treble side as a "handle."

You may be able to clamp a dolly to the side of the piano before you turn it.  The dolly needs a padded plywood top narrow enough to clear the lid edge. This must be well made and not just knocked together in 10 minutes! Clamp it to the rim with a large C-clamp from below.  Hold the lid tight with a big rubber band.  When the piano lands on its side you must have chocks to catch it so it doesn't scoot out!!!! (Or two sharp, strong guys who know how to "land" it, or "locking casters" that cannot scoot out.)

I'm only suggesting this for lighter pianos under 6 feet.  Caution!

Ed Sutton

-----Original Message-----
>From: Leslie Bartlett <l-bartlett at sbcglobal.net>
>Sent: Dec 18, 2006 6:31 PM
>To: 'Pianotech List' <pianotech at ptg.org>
>Subject: RE: Piano horse
>
>When I was on moving crew  for National it was decided we had to use the
>horse..........  It was a real back saver. However it is another thing to
>carry, and if one is moving a lot of pianos it can become a bit of a pain to
>lug about.  On the other hand, there's always the chance of dropping a
>corner, or, worse breaking a lyre, and yes have watched a lyre break for a
>guy who said he'd moved "on the lyre" for something like 15 years.....  It's
>getting pricey enough it might almost be as cheap to have something custom
>made.......
>les bartlett
> 
>
>   _____  
>
>From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf
>Of Avery
>Sent: Monday, December 18, 2006 5:55 AM
>To: Pianotech List
>Subject: Re: Piano horse
>
>
>Greg, 
>
>Doesn't the video show a method of doing something like that? Seems like I
>vaguely remember seeing that several years ago. Or maybe it was the board on
>blocks just slightly higher than your dolly, then a very slight tilt enables
>the blocks to be removed easily with almost no lifting. 
>
>A dealer I do some work for uses one but the movers I always use at the
>university have one, but don't use it. To each his own, I guess. :-) 
>
>Avery Todd
>
>At 10:29 PM 12/17/2006, you wrote:
>
>
>Jon,
>        Why should there be a different one? I take it to mean that you are
>interested in putting a piano directly onto a 4 wheel dolly either with or
>without a grandboard, correct? I've done with without a problem. It's a good
>little unit.
>
>all the best,
>Greg Newell
>
>
>
>
>At 10:48 PM 12/17/2006, you wrote:
>
>
>I'd be interested if they  had one which placed it on a dolly instead of a
>board.
>--
>
>Regards,
>
>Jon Page
>
>
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