[pianotech] The much maligned Use of Lyre

[RWyatt8547 at aol.com]

I did not use the lyre to turn a grand down for  years, until a friend of 
mine told me about a mover that had been moving pianos  for 30 years said 
that if  he broke one  he would come and fix  it. Since then I have turned 
hundreds of pianos  on the lyre and  have not found a problem if you have the 
board on a dolly or boxes. some of  these pianos we have serviced for over 20 
years. so I am telling you that   old dogs can learn  better or easier 
tricks.
 
                                                                            
                    Rick  Wyatt
                                                                            
                    Dallas  Chapter
 
In a message dated 2/23/2010 9:02:16 P.M. Central Standard Time,  
deanmay at pianorebuilders.com writes:

 
>>I for  one, never use the lyre as a fulcrum... Bad for the knees but 
better for the  piano. 
Do you have test  results to back up this claim or is it just intuitive 
analysis? I've seen  factories use the lyre; I've seen keyboard Carriage use 
the lyre; I, myself,  have used the lyre many, many times with no problems, 
especially using the  brace below (tip of the hat to John Dewey).   
A modern, well  constructed lyre and keybed are very strong components. The 
brace below makes  the combination bullet-proof. Using a lyre is easier on 
the back leg and  definitely easier on the mover. Personally I value my back 
and knees more than  any piano that I move.  
If you’re not  comfortable using the lyre that’s fine, I have no problem 
with that. There are  indeed some rickety lyres that I am not comfortable 
using. If you want to  state it is your personal preference to not use the 
lyre, I’m good with that.  But to categorically state it is bad for the piano, 
do you have some research  to back up that claim? Because many reputable 
movers and factories do use the  lyre.  


Dean 
Dean W  May                 (812) 235-5272 
PianoRebuilders.com     (888) DEAN-MAY 
Terre Haute  IN  47802
 
  
____________________________________
 
From:  pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On 
Behalf Of Greg Newell
Sent: Tuesday, February 23, 2010 9:38  PM
To:  pianotech at ptg.org
Subject:  Re: [pianotech] The much maligned Piano  Mover
Ed, 
I agree completely. Being a technician certainly makes my efforts a little  
different than other movers who are not. My point , however poorly made, 
was  to get folks to think that not all movers cause damage. Some actually 
care  about what they do. I for one, never use the lyre as a fulcrum. Even 
before I  purchase the piano horse from Jansen I would ease the corner down to 
the skid  by hand after first removing the lyre. Bad for the knees but better 
for the  piano. 
Greg  Newell 
Greg's Piano  Forté 
www.gregspianoforte.com 
216-226-3791  (office) 
216-470-8634  (mobile) 
_http://www.wealthyaffiliate.com?a_aid=NNaYfMKd_ 
(http://www.wealthyaffiliate.com/?a_aid=NNaYfMKd)  
 
From:  pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On 
Behalf Of Ed Foote
Sent: Tuesday, February 23, 2010 9:04  PM
To:  pianotech at ptg.org
Subject:  Re: [pianotech] The much maligned Piano  Mover
 
Greg  writes, (inre  piano movers being cast in a bad  light):
 
 Often, however, we are blamed for quite a few things
 
 

 
 
 
that can’t possibly be our fault. In the case of pedal lyres I believe that
 
 

 
 
 
if the lyre was made well enough with solid material (not “select”
 
 

 
 
 
hardwoods) and on the other side, not rocked down to the floor using the
 
 

 
 
 
lyre as a fulcrum, these problems would not exist.


 
Agreed.  Yet.... If I were asked  what were the most common problems caused 
by movers, the lyre would be right  at the top of the list, (aside from the 
occasional exploding grand diving off  the lift).  I have seen more "mover 
damage" around the lyre than all the  rest combined.  Usually just the 
leathers torn off, but I have seen pedal  rods sculpted into flower arrangements, 
screws totally stripped, etc.   long list.  
It is always ignorance on their  part.  As a technician that can rebuild 
that lyre, you know how it is  installed.  Amazingly, many movers continue to 
move and never  learn.  
Regards, 
 

 
Ed  Foote RPT
http://www.uk-piano.org/edfoote/index.html
 


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