Grand Caster Replacement

[Steve Blasyak]

Hey Now,

Cy, a few things I forgot in my private post. First it is not an "S", it says C on the plate. What ever it is it is not a small piano. I have not measured it but I would guess at least 7' +. According to the tour guides on the ship I have no idea if it is true or not, there is a Chappell in the lobby the was supposed Liberace's favorite piano. I suppose it is quite possible Liberace played the Steinway as well. As for the Chappell it's seen better days I'm sure, but right now it needs a complete re-build. 

I'm sorry I did not include pictures next time I go there I will bring my camera. Will the jack in the box hold the piano if I have to remove both front legs at once? The front pedestals are connected to each other under the key bed with a board about 5/8"s or 1" thick and the width of the pedestals crossing under the key bed. The pedal lyre is attached to that. It appears to me the whole thing comes off at once.

Steve 

Pura Vida


----- Original Message ----- 
From: Cy Shuster 
To: atuneforyou at earthlink.net;Pianotech List
Sent: 1/10/2007 4:05:02 AM 
Subject: Re: Grand Caster Replacement


That's the one that Liberace is said to have played, right?  Is it an S?  It's pretty small, as I remember.

I recommend the Jack-In-The-Box:
http://pljansen.com/jackinbox.htm

After you jack it up to remove the leg, you can add wood blocks between its wooden box and the piano to make a safe support while you replace the casters.  

To protect the unique legs, this might be the time to sell them a proper stage truck, in which case you wouldn't need wheels.  The Jack-In-The-Box is again the perfect tool to install one, by yourself.

--Cy--
----- Original Message ----- 
From: Steve Blasyak 
To: pianotech at ptg.org 
Sent: Tuesday, January 09, 2007 10:06 PM
Subject: Grand Caster Replacement


Hey Now,

I have a project that I am going to attempt a bid on. I'm searching for advise.

I take care of a somewhat unique Steinway C #281753 on board the Queen Mary in Long Beach. The uniqueness is that is part of the ships original equipment built in 1936. The piano is in not too good of shape but it does play.

The crew broke off two casters while moving it after New Years Eve.

First the casters currently on the piano hardly seem adequate for a piano this large. I suspect that someone has replaced them already at least once. Honestly the wheels on there now don't seem to be meant for a piano. But I could be wrong. Second, it has an unusual arrangement wherein there are pedestals (for lack of a better description), on either side of the key bed instead of legs. Each pedestal has two wheels, on the tail is a large pedestal with three wheels or casters on it.

I searched the archives with not much luck other than one post recommending Darnell double wheels.

Any advise on how to go about doing this job, recommended resources, what type of wheels/casters to use. I'll be looking through my catalogs and books tonight.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. If I get the job (they are considering letting their own maintenance crew do it), I will have some help laying the piano on its side. After that I'm on my own.

Steve

Pura Vida   

Steve Blasyak
atuneforyou at earthlink.net
EarthLink Revolves Around You.
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